'06 OH SF Raymar Morgan (Michigan State Verbal)

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Morgan will be visiting UConn this weekend..........

Ohio State may be still in the hunt for Morgan at this point.......

His last visit is to Michigan State and then their should be a decision made in mid Oct.

[HINYG8]

Raymar didn't make it to UCONN so one less horse in this race.....looks like MSU will be his final visit and a decision looms in October.

[msunut]

If Raymar Morgan commits i will be really happy with MSU's 2006 Class. It might not be 4 Five Star players but i'll take a couple consensus 4 Star Players that will stay 4 years. I don't want another Zach randolph. I would have loved Oden but he's the only player i Envy that OSU got for 2006. I envy tOSU for oden but thats it.

It should be a great battle between MSU and tOSU during the 2006 & 2007 years.

[OSU_Buckguy]

Originally Posted by msunut

I would have loved Oden but he's the only player i Envy that OSU got for 2006. I envy tOSU for oden but thats it.

i think that both of those sentences mean the same thing. anyway...

i can understand not being all that envious of osu grabbing lighty and conley (though i think you should), but how can one not be envious of osu grabbing cook? when i read about cook, i am reminded of jimmy jackson.

from the 2004 abcd camp:

Daequan Cook - 6'5", 210 (Dayton, OH) Steve was pretty honest in praise about Cookm, "I love this guy." He can really put points up on the board, though he's not just a shooter, but a scorer. He finds so many ways to get his buckets, and his baskets look good because of good looking form in his jumper and great elevation. Cook had a quiet second game, but got off to a blistering start with 18 points in the first game (6-6 from the field). He's a superb athlete who really stood out as the best player on the court during that first game, a strong statement considering this gamen included the likes of Greg Oden, OJ Mayo, and Taylor King. If you give his shot too much respect, he has no problems takeing his man off the dribble and finishing strong inside. An exciting player to watch, and one to look out for playing with the Jazz all week.

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Lets keep the thread on Morgan......

I still believe that OSU has a legitimate chance of landing Morgan, Matta will take six in this class if he can......

[wadc45]

Rivals $

9/30/05

From RivalsHoops.com...Raymar is visiting MSU this weekend. The article predicts a possible verbal to Izzo based on Hunter committing to OSU.

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

FWIW....the Hunter verbal will not be the deciding factor in Morgan's decision.

[wadc45]

Originally Posted by bucknuts44820

FWIW....the Hunter verbal will not be the deciding factor in Morgan's decision.

Agreed...it's just part of the story in the article...

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

rivals.com (free)

9/30/05

September 30, 2005
Morgan Excited About Official Visit Paul Konyndyk
SpartanMag.com
Most folks in East Lansing and around the state of Michigan are consumed with Saturday's rivalry clash between the Michigan State and Michigan football teams, but there is another showdown brewing between the state's two biggest universities.

This battle will not be waged on the well-groomed grass at Spartan Stadium. It takes place on the hardwood. And it could end as soon as this weekend if Canton McKinley's Raymar Morgan walks away from his official visit to Michigan State with his mind and his heart set on East Lansing.

The Spartans and Wolverines are the frontrunners for the services of the 6-foot-8 combo forward, who shot up the Rivals.com rankings this summer with an outstanding performance at the NIKE All-America Camp and a strong run playing with the Percy Robinson led AAU team the King James Shooting Stars.

Morgan is the No. 48 ranked player in the class of 2006 and the No. 3 player in Ohio according to Rivals.com. Other recruiting services have Morgan ranked in the Top 25 nationally.

If Morgan commits to MSU he will join Braham (Minn.) wing Isaiah Dahlman in the Spartans' 2006 recruiting class.

Being the last visit is generally a good sign in any recruitment. "I think it's good for Raymar to be going to MSU last," Robinson said. "He is nervous about making his final decision, but he is excited about coming up to East Lansing for his official visit. This will be his third time at State so he is comfortable up there. But an official visit is a little bit different. There is more excitement in the air."

