Heath: Visit confirms all fine with Famous

USF basketball coach Stan Heath made a visit to New York on Sunday evening to see incoming junior center Jarrid Famous and was reassured there are no issues to keep the highly touted signee from joining the Bulls in four weeks.

Westchester Community College coach Tyrone Mushatt, who joined Heath for the visit, said the meeting was a "great sitdown," and said any reports of problems between Famous and his future coach were incorrect.

"There didn't have to be any smoothing over. There wasn't any uneasiness," Mushatt said. "He's going to South Florida. He knows I'm saying this. There won't be any confusion."

A report in the Tampa Tribune quoted Westchester assistant Mickey Carey as saying that Famous was asking for a release from the national letter of intent he signed with USF last month, that he was uncomfortable with changes to Heath's coaching staff and a lack of communication since his signing. Famous' father, Jerome, has been adamant that his son will attend USF as planned.

Heath said he has talked regularly with Famous since his signing and has specifically asked him if the departure of assistants Dan Hipsher and Byron Samuels was an issue.

"I can only go by what Jarrid has told me, and the comments that were made (from Carey) were never comments that Jarrid made to me," Heath said Sunday night.

Famous himself has not made any comments throughout the past week, and both coaches said Sunday that he was not feeling well and would not be speaking to reporters. Heath said he looks forward to Famous arriving on campus on June 25 and starting summer classes with the rest of the incoming class.

Famous, 6-foot-11 and 240 pounds, ranked among the top three scorers and rebounders in junior college basketball this past season and chose the Bulls in April over offers from Arizona, Missouri and Seton Hall.

Comments

[Wes Stevens]

the previous post makes me think about something i think about when i visit the Times forum...

if the Lightning goes broke or leaves town, how might that affect USF basketball?

I love the SunDome, and i understand the appeal of an on-campus facility. But we have real attendance issues. Why not try playing a few games in that beautiful building downtown? or maybe even more than a few games?

Maybe not so much now. But with the Lightning so financially shaky, it is tempting to dream about the future. And perhaps, some time in the future, the Forum could be motivated to make itself a first class home for our Bulls Hoops team(s).

And if that happens, i think $ for upgrades for training facilities and such would more likely follow...

[hoops turnaround...]

That's right about Hipp and crew being the first group to turn it around since Lenny Bias tore things up as a Terp.

Heath needs a bit of initial financial support in immediately in the way of at least breaking ground on a legit BE quality practice facility, and training area. It doesn't need completion but at this point plans, spec, a qualified GC, a ground breaking ceremony, artist renditions, equipment fundraising...etc...needs to happen in a hurry.

If this continues to be a cart before the horse routine then it will never get off the ground and it will be no fault of Heath's. The University, the Athletic Department have to make the commitment to get it off the ground in some manner, and that includes more than basic facelifts to the SunDome too. I don't care but they need to continually improve the aesthetics...dammit how abou sprucing up the bathrooms and make them look all USF...think micro as well as macro.

Until all that begins it's unfair to put any amount of pressure on Heath.

[Ari Hinkelberger]

Terry - it was Joe Smith who really turned things around at Maryland. Francis was a few years after - unless im mistaken.

Actually it was two guards named Xree Hipp, Johnny Rhodes, Duane Simpson and Keith Booth.

A couple of guys from Dematha that got the ball rolling enought for Gary Williams to sign Joe Smith out of Newport News.

My old man's a big terps fan. If Joe Smith stuck around for his senior year - the terps would won it all with Francis outside and Joe Smith inside.

They were nasty.

[USFShep]

Great news! Heath will be King if he gets this program turned around. As long as USF takes care of him he won't leave. Look what Arkansas did to him...Heath can make a winner here and financially be taken care of.

[Steve O'Neal]

Heath gets this program rolling and the crowds will improve. The revenue will be there to renovate the sundome into a 1st class facility complete with new training wing and parking. Why would this be such a "horrible" job at that point? Maybe Heath gets it turned around and stays in Tampa. GO BULLS!

[BC]

Annnnnd the Trib fails again

[Terry Lucas]

He is worth the flight IMO. This guy is our version of Stevey Franchise... you remember, the guy who put Maryland back on the map. The year of Steve Francis left, the rest of the team carried them to an NCAA title berth. Famous is the real deal. Glad Stan flew to New York to check on this gem... sometimes you have to do what you have to do to insure the continuity of a recruiting class. When December rolls around, Famous will thank Heath for taking him out of NY.

[Ari Hinkelberger]

My only worry is that Heath gets this ship sailing in year five and bails for some mid-major.

9-9 in the Big East this year and Woolard better roll out the extension or this dude is leaving this horrid job just like Greenberg did.

[Bull Hooper]

thank you.