DRC Degrate gives taste of why he was so

[OldTimer]

DeGrate plays well in his UNT debut

11/03/2002

By Tim MacMahon / Staff Writer

North Texas forward Michael DeGrate gave Mean Green fans a taste of why he is such a highly-regarded recruit during the Green-White game Saturday.

DeGrate, a 6-8 junior college transfer, led the White team to a 45-36 victory in the 20-minute intrasquad scrimmage at the Super Pit. He led all players with 17 points and seven rebounds.

"He?s got a chance to be real good," UNT coach Johnny Jones said. "He?s a special player who really has some talent. I think he can play anywhere in the country."

During the scrimmage, DeGrate showed off his ability to score inside and outside, making seven of 10 shots from the floor. Three of his seven rebounds were on the offensive glass, proving that he doesn?t necessarily have to have plays called for him to be a factor.

"I believe I?m going to be a big name in this conference," said DeGrate, who played at McLennan Community College last season after spending his freshman year at Baylor. "That?s why I?m here."

Guard Leonard Hopkins added 15 points and a game-high five assists for the White team. He made six of eight shots from the floor, including three of four 3-pointers.

The White team was composed of players who are slated to come off the bench ? at least for now.

"The White team has been real competitive with the Green team [in practice]," Jones said. "It wasn?t a surprise that the score was what it was today. Nobody has a starting job locked up. These guys know the opportunity is there."

Several recruits seen in Super Pit

Three players being recruited by the Mean Green and one by the Lady Eagles took in the action at the Super Pit on Saturday as part of their official visits.

The men?s recruits were guards Dandrick Jones and Calvin Watson and forward Mike Jones. Forward Brittani Green of Dallas Lincoln was the women?s prospect.

Dandrick Jones, a combination guard who is playing this season at Trinidad (Colo.) Junior College, is also considering Iowa State, New Mexico, St. John?s and Boise State. He said he does not expect to sign after the season.

"I like [uNT] because I?ll be able to come in here and play early," said Jones, who played his high school ball at Dallas Kimball, UNT star Chris Davis? alma mater. "And I like what coach Jones is doing with the program."

Mike Jones, a 6-8 junior college teammate of UNT forward Michael DeGrate, and the 6-3 Watson of Houston Madison are considering several Southland Conference schools as well as UNT. Both players said they expected to sign during the early signing period in November.

Briefly ...

Forward Will Smith won the dunk contest. His best dunk was a reverse slam on which he brought the ball below his feet before throwing it down with authority. ... Jamie Armstrong, a freshman forward on the women?s team, beat men?s point guard Jerome Rogers in a 3-point contest. Armstrong hit nine 3s in a minute, one more than Rogers, but declined the opportunity to talk trash. "He already feels bad enough," she said.

[Buford_Julep]

Calvin Watson is ranked # 35 in latest Texas Hoops ratings.

Twentyeight of Texas' top thirty seniors have already orally committed. Cartier Martin of Houston and Lance Jackson of Fort Worth Dunbar are the only two left.