Morgan will also be attending Saturday's game. "Oh yeah, we'll be there for that one," said Robinson. "We are not going to miss that. It's going to be a good time."

Michigan State has long been thought to be the leader in the Morgan sweepstakes. And that still seems to be the case. Although, Michigan has come on strong during the last month and made an impression on Morgan.

All signs seem to point to East Lansing, but neither Robinson nor Morgan is willing to make a public statement to that effect. "In all honesty, I don't think he has settled on one school just yet," said Robinson. "He had a good time on his visit to Michigan and they have come on strong in the last month. Michigan State has done everything right in their recruitment and Raymar and his mother are quite impressed with the program. I am too."

Robinson says the Spartans have recruited Morgan the longest of any of the teams still in play and they have put on the full court press. "Coach Izzo has been at all of his workouts," Robinson. "I am impressed with the dedication and work ethic he has shown when he was recruiting Raymar. When other coaches have sent assistants, he has been there in person."

This weekend's official visit will mark the second time Morgan has visited MSU this fall. He was in East Lansing for an open gym shortly before visiting Michigan on his official visit two weeks ago.

Morgan liked playing the guys at Michigan State, but didn't feel like he performed the way he should have. He will be playing in open gym again this weekend, and Robinson says his player is going to play better.

"I know he wants to go in there and show the guys something," Robinson said. "And if he doesn't then I am going to make him play hard. Even if it's an open gym, you have to have pride and play hard. I like that about Michigan State."

Most open gyms are laid back and lackadaisical, but not in East Lansing. "It was impressive," Robinson laughed. "Those kids were out there playing like it was a Final Four game. That says a lot about the program when kids are playing that hard without their coach around."

As a coach who preaches defense much more than many AAU coaches, Robinson appreciates what the Spartans are doing in the off season.

"That's how you get better and win games," he said. "I really like what's going on at State. Those guys are working hard and making young guys work for everything. That's the way it should be."

Ohio State will likely finish third for Morgan. Connecticut would have been in the mix had there been better communication between the Huskies coaching staff and Morgan, who cancelled his scheduled visit.

[BearBuck27]

I don't have premium, but there is a new article on the Scout Hot News. It says that he has verballed according to a source, and according to his profile Raymar has committed to MSU. Hopefully, someone with premium can give us the whole story.


http://scout.scout.com/a.z?s=145&p=8&c=1&nid=1340009

[BB73]

Best of luck to Raymar at Michigan State. Except when they play the Buckeyes, of course.

[sears3820]

Kyle Lamb of Bucknuts is going to have a write-up very soon on Morgan's commitment to Sparty.

The article states that Morgan has indeed made a choice and will be going public with it tomorrow.

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

He will announce tomorrow and it looks like Michigan State, but nothing has been confirmed at this point.

[sears3820]

Free from BN



Raymar Morgan

By Kyle Lamb
Date: Oct 2, 2005

Canton McKinley's Raymar Morgan ended the suspense on Sunday by committing to Michigan State. Morgan, the nation's No. 28 basketball prospect, picked the Spartans over Ohio State and Michigan. Click here for more.

Ohio’s top remaining senior in the 2006 recruiting class is off the board. Canton McKinley’s Raymar Morgan returned home this evening from his official visit to Michigan State and issued a verbal commitment.

“I did commit before I left,” Morgan told Bucknuts Sunday evening. “I think it was (a spur of the moment kind of thing). It was so exciting and it made so much sense, I just decided to go ahead and commit, but I don’t think I had planned on it.”

Morgan chose Michigan State over Ohio State and Michigan. He visited those two campuses on consecutive weekends in September.

Michigan State had been in on Morgan for a long time, giving them a firm grasp on ScoutHoops.com’s No. 28-ranked player. Morgan averaged 19 points and 10 rebounds last year as a junior as McKinley won the Division I state championship.

The last couple of weeks, Morgan said he was real close to becoming a Buckeye. But in the end, Michigan State made the most sense for him.

“Michigan State was always there, but I did have thoughts about going there (to Ohio State) instead and stay close to home,” he explained. “Once the visit was made, I just decided to do it and live with my decision.”
He elaborated on some of the things Michigan State brings to the table for him.

