DRC full article on Mangrum..should be a very good

[OldTimer]

North Texas gets early commitment Can anyone remember NT getting a committment this far in advance?

08:40 AM CDT on Saturday, May 28, 2005

By Brett Vito / Staff Writer

The North Texas men’s basketball team got a jump on its next recruiting class and reunited a pair of old friends in the process this week.

Collin Mangrum, a 6-4 guard from Howe High School who will be a senior in the fall, confirmed Friday that he has orally committed to play for the Mean Green.

Oral commitments are non-binding. Mangrum plans to sign a national letter of intent during his senior year at Howe before joining the Mean Green for the 2006-07 season.

Mangrum and Justin Howerton led Howe to the state tournament last season. Howerton has signed a national letter of intent to play for UNT beginning in the fall.

“Going down there with Justin was part of my decision,” Mangrum said. “He will be able to help me out and answer any questions I have.”

TCU, SMU, Stephen F. Austin and Baylor were all in the early stages of recruiting Mangrum when he committed to UNT.

Mangrum caught the attention of Division I programs across the state last season when he was named to the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches all-state and all-state tournament teams in addition to earning a first-team spot on the All-District 13-2A squad.

Mangrum averaged 15.6 points a game last year, a total he pushed to 22 points a game in the playoffs while playing point guard for the Bulldogs. He has also spent time at small forward and shooting guard during his high school career.

“Collin still has a lot left in him,” Howe coach Tim Rose said. “His biggest attribute is he is a hard worker. He was the last player out of the gym again today.”

Mangrum honed his skills during the off-season while playing for the Dallas Mustangs, a summer club team that features some of the area’s top players.

Mangum is hoping the experience he gained playing during the summer will help him make the transition to playing at the Division I level.

“It’s definitely a big jump to Division I,” Mangrum said. “I will have to stay in the gym and work hard to be the best I can be.”

Mangrum committed to UNT before his senior season so that he could start preparing for his future a little earlier and not worry about the recruiting process.

“Committing early will help me focus and get ready,” Mangrum said. “I will have a chance to visit campus and get comfortable. Committing early takes the pressure off.”

Mangrum said UNT recruited him to play both guard positions and small forward. Rose said he anticipates Mangrum developing into a shooting guard in college because of his athletic ability and shooting touch.

Rose said UNT’s coaches first became aware of Mangrum while they were recruiting Howerton and quickly joined the list of Division I teams interested the Bulldogs’ younger Division I prospect.

UNT will have three to four scholarships for its next recruiting class, including the one the Mean Green’s coaches offered Mangrum.

UNT finished with a 14-14 record in the 2004-05 season after falling to Arkansas State in the first round of the Sun Belt Conference Tournament at the Super Pit. The Mean Green have won at least 13 games in three of four seasons under head coach Johnny Jones.

BRETT VITO can be reached at 940-566-6870. His e-mail address is bvito@dentonrc.com

Edited May 28, 2005 by OldTimer