DRC Mens BB 2 in, 2 out

OldTimer · April 20, 2005

Basketball: Two in, two out for UNT

Jones inks Brown, Young to replace Harris, Thomas

09:21 AM CDT on Wednesday, April 20, 2005

By Brett Vito / Staff Writer

The North Texas men’s basketball team underwent a dramatic overhaul Tuesday, when a pair of players with eligibility remaining left the team and were replaced by signees from Eastern Oklahoma State College.

Juniors Ty Thomas and Ron Harris have both left the Mean Green basketball program and will look to continue their playing careers at another college, UNT coach Johnny Jones said. The departure of Thomas and Harris left UNT three open scholarships, two of which were filled by Eastern point guard Lionel Brown and small forward Rich Young.

"We hate to see Ty and Ron leave the program," Jones said. "They are both seeking a place where they can find more playing time. We want to thank them for their contributions on and off the floor and wish them well in their future endeavors."

Jones has released both players from their scholarships. Each was on track to graduate from UNT next May.

Thomas and Harris were both key contributors off the bench for the Mean Green last season. Thomas, a 6-6 forward, averaged 4.9 points a game, while Harris, a 6-7 forward, posted 4.8 points and 3.2 rebounds a game.

UNT is hoping Brown and Young will help fill the void.

Brown, 5-11, averaged 13.9 points and 4.1 assists a game last season for Eastern. He led the Mountaineers in scoring and was an All-Bi-State Conference and all-region selection.

The Daily Oklahoman rated Brown as one of the top five high school players in the state during his senior season at Ardmore, Okla. St. Bonaventure, BYU, Stephen F. Austin and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi all offered Brown a scholarship after his sophomore year at Eastern.

"I feel like UNT is headed in the right direction," Brown said. "With the players they have coming back, I feel like we will be pretty good next year."

Young, 6-5, averaged 10 points a game and also ranked among the Bi-State Conference leaders in rebounds with an average of 6.3 a game.

Brown and Young will join former Eastern teammate Jeffrey Simpson at UNT next season. Simpson transferred to UNT last year, started 12 games and averaged 9.9 points a game in conference play.

Eastern coach Jimmy Voight said Brown and Young could follow in Simpson’s footsteps and contribute right away at UNT.

"It was attractive for Rich to come in and compete for the starting small forward job," Voight said. "He will rebound and could be one of their best defenders."

Brown will give UNT an added weapon in its backcourt that already includes standout point guard Isaac Hines, who will be a senior next year.

"Lionel can play both the point and shooting guard, depending on what we want to do defensively," Jones said. "He will give us versatility."

UNT still has one open scholarship remaining in its 2005 class that already includes three high school players: forwards Harold Stewart of Crowley and Harold Edwards of Mobile, Ala., and center Justin Howerton of Howe.

UNT finished 14-14 last season and lost in the first round of the Sun Belt Conference Tournament. The Mean Green are hoping to improve on that finish with the help of Brown and Young, who are following their former teammate to UNT.

"We are very excited to get these kids in the program," Jones said. "They come from a good program and played for a good coach in Jimmy Voight. If both of these guys pan out like Jeffrey, we will be off to a good start next year. They will both play important roles."

BRETT VITO can be reached at 940-566-6870.