Unt's 2011 Class Is Now Better!

Cooley · March 31, 2011

Well, according to Texas Hoops.com

In its final & updated rankings for the 2011 class, 3 of the 4 HS recruits moved up the charts. As expected, Chris Jones jumped up to #12 while Trey Norris' stock improved to #29. Forrest Robinson, of 2A Eastland High, moved up to #30. Jordan Williams didn't move much and finished the year as Tx Hoops 8th best senior. Good luck to these guys and congratulations to the coaching staff for signing 4 of the the state's Top 30 recruits.

JJ just missed out on the 11th ranked recruit, Devonte Abrons (Arkansas) and the #7 ranked recruit Terran Petteway (Texas Tech). With the help of Jordan Williams, we just missed out on convincing #13, Jordan Green to switch his commitment from A&M to UNT. #18 Kyan Anderson made a visit but ended up @ Providence. Chris Jones' teammate, Toddrick Gotcher (Texas Tech) came in at #19. With so much senior talent leaving Garland's Lakeview Centennial, coach Mauldin elected to retire today. Uncommitted forward Jarion Henry finished the season at #15. Grades appear to be his problem but many feel that he would love to join Williams.

For those who think this program isn't improving, reread what I just typed! From the 2010 class, JJ just missed out on the Player of the Year in Texas (Brandon Peters) but ended up with the #2 recruit in Texas and Metroplex's Player of the Year, Tony Mitchell.

http://texashoops.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1203525

Edited April 1, 2011 by Cooley

UNT90 · March 31, 2011

Good things are happening for UNT basketball!

Really, really good things!!

GrandGreen · March 31, 2011

I think this is more reflective of the class, but Jones is still ranked too low IMO. If Mitchell plays, this could be NT's version of the Michigan Fab Five.

People talk of holding off on expectations at least in the first year. Bull, great players are immediately productive. Kenny Lyons, Chris Davis, Jessie Ratliff and recently White were special players as soon as they got on the floor. All of the freshmen will not have that kind of talent but my guess is that at least one out of Robinson, Norris, Jones and Williams does and odds are great that Mitchell is. By the end of the season I think next years team could be substantally better than last year.

Keith7 · March 31, 2011

I feel like one of the big boys!!!!

CMJ · March 31, 2011

I think this is more reflective of the class, but Jones is still ranked too low IMO. If Mitchell plays, this could be NT's version of the Michigan Fab Five.

People talk of holding off on expectations at least in the first year. Bull, great players are immediately productive. Kenny Lyons, Chris Davis, Jessie Ratliff and recently White were special players as soon as they got on the floor. All of the freshmen will not have that kind of talent but my guess is that at least one out of Robinson, Norris, Jones and Williams does and odds are great that Mitchell is. By the end of the season I think next years team could be substantally better than last year.

Not saying it can't happen, but I hate having big expectations for kids before they've ever stepped onto the floor for us. (Or anyone really, many high profile recruits struggle initially before turning it around - not everyone is a Kyrie Irving out of the gate) Let's see how they play together and if they buy into the coaching staff's philosophies before we declare them SBC Champs. I'm more of a "past is the best predictor of success" guy -- and with that many freshmen we don't have much history to look at.

Army of Dad · March 31, 2011

I was kind of disappointed, I thought you were talking about a new stud recruit when I saw the title..

eppy4life · March 31, 2011

Not saying it can't happen, but I hate having big expectations for kids before they've ever stepped onto the floor for us. (Or anyone really, many high profile recruits struggle initially before turning it around - not everyone is a Kyrie Irving out of the gate) Let's see how they play together and if they buy into the coaching staff's philosophies before we declare them SBC Champs. I'm more of a "past is the best predictor of success" guy -- and with that many freshmen we don't have much history to look at.

Funny. I say the same thing and get ripped apart.

But I agree. Lets hold off on the 'Fab Five' talk. Let also not lump Tony Mitchell into this class just yet either.

CMJ · March 31, 2011

Funny. I say the same thing and get ripped apart.

But I agree. Lets hold off on the 'Fab Five' talk. Let also not lump Tony Mitchell into this class just yet either.

Sometimes it's not what you say, but the tone you give off.

eppy4life · March 31, 2011

Sometimes it's not what you say, but the tone you give off.

Good point. But we are in agreement. Great class. Best ever. Lets let them play a little before we put tons of pressure on them though.

GrandGreen · March 31, 2011

Good point. But we are in agreement. Great class. Best ever. Lets let them play a little before we put tons of pressure on them though.

KInd of conflicting statements, the best class ever, which hasn't been proven, but don't put pressure on them. Pressure can be a good thing, Jones and Williams played on the equivalent of an all star team all year and both ended up in the state championship game. About as much pressure as you can have on a high school level. Obviously, nothing is a given; look at last year's NT team. I will state unequivally if this team even without Mitchell does not have a much better conference record than last year I will be disappointed.

