Teague is third signee lost to academics
USF men's basketball coach Stan Heath has lost a third incoming recruit due to academic problems, as the school announced Friday that center Gene Teague has failed to meet the NCAA's minimum requirements for initial eligibility and will not be attending USF.
"We are disappointed that Gene will not be a part of our program," Heath said in a statement. "He was admitted conditionally this summer and would have been fully admitted had he been able to reach the NCAA's standards. We will assist him in finding a situation that is best for him and wish him the very best in his future endeavours."
Teague is the third recruit Heath has lost due to academic problems this summer, following point guard Dwan McMillan and forward Teeng Akol. Instead of an incoming class of eight players, USF now has five, and forward/center Gus Gilchrist will need an NCAA hardship waiver to be eligible this season. The loss of Akol and Teague means the Bulls are likely to again be thin in the frontcourt, a problem in Big East play last season that Heath had made a priority in his recruiting efforts.
Akol was released last month and has since committed to play for Oklahoma State; McMillan said Friday that he will visit Miami-Dade College next week and may attend classes there this year. McMillan said he talked with Heath on Tuesday and was told a scholarship would be waiting for him in 2009.
"He said once I clear, my scholarship is there for '09. I'm still a Bull," McMillan said. "They're still my No. 1 choice, and I want to play basketball there. I'm going to clear, but too late to play there this season."
Times sportswriter Greg Auman, who covers USF, will post news and thoughts on the Bulletin and we invite your participation in the comments area.
Well, at least we will get McMillan back next year, but this is no good...
Posted by: Windbane | August 15, 2008 at 07:34 PM
All those losses of frontcourt players are really going to hurt.
Posted by: Ken | August 15, 2008 at 09:48 PM
I hope we have a great football season to makeup for basketball...
Posted by: Tom | August 15, 2008 at 09:53 PM
That's why you've got to sign all those guys, because so many of them don't work out. Regardless, it almost can't help but be a better team this year. Still, I think Akol would've really helped.
Posted by: Stephen Blackehart | August 15, 2008 at 10:22 PM
Stephen, if you only knew.......
last year is going to look like a DYNASTY compared to this year.
I can't wait to see who is playing big minutes in the frontcourt....
Posted by: Reality | August 15, 2008 at 10:40 PM
Losing Akol and McMillan hurt because they were capable of putting the ball in the basket.Losing Teague gives us the opportunity to go in another direction.Frankly he was the one person I could see redshirting this coming season if everybody signed was to play for USF.
Getting McMillan back for the next season is huge because I was wondering who we were signing to run the point in the 09-2010 season.Heath said that it would be the 3rd season before USF could make an upwards move in the Big East.If we get a true SF and at least one Post player to go with the shooters we will have and possibly McMillan our team looks very good on paper.
Posted by: The Champ | August 16, 2008 at 08:42 AM
To a very special friend that reads this blog.
CONGRADULATIONS Felicia on being accepted to Michigan State University and may GOD bless you to acheive your dream of becoming a Medical Doctor.
Posted by: The Champ | August 16, 2008 at 09:08 AM
I sure hope Heath can deliver some good quality (academic and athletic) big men this year. Akol would have really helped and I just don't have a good feeling about Gilchrist. The thought of Ajayi, Williams, and the JUCO Sanchez being our only "weapons" down low in BE play is nothing short of a nightmare. Mr. Heath if you are going to pull a mircale recruting effort now would be the season to do it. Best of luck my friend, best of luck.
Posted by: Josh | August 16, 2008 at 10:34 AM
Umm, if Gilchrist can't play, can we get some sort of a special rule where our games are 4 on 4?
I wasn't expecting Teague to be a beast this season, but at this point, we just really need warm bodies up front. Even if Gilchrist can play, what happens if he gets in foul trouble (which will happen against Thabeet, Blair, and others)? This doesn't look good...
Posted by: Dave W | August 16, 2008 at 10:35 AM
Bravo.
Posted by: RR | August 16, 2008 at 11:45 AM
This upcoming basketball season is going to be horrible. You absolutely cannot win games in the B.E. without low post players. This is going to be really bad.
Posted by: DJ | August 16, 2008 at 04:52 PM
Thanks everyone, you can jump on the Reality bandwagon at any point.
CongraTulations to Felicia!
Posted by: Reality | August 17, 2008 at 08:46 AM
One last hope is if we can get Gus G. eligible. Teague was not going to be a factor anyway. He was out of shape and has been washed up since high school. Don't know why we were wasting time with him anyway. But I will never jump on Reality's bandwagon. Always negative.
Posted by: DJ | August 17, 2008 at 04:38 PM
Gotta like somebody who's not yet a college freshman but has been washed up since high school. Doesn't take long, I suppose ...
Posted by: G.A. | August 17, 2008 at 05:22 PM
Doesn't take long at all. He transferred his last year of high school because of his playing time, attitude and work ethic. Sometimes players don't live up to their expectations and it ain't hard to spot.
Posted by: DJ | August 18, 2008 at 09:03 AM
Sorry DJ, I am not always positive, because USF basketball is not positive right now, and I call them as I see them. That is why it is called REALITY.
So does anyone see this year any differently than I do? Ari?? 9-9??
Posted by: Reality | August 18, 2008 at 11:38 AM