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Tracking the College Basketball Stars of the Future

ECU & C-USA Hoops Recruiting Report
Thursday, September 18, 2003

By Thad Mumau
Special Correspondent

Backcourt wizard still pondering 'official' pledge

All HOOPS recruiting headlines...
Thumbnails of 2003 commitments...

N.J. guard still pondering 'official' pledge...
Pirates lay claim to Jersey hoops 'treasure'...
Pirates closing in on N.J. backcourt star...
Clemson, Virginia Tech zero in on ECU target...
Pirates' W-S Reynolds ties heat up again...
ECU in the hunt for 'hot' combo prospect...
Herrion navigates summertime recruiting...
Charlotte, ECU classes among region's Top 5...
Pirates in contention for Top 100 prospect...
Cards set pace for '04; ECU considers guard...
ECU battles Stanford, UVa for 2004 target...
Herrion on lookout for frontcourt transfer...
Kentucky snatches ECU post target...
Robinson brings multiple talents to wing...
Whirlwind week of visits for big man 'Woo'...
Point guard McNeil brushes off late suitors...
NYC guard will get early chance to shine...
Versatile Robinson picks East Carolina...
ECU, South Carolina contend for Gonner...
Pirates chase talent for this year and next...
Cook poised to shore up ECU backcourt...
Son of a coach gets it done with hard work...
Help in the post on ECU recruiting agenda...
ECU backcourt adds "slasher", "shooter"...
Guard's coach wants ECU in recruiting mix...
"Old School" guard has ECU in sights...
East Carolina on the hunt for guards...
Gridiron prospect a rebounding machine...
Pinnock back in Pirates' recruiting mix...
Prolific scorer Atuahene warms up to ECU...
Driesell still thorn in ECU's side...
Reynolds' Foster makes it official...
ECU high on lists of backcourt slashers...
Prospects Cook, King put off decisions...
'Power guard' Cook books ECU excursion...
ECU still beating bushes for point guards...
Fayetteville guard likes ECU's C-USA ties...
C-USA teams lure big men, big names...
Jamaican joins ECU's international cast...
49ers, Cards snare key '03 commitments...
Ranking the Carolinas recruiting classes...
Foster has plans to bulk up for C-USA...
Wiley refining his game for C-USA wars...
Holcombe-Faye 'pipeline' flows eastward...
'Hot Hand Luke' sold on ECU & C-USA...
Juco wings top off dazzling class...
It's a wrap — ECU signs Moberly's Wiley...
Pirate recruiting class almost complete...
JC Transfer Mackay Makes It Official...
Herrion Snares Aussie Shooting Guard...
High-scoring Rivers signs with ECU...
Pirates seek experience in Juco targets...
Rivers attracted by 'tough' schedule...
'Minges Maniacs' impacted decision...
ECU makes early offer to Enloe junior...
C-USA transforms Pirates' recruiting...
ACC schools' pursuit of Rouse too late...
Mumau's C-USA recruiting roundup...
Kinston forward Rouse officially signs...

©2003 Bonesville.net

This is the story of a commitment that isn’t a commitment that will probably become a commitment, possibly very soon. If that sounds confusing, it is, but there are reasons for the confusion.

And the kicker is that the ending could be good news for East Carolina basketball.

The Pirates have been working hard to land Cedric Jackson, a 6-2 1/2 point guard, who is ranked No. 194 among the nation’s senior players by Prepstars.com. He averaged 24.9 points, 8.5 rebounds, six assists and 4.5 steals last season.

On Friday, Sept. 12, ECU head coach Bill Herrion and assistant Greg Herenda made an in-school visit to Jackson at North Burlington High School in Columbus, N.J. This followed an official trip by the prospect to East Carolina Sept. 5-7.

On hand, in addition to the Pirates’ coaches and Jackson, were his coach, Herman Johnson, and the North Burlington athletic director. The player’s father was not present, and that is an important part of the scenario.

There was anticipation that day in New Jersey, anticipation that Jackson would commit to East Carolina. He even said that’s what he wanted to do.

"Cedric was locked and loaded," Johnson said. "I thought he was ready (to commit). It looked like that’s what was going to happen."

But it didn’t, at least not "officially."

"The thing was," Johnson pointed out, "that Mr. Jackson was not there. Cedric wanted him to be there when he made that announcement. His dad wanted to be there."

So, what broke as a commitment to the Pirates turned out not to be a commitment, but only a false alarm, so to speak.

Still, it seemed only a matter of time. In fact, Johnson said he thought the "official" word would come Tuesday, Sept. 16, with Mr. Jackson beside his son for the announcement. That day came and went, however, and nothing else transpired.

"I still think it’s going to happen," Johnson said Wednesday. "But I can’t speak for Cedric or his dad or their family. At this time, let’s just say there has been a delay."

An obvious reaction would be that another school had gotten to the Jacksons, found a crack in their resolve and made recruiting inroads. But that is not the case.

"There aren’t any other schools," Johnson said. "Cedric doesn’t have any other visits planned. I think it’s just a thing where he wants to make very sure about a decision that is very important, very big, in his life.

"If Cedric Jackson says he’s going to East Carolina — if he makes a commitment — then you can count on him signing a letter of intent. He comes from the old school where his word is his bond. His handshake is the same as his signature on a contract. He isn’t going to commit and then change his mind like you see some kids do. That’s just the way he is, and that’s the way we do things here. I tell kids their word means something.

"One thing to keep in mind," Johnson said, "is that, when kids visit a school, they come back excited. Everything is great. That isn’t the best time to make a decision. It’s best to let things settle down and think about everything for a while. That’s what Cedric is doing."

Sunday, Jackson and his father are scheduled to have a telephone conversation with Herrion, and it could be that something "official" will take place then.

"It’s possible," Johnson said. "Or, it could happen before then. Cedric and his dad may wake up tomorrow morning and say they are ready.

"I told them that they have to keep in mind what the deal is with the East Carolina coaching staff. They have to recruit players. They want Cedric, but they can’t wait forever. If there is another kid they want who says he is ready to commit, then it could be that the offer won’t be out there for Cedric any longer. That’s just the way it is.

"When they (Jackson and his dad) think about that, it could be that they will not want to delay any longer. But I don’t know.

"What I do know," Johnson said, "is they like East Carolina a whole lot. They like the program, the coaches, the campus and the league (Conference USA). They just want to be very sure before they give their word.

"I think it will happen."

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02/23/2007 02:40:52 PM

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