The bad news for Marshall basketball coach Tom Herrion is this: The spring installment of the national signing period begins today - four days after he was announced as the Thundering Herd's new coach.
The bad news for Marshall basketball coach Tom Herrion is this: The spring installment of the national signing period begins today - four days after he was announced as the Thundering Herd's new coach.
That brings even worse news: A whole bunch of good basketball players have been spoken for and will sign on the dotted line. That includes four other new Conference USA coaches, all of whom took office before Herrion.
Chalk that up as an occupational hazard, one his previous two predecessors faced.
Back in 2003, Ron Jirsa had it easy ... sort of. He was named to replace Greg White on June 16, well after the end of the recruiting cycle.
In 2007, Donnie Jones had to wait until after his Florida team was eliminated in the NCAA tournament - or won the thing, which the Gators did for the second consecutive year, meaning Jones' arrival didn't come until April 7. That was all of four days before the start of the signing period - exactly the timing of Herrion's arrival.
So you might not expect Herrion to roll out three or four signees today, because Jones didn't. It was 17 days before Jones announced two players, and neither played a minute. Anybody remember Emmanuel Jones and Revelino "Mookie" Pierre?
Shortly after, Jones signed Matt Walls, who lasted a year. He brought in Gonzaga graduate transfer Pierre-Marie Altidor-Cespedes, who filled the point-guard gap for his final year of eligibility. Toward the end of the signing period, Jones brought in Tirrell Baines, who enters his senior season and even attended Herrion's press conference.
Jones loaded up on three transfers, who had to sit out a year, and just one stuck around for senior day - Chris Lutz from Purdue.
With that background, it's tough to handicap who Herrion can bring in during the five-week signing period. In Huntington, a spotlight is focusing on one prep-school standout, Gorgui Dieng.
Playing for the new Huntington Prep program, the 6-foot-10 Senegal native averaged 15 points, 13 rebounds and eight blocked shots. More recently, he made a splash at the Kentucky Derby Festival Basketball Classic, a single all-star game. He was named his team's MVP, which was seen as an attempt to sway him toward Louisville.
But Dieng isn't expected to sign with anybody today. Huntington Prep coach Rob Fulford said he is preparing to play in an AAU tournament in Denver, and will take one official visit to Marquette and one to Maryland or Wake Forest. A decision is expected in perhaps a week and a half.
He has taken unofficial visits to Louisville, Kentucky, Virginia Tech and Marshall. He is said to be enjoying his time at Marshall and has been spotted wearing Thundering Herd gear often.
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Herrion's late start hampers hoops recruiting
The bad news for Marshall basketball coach Tom Herrion is this: The spring installment of the national signing period begins today - four days after he was announced as the Thundering Herd's new coach.
That brings even worse news: A whole bunch of good basketball players have been spoken for and will sign on the dotted line. That includes four other new Conference USA coaches, all of whom took office before Herrion.
Chalk that up as an occupational hazard, one his previous two predecessors faced.
Back in 2003, Ron Jirsa had it easy ... sort of. He was named to replace Greg White on June 16, well after the end of the recruiting cycle.
In 2007, Donnie Jones had to wait until after his Florida team was eliminated in the NCAA tournament - or won the thing, which the Gators did for the second consecutive year, meaning Jones' arrival didn't come until April 7. That was all of four days before the start of the signing period - exactly the timing of Herrion's arrival.
So you might not expect Herrion to roll out three or four signees today, because Jones didn't. It was 17 days before Jones announced two players, and neither played a minute. Anybody remember Emmanuel Jones and Revelino "Mookie" Pierre?
Shortly after, Jones signed Matt Walls, who lasted a year. He brought in Gonzaga graduate transfer Pierre-Marie Altidor-Cespedes, who filled the point-guard gap for his final year of eligibility. Toward the end of the signing period, Jones brought in Tirrell Baines, who enters his senior season and even attended Herrion's press conference.
Jones loaded up on three transfers, who had to sit out a year, and just one stuck around for senior day - Chris Lutz from Purdue.
With that background, it's tough to handicap who Herrion can bring in during the five-week signing period. In Huntington, a spotlight is focusing on one prep-school standout, Gorgui Dieng.
Playing for the new Huntington Prep program, the 6-foot-10 Senegal native averaged 15 points, 13 rebounds and eight blocked shots. More recently, he made a splash at the Kentucky Derby Festival Basketball Classic, a single all-star game. He was named his team's MVP, which was seen as an attempt to sway him toward Louisville.
But Dieng isn't expected to sign with anybody today. Huntington Prep coach Rob Fulford said he is preparing to play in an AAU tournament in Denver, and will take one official visit to Marquette and one to Maryland or Wake Forest. A decision is expected in perhaps a week and a half.
He has taken unofficial visits to Louisville, Kentucky, Virginia Tech and Marshall. He is said to be enjoying his time at Marshall and has been spotted wearing Thundering Herd gear often.
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The bad news for Marshall basketball coach Tom Herrion is this: The spring installment of the national signing period begins today - four days after he was announced as the Thundering Herd's new coach.
That brings even worse news: A whole bunch of good basketball players have been spoken for and will sign on the dotted line. That includes four other new Conference USA coaches, all of whom took office before Herrion.
Chalk that up as an occupational hazard, one his previous two predecessors faced.
Back in 2003, Ron Jirsa had it easy ... sort of. He was named to replace Greg White on June 16, well after the end of the recruiting cycle.
In 2007, Donnie Jones had to wait until after his Florida team was eliminated in the NCAA tournament - or won the thing, which the Gators did for the second consecutive year, meaning Jones' arrival didn't come until April 7. That was all of four days before the start of the signing period - exactly the timing of Herrion's arrival.
