Bradley Basketball Doings and Transpirings

Atlanta media sources are reporting that a guard named Jordan Brown (pictured here) will attend Bradley this next year as a preferred walk-on on an academic scholarship.  According to the guys over at Bradleyfans.com NCAA rules are such that a player who receives financial aid, was recruited by the university out of high school, and will walk on to the basketball team must take his freshman year as a redshirt.  Jordan Brown's "commitment" to Bradley on these terms is interesting for a couple of reasons.  First is that it seems if they're taking a player as a walk-on that they may have considered a full scholarship for, they're likely to use that scholarship on another player... Michael Ocherobia, or perhaps a transfer?  I think that's good news, personally, since I don't have interest in "banking" a scholarship for a year when three major minute-contributing guards (Warren, Maniscalco, and Dunson) will graduate.  The second thing is that this guy is hitting lists as a top 20 player in Atlanta.  I try to ignore, when I can, hype in Bradley recruiting because hope is always springing eternal, but what is a top 20 Atlanta player doing as a walk-on?  That could be a ridiculous steal for our program... He plays on the same nationally recognized team, Atlanta Westlake HS, as highly rated (#1 in Atlanta on many lists) Marcus Thornton.  That team went 30-3 and lost the state championship game after Thornton hurt himself in warmups.  Again, trying to discount the hype, but the last player we got out of Atlanta who played on a good HS team but was overshadowed by a more highly recruited teammate was Taylor Brown.  And Taylor Brown is good!  In any case, welcome to the family, Jordan!

Here's Dave Reynold's article in the PJ Star.  That article also quotes an unnamed official confirming that the final scholarship is being reserved for Michael Ocherobia.

In other news...
Chris Roberts is "drafted" by the Harlem Globetrotters. 

Also the posters at Bradleyfans.com have begun reporting on Bradley recruiting for the 2011 class in earnest.  Here's a list of targets and a link to the Bradleyfans discussion.

Remy Abell, 6-4 SG, 3 stars.  Louisville, KY.
Max Bielfeldt, 6-8 PF, Unrated.  Peoria, IL.
Quinton Chievous, 6-5 SG, Unrated.  Niles, IL.
Jamarlas Demas, 6-2 PG, Unrated.  Garland, TX.
Justin Gant, 6-8 PF, 3 stars.  Terra Haute, IN. 
Toddrick Gotcher, 6-3 SG, 3 stars.  Garland, TX.
AJ Price, 6-3 SG, Unrated.  Lewisville, TX.
Jacob Williams, 6-5 SF, 3 Stars. Chicago, IL. 

Looks like a good group of recruits to me.  Would be nice to pull in another point, and an off-guard, and a wing, as far as I'm concerned.  Also interesting, if you follow the link to AJ Price you'll see that the conversation includes someone who is a family member of AJ's posting on bradleyfans.