Best class ever until proven otherwise IMO was the Robbins/Tubbs class that Blakeley inherited. It contained Fred Mitchell and Melvin Davis who where both members of the five man all state team at the highest classification. It also had Kenneth Williams a second team all state player which probably also but him in the top 10 rated players in Texas. Add to this a first team juco all american in Terry Bailey and the leading juco rebounder in Joe Pride. If you want to be generous you could also throw in Carl Jones one of the the best off guards in NT history who technically transferred the year before but became eligible with this class. All these players with the exception of Pride ended up being very good.

eppy4life · March 31, 2011

KInd of conflicting statements, the best class ever, which hasn't been proven, but don't put pressure on them. Pressure can be a good thing, Jones and Williams played on the equivalent of an all star team all year and both ended up in the state championship game. About as much pressure as you can have on a high school level. Obviously, nothing is a given; look at last year's NT team. I will state unequivally if this team even without Mitchell does not have a much better conference record than last year I will be disappointed.

Best class ever until proven otherwise IMO was the Robbins/Tubbs class that Blakeley inherited. It contained Fred Mitchell and Melvin Davis who where both members of the five man all state team at the highest classification. It also had Kenneth Williams a second team all state player which probably also but him in the top 10 rated players in Texas. Add to this a first team juco all american in Terry Bailey and the leading juco rebounder in Joe Pride. If you want to be generous you could also throw in Carl Jones one of the the best off guards in NT history who technically transferred the year before but became eligible with this class. All these players with the exception of Pride ended up being very good.

Goof grief. 'Best ever' was referring to the signing class, not the graduating class. I don't know of a group of high schoolers who've been thought of as highly ever coming in together. Of course we can't judge them as a graduating class because they haven't played yet.

GrandGreen · March 31, 2011

Goof grief. 'Best ever' was referring to the signing class, not the graduating class. I don't know of a group of high schoolers who've been thought of as highly ever coming in together. Of course we can't judge them as a graduating class because they haven't played yet.

Good grief, that was a one year's signing class, Fred Mitchell, Melvin Davis and Kenneth Williams were all signed as freshmen the same year, all would surely be considered top 10 seniors in Texas high school that year . Bailey, Pride, Mitchell, Davis and Williams were in one recruiting class. Understand? On paper that class is better than the current one excluding Tony Mitchell. However, this year's class is not over but the mid=seventies class would be almost impossible to beat based solely on high school seniors who graduated in the same year. Three top 10 seniors in the state is a class not easily matched.

Edited March 31, 2011 by GrandGreen

GrandGreen · March 31, 2011

haha so I get a negative for speaking the truth? I dont care... go get to now the man... maybe he will hit you in your face and call you a honky too like he did my friend... and said other few "choice words as well" and that was the 4th time he was suspended from the rec

I didn't give you a negative, but Lyons was arguable the best basketball player ever at NT. Kenneth scored 42 on Karl Malone and is the NT all time leading scorer. If you want to live in the past, it is great to have one like his. I have no idea why you felt it necessary to make these comments, but the discussion centered on playing college basketball nothing else.

Edited March 31, 2011 by GrandGreen

All About UNT · March 31, 2011

haha so I get a negative for speaking the truth? I dont care... go get to now the man... maybe he will hit you in your face and call you a honky too like he did my friend... and said other few "choice words as well" and that was the 4th time he was suspended from the rec

sounds like a real swell guy. Honky.....the most pathetic and un-offensive slur ever made....what does it even mean? Does it mean I am as cool as this guy?

UNTLifer · March 31, 2011

I assume no one on the baord really talks to him these days, but if you saw him in the rec you would be appalled at what you saw.

I believe SUMG talks to him at all of the home games.

UNT90 · April 1, 2011

I think this is more reflective of the class, but Jones is still ranked too low IMO. If Mitchell plays, this could be NT's version of the Michigan Fab Five.

People talk of holding off on expectations at least in the first year. Bull, great players are immediately productive. Kenny Lyons, Chris Davis, Jessie Ratliff and recently White were special players as soon as they got on the floor. All of the freshmen will not have that kind of talent but my guess is that at least one out of Robinson, Norris, Jones and Williams does and odds are great that Mitchell is. By the end of the season I think next years team could be substantally better than last year.

You gotta remember that these guys are taking a big step up in competition. Could they adjust by mid-season and finish strong in the Sun Belt tournament? There is a good chance, but it is not definite. They will be 18 or 19 year old kids facing a whole new level of competition. I expect early season struggles with a strong finsh. Will the finish be strong enough to make the NCAA tournament? Maybe, maybe not, but I won't be disappointed if it does not happen the 1st year.

Edited April 1, 2011 by UNT90