So you might not expect Herrion to roll out three or four signees today, because Jones didn't. It was 17 days before Jones announced two players, and neither played a minute. Anybody remember Emmanuel Jones and Revelino "Mookie" Pierre?
Shortly after, Jones signed Matt Walls, who lasted a year. He brought in Gonzaga graduate transfer Pierre-Marie Altidor-Cespedes, who filled the point-guard gap for his final year of eligibility. Toward the end of the signing period, Jones brought in Tirrell Baines, who enters his senior season and even attended Herrion's press conference.
Jones loaded up on three transfers, who had to sit out a year, and just one stuck around for senior day - Chris Lutz from Purdue.
With that background, it's tough to handicap who Herrion can bring in during the five-week signing period. In Huntington, a spotlight is focusing on one prep-school standout, Gorgui Dieng.
Playing for the new Huntington Prep program, the 6-foot-10 Senegal native averaged 15 points, 13 rebounds and eight blocked shots. More recently, he made a splash at the Kentucky Derby Festival Basketball Classic, a single all-star game. He was named his team's MVP, which was seen as an attempt to sway him toward Louisville.
But Dieng isn't expected to sign with anybody today. Huntington Prep coach Rob Fulford said he is preparing to play in an AAU tournament in Denver, and will take one official visit to Marquette and one to Maryland or Wake Forest. A decision is expected in perhaps a week and a half.
He has taken unofficial visits to Louisville, Kentucky, Virginia Tech and Marshall. He is said to be enjoying his time at Marshall and has been spotted wearing Thundering Herd gear often.
Herrion has four and possibly five or more scholarships to fill, if he wants. Three seniors departed and human eraser Hassan Whiteside left shortly after the season, declaring for the NBA draft. The academic status of DeAndre Kane is uncertain, at best.
Transfers are possible, though it seems unlikely any will follow Jones to Central Florida. Not only would such players have to sit out the 2010-11 season, but a Conference USA official confirmed a league rule that could further cut their playing careers.
The rule dictates that intraconference transfers will lose one year from their eligibility, essentially lopping off their senior year. A waiver can be given, provided both athletic directors agree - and Marshall may not be in the mood to sign off on one.
Herrion, who came to Marshall after serving as an assistant at Pitt, may be able to land a prospect who was interested in the Panthers. Pitt signed three players in November, which should fill its allotment of scholarships.
Perhaps a dozen uncommitted players are known to have shown some interest in Pitt, whether they were serious at the end of the process, or whether they were offered. A few, such as shooting guard Doron Lamb of Oak Hill Academy, will go to Big East or similar-caliber schools, obviously.
With Herrion's background, look for the Herd's recruiting base to swing to the Northeast, at least in part. A few of those listed as once interested in Pitt hail from North Carolina or one of the well-known prep schools, but others come from New York City, New Jersey or New England.
Herrion, who is beginning his family's move from Pittsburgh today, also has to name a coaching staff, though he certainly has done some work in that regard.
Some speculation for his top assistant centers on Mark Byington, who worked for him at College of Charleston and remains in that position under Bobby Cremins. But Byington is in the running for the vacancy at North Carolina-Wilmington, and Cremins even stumped for Byington at a community college near Wilmington on Tuesday.
For another position, Herrion could conceivably tab Brian Regan, Pitt's director of basketball operations. He served as top assistant at Colgate from 2002-07 before going to Pitt.
This article is available only to our premium digital content subscribers.
Herrion's late start hampers hoops recruiting
The bad news for Marshall basketball coach Tom Herrion is this: The spring installment of the national signing period begins today - four days after he was announced as the Thundering Herd's new coach.
That brings even worse news: A whole bunch of good basketball players have been spoken for and will sign on the dotted line. That includes four other new Conference USA coaches, all of whom took office before Herrion.
Chalk that up as an occupational hazard, one his previous two predecessors faced.
Back in 2003, Ron Jirsa had it easy ... sort of. He was named to replace Greg White on June 16, well after the end of the recruiting cycle.
In 2007, Donnie Jones had to wait until after his Florida team was eliminated in the NCAA tournament - or won the thing, which the Gators did for the second consecutive year, meaning Jones' arrival didn't come until April 7. That was all of four days before the start of the signing period - exactly the timing of Herrion's arrival.
So you might not expect Herrion to roll out three or four signees today, because Jones didn't. It was 17 days before Jones announced two players, and neither played a minute. Anybody remember Emmanuel Jones and Revelino "Mookie" Pierre?
Shortly after, Jones signed Matt Walls, who lasted a year. He brought in Gonzaga graduate transfer Pierre-Marie Altidor-Cespedes, who filled the point-guard gap for his final year of eligibility. Toward the end of the signing period, Jones brought in Tirrell Baines, who enters his senior season and even attended Herrion's press conference.
Jones loaded up on three transfers, who had to sit out a year, and just one stuck around for senior day - Chris Lutz from Purdue.
With that background, it's tough to handicap who Herrion can bring in during the five-week signing period. In Huntington, a spotlight is focusing on one prep-school standout, Gorgui Dieng.
Playing for the new Huntington Prep program, the 6-foot-10 Senegal native averaged 15 points, 13 rebounds and eight blocked shots. More recently, he made a splash at the Kentucky Derby Festival Basketball Classic, a single all-star game. He was named his team's MVP, which was seen as an attempt to sway him toward Louisville.
But Dieng isn't expected to sign with anybody today. Huntington Prep coach Rob Fulford said he is preparing to play in an AAU tournament in Denver, and will take one official visit to Marquette and one to Maryland or Wake Forest. A decision is expected in perhaps a week and a half.
He has taken unofficial visits to Louisville, Kentucky, Virginia Tech and Marshall. He is said to be enjoying his time at Marshall and has been spotted wearing Thundering Herd gear often.