“Basically everything just fit in real well,” Morgan said. “I have a chance to get some playing time there as a freshman, and all the guys were real cool and everything fit for me.”

In addition, Morgan added that four Final Fours in seven years was a big plus in the upside category for the Spartans.
Morgan becomes the second member of the 2006 recruiting class for Michigan State, joining Isaiah Dahlman of Minnesota.

Ohio State, meanwhile, has five commitments in the current class, including last week’s latest verbal Othello Hunter. Hunter is a 6-9 junior college power forward/center from Hillsborough Community College. It’s expected that Ohio State will now turn their focus to a JUCO wing as a possible sixth player in the 2006 class.

[osugrad21]

Canton

College basketball: Morgan prepares for his debut
Wednesday, November 8, 2006
By Chris Beaven REPOSITORY SPORTS WRITER

Do not expect Raymar Morgan to take the floor tonight thinking like a freshman during his Michigan State University basketball debut. "Coach tells me he can't treat me like a freshman, so that's how I'll look at it," the McKinley High School graduate said.
"I'm just going to play my game and get better each day."
Morgan made the most of his first preseason as a Spartan. The 6-foot-7 forward is establishing himself as an invaluable member of one of the nation's elite programs.
He will start tonight when the Spartans open the season at home against Brown in the 2K Sports College Hoops Classic.
"I'm probably not going to tell him he's a freshman very often, because we do need him," Head Coach Tom Izzo told the Associated Press.
With their top three players from a year ago in the NBA, the Spartans are looking to reload in a hurry to maintain their run of nine straight NCAA Tournament appearances. If they extend that streak to 10, Morgan likely will play a key role.
"He's a great athlete, he gives us athleticism and versatility on the wing," junior guard Drew Neitzel said during last month's media day. "He posts up really well for being a freshman. He can go inside and outside. He's still working on consistency with his jump shot, but he's going to give us the Maurice Ager athleticism on the wing."
Ager starred at MSU last season. He is an NBA rookie with the Mavericks.
When Morgan missed Michigan State's first exhibition game with a shoulder sprain, the Spartans struggled to beat Grand Valley State, 61-57. He returned to action Sunday and came up with 16 points and 12 rebounds in a 74-63 win over Northern Michigan.
"Coach told me you have to come out and play well in your debut," said Morgan, who is developing a good rapport with Izzo.
"Coach is a different kind of breed. He's very intense and very competitive."
Morgan, though, sees similarities between Izzo and his former McKinley coach, Dave Hoover.
"He cares about all the guys on the team. He loves each player," Morgan said. "There's a lot of similarities actually. They're both very intense and competitive. But I think Coach Izzo has to be a little harder (on guys)."
Morgan is eager for tonight's opener. "I'm anxious and excited, and a little bit nervous, but not much," he said. "I'm just ready to play against Brown and just get more of a feel for the game.
Morgan is learning to handle the physical demands of major college basketball.
"The guys are much faster and stronger," Morgan said. "To get your shot off you have to play smarter and play within your game."
Morgan dominated as a senior at McKinley last season, averaging 24.4 points and 9.0 rebounds. He led the Bulldogs to a second straight Division I state title, became the school's career scoring leader, and earned Parade Magazine fourth-team All-America honors.
He realizes his responsibilities at Michigan State will change from game to game.
"I'm just doing what the team needs me to do to get the win," Morgan said. "We don't have a main scorer. Drew Neitzel might be the best scorer. But whatever the team needs to win, rebounding or do the little stuff, I'll do it."
Neitzel, a junior, has started the last two seasons at point guard, helping the Spartans reach the Final Four as a freshman. MSU's other top returnees are sophomore guard Travis Walton from Lima and 6-10 sophomore Goran Suton. Morgan is a member of a well-regarded recruiting class that also features 6-6 Isaiah Dahlman and 7-0 Tom Herzog.
"I think we can shock people," Morgan said. "A lot of people are underestimating us. We want to get better, and we're definitely confident in ourselves."