Tracking Bobo (aka J'Mison Morgan)

by Nestor on May 5, 2008 7:26 PM PDT in Recruiting

Guess we can't ignore the story any longer. The rumor/story of former UCLA blue chip recruit J'Mison Morgan, who had committed to LSU getting out of his LOI (Letter of Intent) has been bubbling up the tubes for last 24+ hours. As bluestreet noted (in SFVBruin's diary) it was Bruinau who first posted the scoop on Bruinzone.com:

J'Misson Morgan has reniged on his LSU commitment (LOI) and is coming to UCLA.

Bruinau appeared pretty confident as he called the info. "official."

Bruinau's confident post appeared more credible when few hours later this popped up LSU's rival.com site Tigerbait.com:

J'Mison Morgan, a class of 2008 five-star prospect from South Oak Cliff (Texas) High School, will ask for his release from LSU, according to his AAU coach Jazzy Hartwell. One school will likely be at the top of the list if Morgan does make a change.

Menelaus then pointed us to this on TransWorldNews:

J'mison Morgan, one of the top 40 high school basketball recruits in the nation, has decommitted from LSU Monday, opening up his recruitment to other options.

Morgan, a 6-foot-10, 275-pound center from South Oak Cliff H.S. in Dallas, has officially asked for a release from his letter-of-intent that he signed to the LSU Tigers....

UCLA will be strongly considered once Morgan is released from his National Letter of Intent due to the departure of freshman sensation Kevin Love. UCLA has a top-five recruiting class without Morgan, but with him, the Bruins may be able to return to the Final Four.

Jeff Eisenberg from the Press Enterprise who to his credit has been tracking the Morgan story for a while then posted this latest tidbit referencing the Dallas Morning Star:

South Oak Cliff senior center J'Mison "Bobo" Morgan on Monday confirmed that he has asked for his release from LSU. Morgan is considering attending UCLA in the fall.
"It was a real hard decision for me," said Morgan, an all-state center.
"My comfort level was at LSU, but I felt like UCLA was a better fit for me as far as exposure."

Now before everyone starts thinking that Morgan to UCLA is a done deal, please note that the reports indicate that Morgan has "asked" for a release. I have not seen any confirmed report yet that indicates that LSU has granted his request for a release. Also don't forget that there is a Kansas angle to this story:

This is where it becomes intriguing against with Morgan, who wanted an opportunity to play immediately and wanted a chance to win the national championship. KU and UCLA could both offer both those opportunities.

Morgan is seeking a release because LSU made a coaching change, replacing John Brady with Trent Johnson. He is the No. 25 overall player in the class of 2008. KU, of course, has seven commitments for 2008 and is down eight players from the national championship team.

This is where the speculation comes in. Two of the eight -- Mario Chalmers and Arthur -- could return. Another option, should KU eventually over-sign, is to remove a scholarship from a current scholarship player, which KU has done in the past, though usually just temporarily.

I have no idea how this situation is going to play out. Obviously if Morgan wants to play a team that will contend for titles with him in the fold UCLA with return of Darren Collison and the Fab-4 recruits would seem like an attractive option. But recruiting is a crazy world, and you never how these scenarios work out. I did have some reservations earlier about whether Morgan would fit into UCLA during the first go around. Obviously those concerns are mitigated by indications that Coach Howland and his staff will be more than happy to have him in the program. Simply I trust Howland.

If this holds up, it will be more than a big get. Morgan coming to UCLA will round up not only Coach Howland's best recruiting class since his arrival at UCLA, it will be probably mark the best recruiting class since the incoming class of 1998 (Barnes, Young, Rush, Moiso and Gadzuric) that Lavin wasted away. Moreover, Morgan's arrival to Westwood could position UCLA as a top-10 team heading into this off season.

Then again, I wouldn't get too excited. As I said above you never know how this kind of recruiting situations work out. It was just months we were all getting excited about Ryan Mallet playing for Neuheisel/Chow at UCLA. Although I concede that the obvious difference here is unlike Mallett Morgan has already been to UCLA on an official visit and has a prior recruiting history. Still let's wait this out and see the story works out before projecting depth charts for next season.

GO BRUINS.

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Comments

I know, I know...

but I can't HELP but to be excited! I was down to thinking we just wouldn't have a center for 08-09 and then to see this news...that we not only might have one, but one of the best in the country!? Man, I hope I wake up and see this news confirmed! GO BRUINS!!!

by uclafan11 on May 5, 2008 9:25 PM PDT reply actions

It's been up and down with him

He thinks about it, commits to LSU, then the LSU coach is fired, then they hire Trent Johnson, then he thinks of leaving, then he is leaving.

I need answers...

by freesia39 on May 5, 2008 9:39 PM PDT reply actions

Lighten up Francis . . .

Hard to understand the inner workings of a kid nicknamed, "Bobo" so let's wait and see.

I do have to wonder, though, if the scenario Dohn talked all year about with respect to available scholies is playing out. He always said that it is possible that a kid could transfer (Stanback) to make room for a highly touted recruit (der Bobo) if scholarships became an issue.

by Koach Karl I on May 5, 2008 10:18 PM PDT reply actions

kinda makes one wonder what's..

..going on behind the scenes. I mean, CBH wouldn't exactly be sitting on his keester in the off-season, would he?

God, it's great to be a Bruin!

by whp68 on May 6, 2008 4:40 AM PDT up reply actions

LOL

Is "lighten up Francis" a reference from the movie Judgment Night? If so YOU RULE! If not, carry on with your regularly scheduled programing.

