Word of mouf is all the rage these days on the campus of SIU, especially when it comes to men's basketball.While head coach Chris Lowery can't say a peep about verbal commits such as Eugene Teague, Jr., and John Freeman, I can. And will.
Teague, Jr., (that imposing looking figure to your right) is a 6-foot-8-inch monster who weighs about 290 pounds. He could be the answer inside as he possesses a few low-post moves that could open up outside threats such as Kevin Dillard, Ryan Hare, Justin Bocot and Tony Freeman.
Sure, he couldn't qualify at the University of South Florida, but sometimes you have to take a risk a player like that. In practice, Lowery has a way with words and can really motivate a kid to outperform expectations. If C-Lo can do that in the class room as well as the court, the Dawgs might have just landed a steal.
Based on his angry mug alone, he could be good for a few minutes of intimidation.
And before anyone says SIU shouldn't take a risk with this kid, see Justin Bocot and hit me up when he pans out and is a star.
Joining Teague Jr., in the world of verbal committments is Vincennes forward John Freeman. The 6-foot-5-inch forward averaged 14 points, 4 assists and 2.4 blocks last season and my hope is that he brings to the team the kind of intensity Tyrone Green or Lamar Owen brought. Actually, all I want Free II to do is to get in the way of Osiris Eldridge for about 20 minutes in games played in Normal, Carbondale and St. Louis.
SIU has one more scholarship available and it could go to one of two JUCO studs: Torye Pelham or Tony Lewis. Both are forwards that could provide the Salukis with even more much-needed bench depth.
If the Dawgs are to land the 6-foot-6 inch forward, it would mean Pelham turned down the generous offers from power-conference schools such as Florida State, Iowa, Iowa State, Oklahoma, Texas Tech ... along with Missouri Valley Conference rivals Creighton and Wichita State.
On the other hand, bringing Lewis to Carbondale might be more of a distinct possibility. The recruiting gurus at Rivals.com list SIU and Illinois State as schools with offers on the table for the JUCO all-American, but ISUred just recently filled all of its scholarships, so Southern might be just going up against Loyola-Chicago for Lewis' services.
And as much as I like Chicago, better basketball exposure awaits Lewis in Carbondale.
Photo Credit: Scout.com
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