2009 Men's Basketball Verbal Commitments

[Rhino]

I'll update this list as we go along and add tidbits also.

I'm closing this so posters can get info on future recruits without wading through a bunch of posts.

[Rhino]

Kyle Hardrick (http://basketballrecruiting.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?Sport=2&pr_key=48884)
Power forward
6'7", 233 lbs.
Oklahoma City (OK) Putnam City
AAU: Athletes First
Rivals150 for class of 2009 (145) (http://rivalshoops.rivals.com/viewrank.asp?ra_key=1642)
2009: Power forwards (39) (http://rivalshoops.rivals.com/viewrank.asp?ra_key=1914)

Committed: 05/26/06

Sat out most of his sophomore season recovering from a knee injury. More info later.

Quotables:

The early Oklahoma commitment quietly put together one heck of a weekend on the Virginia coast. Despite the fact he is only a sophomore, Hardrick played like a seasoned veteran.

His game is custom built for the Big 12 and he'll be an enforcer for the Sooners. Hardick works well with other post players as he and teammate Daniel Orton showed off a tremendous high-low tag team. Both players did a fine job on the low block as a scorer or at the elbow as the passer.

Offensively, he has made major strides on the blocks. The five-star sophomore knows what to do with the basketball when he gets his huge hands on it in the post. As a rebounder, he taught Tyreke Evans's Team Final a thing or two about collecting rebounds.

Already ranked amongst the top 25 sophomores nationally, Hardrick looked every bit like one of the top overall players in his class from start to finish. (http://rivalshoops.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=661856) Other schools considered:
None.

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[Rhino]

Steven Pledger (http://rivalshoops.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?Sport=2&pr_key=75938)
Shooting Guard
6'3", 185 lbs.
Chesapeake (VA) Atlantic Shores Christian
AAU: Boo Williams
[/URL]Rivals150 for class of 2009 (136) (http://rivalshoops.rivals.com/viewrank.asp?ra_key=1642)
2009: Shooting Guards (32) (http://rivalshoops.rivals.com/viewrank.asp?ra_key=1913)

[U] Committed: 05/27/08

Pledger averaged 22 points, seven rebounds and five assists per game his junior season.

Quotables:

Put down Pledger's name as a legitimate high major shooting guard. A physical player with good size for his position, Pledger consistently knocked down jumpers over the weekend while exuding confidence. And when he got to the basket, he finished as well.

(http://rivalshoops.rivals.com/content.asp?SID=910&CID=797663) Defensively, he was Boo Williams top perimeter defender. On a team full of talented prospects, Pledger was perhaps the key to Boo Williams' run to the championship. (http://rivalshoops.rivals.com/content.asp?SID=910&CID=797663) Other schools considered:
Wake Forest, VCU, Michigan, Virginia Tech, George Mason, Hampton

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[Rhino]

Tommy Mason-Griffin (http://rivalshoops.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?pr_key=54076&Sport=2)
Point Guard
5'10", 206 lbs.
Houston (TX) Madison
AAU: Houston Hoops
[/URL]Rivals150 for class of 2009 (66) (http://rivalshoops.rivals.com/viewrank.asp?ra_key=1642)
2009 Websider Hoops Top 10 (5) (http://rivalshoops.rivals.com/viewrank.asp?ra_key=1639)
2009: Point Guards (11) (http://rivalshoops.rivals.com/viewrank.asp?ra_key=1911)

[U] Committed: 07/21/08

Previously committed to LSU.

Video (http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid823433113/bctid1351432831)

Quotables:

Simply put, there wasn't a better individual performer from game to game than the guard from Texas. He won the individual battles and helped carry his Hoops team into the final four. (http://rivalshoops.rivals.com/content.asp?SID=910&CID=827608)
(http://rivalshoops.rivals.com/content.asp?SID=910&CID=827608)
Mason-Griffin scored off the dribble, from deep, at the rim and from the foul line. His passing skills were crafty and perfect to his big men and his energy was infectious. (http://rivalshoops.rivals.com/content.asp?SID=910&CID=827608)Mason-Griffin is one of the most-wanted men in the 2009 class right now for a reason. (http://rivalshoops.rivals.com/content.asp?SID=910&CID=827608) Other schools considered:
Texas, Memphis, Baylor, Texas A&M

http://img386.imageshack.us/img386/1913/tommymasongriffin723200ti5.jpghttp://img386.imageshack.us/img386/4856/tommymasongriffin0020zl3.jpghttp://img143.imageshack.us/img143/7656/tommymasongriffin0026el4.jpg

[Rhino]

Andrew Fitzgerald (http://rivalshoops.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?Sport=2&pr_key=69555)
Center
6'9", 245 lbs.
Wolfeboro (NH) Brewster Academy
AAU: Team Melo
Rivals150 for class of 2009 (100) (http://rivalshoops.rivals.com/viewrank.asp?ra_key=1642)
2009: Centers (13) (http://rivalshoops.rivals.com/viewrank.asp?ra_key=1915)

Committed: 10/19/08

Fitzgerald averaged 21 points, 18 rebounds and five blocks per game his junior season.

Quotables:

“He’s very skilled,” Smith said. “Andrew has outstanding footwork and hands. He can step out and shoot the ball from 18-19 feet and finishes very well around the rim.” (http://www.zagsblog.net/2008/09/28/seton-hall-checks-out-odom/) Other schools considered:
Minnesota, Kentucky, Marquette, Xavier, Louisville

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[Rhino]

Keith 'Tiny' Gallon (http://rivalshoops.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?Sport=2&pr_key=54694)
Center / Power forward
6'8", 290 lbs.
Mouth of Wilson (VA) Oak Hill Academy
AAU: Houston Hoops
Rivals150 for class of 2009 (31) (http://rivalshoops.rivals.com/viewrank.asp?ra_key=1642)
2009: Centers (5) (http://rivalshoops.rivals.com/viewrank.asp?ra_key=1915)

Committed: 11/19/09

Gallon is averaging 18.8 points and 11.1 rebounds per game this season.

Quotables:

Gallon also has a ton of game. It's not often that you see a big post player cross someone over into a spin move off the glass. In the first half against Boo Williams, Gallon was simply unstoppable. (http://rivalshoops.rivals.com/content.asp?SID=910&CID=797663) Other schools considered:
Mississippi State, California

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[Rhino]

Barry Honoré
Forward
6'7", 230 lbs.
Garland (TX) South Garland

Transferred: 09/01/09

Walk-on transfer from Southern University. Will sit out this season and have two years of eligibility remaining.

Averaged 8.8 ppg and 4.8 rpg as a sophomore. Named the Southwestern Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year in 2007-08.

Honoré was born in Oklahoma City and has relatives in and close to Norman. Originally committed to Oral Roberts out of high school.

Quotables:

"I wanted to be closer to home and closer to my family. "I have a grandmother who's in a nursing home right down the street here in Norman. I also have an aunt and uncle who live in Norman, and another aunt and uncle who live in Noble."

"This is a great program. I've always loved OU since I was a kid. A lot of people from my family attended OU. It's a great school with great tradition in academics and sports. I want to be a part of that."http://img38.imageshack.us/img38/2577/barryhonore2.jpghttp://img42.imageshack.us/img42/3926/barryhonore.jpg