Go UCLA!

by madmaxucla on May 6, 2008 6:33 AM PDT up reply actions

Madmax, your mancard is pulled!

It's a reference to Stripes.

by bornagainbruin on May 6, 2008 7:35 AM PDT up reply actions

Arghhhhh!

I hang my head in shame! I shall re-apply in 6 months!

Go UCLA!

by madmaxucla on May 6, 2008 8:22 AM PDT up reply actions

HA!

Even I knew this one, and...I'm a GIRL! (Who happens to love Bill Murray.) "That's a fact, Jack." ;)

Love My Bruins

by Bruingirl83 on May 6, 2008 9:35 AM PDT up reply actions

The Kansas angle..

Nestor, I don't see how the situation at Kansas is more desirable for Morgan than UCLA. If he wants to contend for a NC or FF spot right away and KU is "down eight players" from their NC team (which I assume means that the eight -- or at least six of them will be departing) how much more robust is UCLA with one returning guard, the four best recruits in the country, and in need of a center?

If I am a kid talking about "exposure" (cf. above) then it should be a no-brainer when it comes to deciding between Manhattan (Kansas) and Westwood: near Los Angeles, CBH's "rep for prep", the glitterati, the attention heaped on Bruin basketball, the Lakers, Disneyland, the ocean, the mountains, 24/7 lifestyle, etc.) Well, you know what I mean.

Still in all, it's probably a good idea not to get too excited until this shakes out.

God, it's great to be a Bruin!

by whp68 on May 6, 2008 5:06 AM PDT reply actions

Oh I agree

But I was just making sure folks are aware that there is at least "an angle" from Kansas pov.

by Nestor on May 6, 2008 5:11 AM PDT up reply actions

Manhattan is KSU

KU is in Lawrence.

by Nars on May 6, 2008 7:19 AM PDT up reply actions

And, Folks...

...(while Lawrence is no Westwood)...there is a HUGE difference.

Love My Bruins

by Bruingirl83 on May 6, 2008 9:43 AM PDT up reply actions

Standard KU joke circulating in Kansas City

Why did KU put Astroturf in their football stadium? To stop the dance team from grazing.

by Fox 71 on May 6, 2008 2:36 PM PDT up reply actions

My point exactly..

..and thanks for straightening me out. As Ms 'Girl states, Dallas is a little more urban than either Manhattan or Lawrence. Morgan will probably enjoy Westwood (Los Angeles) a lot more than either.

God, it's great to be a Bruin!

by whp68 on May 6, 2008 12:31 PM PDT up reply actions

One drawback to him coming to UCLA

It may have a bearing on what Sydney does the following year. Sydney may elect to bypass a program with a good incumbent center. If he did choose UCLA and IF Morgan was a sophomore than it may divide PT to the point that neither reaches Love-like status putting a damper on one and done possibilities for Sydney. Of course one must consider that Morgan would be a one and done himself. CBH has most assuredly has already considered all possibilities and will make a decision in the best interest of the program. That is if Morgan is even in the hunt or just another rumor.

by popopapa on May 6, 2008 6:52 AM PDT reply actions

There will be room for Sydney

Good chance Morgan is one and done. And if Luc decides to come back, Luc will be gone. Plus when Sydney makes his decision, it will not be clear whether Morgan will stay or not. Either way UCLA will be attractive to Sydney: he will come into a top-5/10 program which will continue as top-5/10 program in 09-10.

by bluestreet on May 6, 2008 7:03 AM PDT up reply actions

Sorry pop

Should have read your comment more carefully. You already mentioned that Morgan could be "one and done" himself.

by bluestreet on May 6, 2008 7:05 AM PDT up reply actions

Morgan + Sidney are not mutually exclusive

Morgan is a true C post player; Sidney is a 6-10 PF/SF (like Lamar Odom). If you have seen Sidney play, he has the skill set of a guard/SF. Having Bobo might make coming to UCLA MORE attractive for Sidney because he will be guaranteed to play the position he will likely fill in the pros--PF/SF.

by FUSC on May 6, 2008 7:34 AM PDT up reply actions

Morgan & Sydney

I'd rather take the 5-star C this coming season (when we know Collison and Holiday will definitely be around; possibly Luc too) than wait for one more season for a potential 5-star guy (who technically is a PF per the recruiting databases) but with those key guys gone. There are other good post guys in 2009 who UCLA can look at (Lane, etc.; also there's the potential negative stuff surrounding Sydney which might eventually sour UCLA though it doesn't appear too bad at this moment). I'd gobble up Morgan and deal with the Sydney recruiting situation down the line.

by Raisin on May 6, 2008 8:40 AM PDT up reply actions

"Bobo" Because His Hair Looked Like...

...Bozo The Clown's, and his brother couldn't say "Bozo"...

http://www.hsgametime.com/dfw/sharedcontent/dws/content/topstories/stories/022608dnspohsmorgan.2ed19 c9.html

It's a neat little article about him. He sounds like a fun kid, and like Nestor said, if Coach Howland wants him, I'm good with it.

Love My Bruins

by Bruingirl83 on May 6, 2008 10:22 AM PDT reply actions

Trying not to get my hopes up...

He sounds like a great fit for the program, not only because the Bruins need more size inside, but it sounds like the kid doesn't mind playing tough defense.

He doesn't sound like a one-and-done guy, given that he's not much of a scorer at this point, which makes me even more excited about the possibility of him landing in Westwood.

by cabz on May 6, 2008 11:27 AM PDT reply actions