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SENIORS, TRANSFERS FACE
BIG DECISIONS

Brick Oettinger
ACCSports.com
May 6, 2008

Vernon "The Big Ticket" Macklin, 6-9 sophomore C: A former McDonald’s All-American who averaged 3.4 points and 2.1 rebounds per game this past season, he is expected to transfer from Georgetown to either Florida (May 1-3 visit) or Clemson, with an announcement coming in May.

Curtis Kelly, 6-9 sophomore BF: He is transferring from Connecticut, with Miami prominent among the schools he’s considering.

Julian Vaughn, 6-10 freshman BF/C: He surprisingly announced that he will transfer from suddenly shorthanded Florida State, where he averaged 13.3 minutes, 3.0 points and 2.3 rebounds in 31 games this past season. He originally chose the Seminoles over Virginia, Kentucky, Pittsburgh and Virginia Tech. He missed two weeks in the middle of the season while being treated after being diagnosed with an unspecified heart condition.

Brad Tinsley (top 150), 6-4 Oregon City (OR) High senior WG/PG: Released by Pepperdine from his national letter of intent, he opted for Vanderbilt (April 11-13 official visit) over Wake Forest (April 25-27 official visit) on May 3.

Paul McCoy (top 100), 6-0 Portland (OR) Grant senior PG: Also released by Pepperdine from his national letter, he shocked many by signing with Southern Methodist (and former UNC coach Matt Doherty) over Kentucky and Virginia, after previously eliminating California, Loyola Marymount and Arizona. He also was an all-stater in football.

Darius Morrow (top 125), 6-8 Decatur (GA) Columbia BF/C: He has been released by South Carolina from his national letter and is considering Alabama-Birmingham, East Carolina, Virginia Tech, Fordham, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Tulane and College of Charleston.

Varez Ward (top 250), 6-2 Lenoir (NC) Patterson School WG/PG: He rescinded a commitment to Cincinnati, stood out at the recent Pearland Classic and now has scholarship offers from Texas, Marquette, Arkansas, Kansas State and Florida State.

Justin Watts (top 200), 6-5 Durham (NC) Jordan swingman: He is being courted by Michigan, Baylor, South Carolina, Arkansas and UNC (no offer yet).

Tyshawn Taylor (top 125), 6-3 Jersey City (NJ) St. Anthony WG/PG: Released by Marquette from his national letter, he signed in April with Kansas over Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech.

Eric Wallace, 6-6 sophomore WF: A North Carolina (Winston-Salem) native who was highly touted in high school, he recently announced that he will transfer from Ohio State. Will he play in the ACC after all?

Doug Wiggins, 6-0 freshman PG: He averaged 6.7 points, 2.5 assists and 2.7 rebounds in 31 games in 2007-08 for Connecticut but now will transfer to Massachusetts, Virginia, Virginia Tech, LaSalle, Rhode Island or Fordham. He plans to make two or three visits before reaching a decision.

Wesley Witherspoon (top 75), 6-7 Lilburn (GA) Berkmar WF/WG: He signed on May 1 with Memphis over finalist Virginia.

Antiquawn "Twanny" Beckham (top 300), 6-5 New Hampton (NH) School fifth-year senior WG: A Louisville native, he recently cast his lot with Mississippi State over late interest from Virginia, Indiana and Tennessee, plus scholarship offers from Bradley, UAB, St. John’s, East Carolina, Wichita State and Creighton. Georgia Tech was strongly in the picture but elected not to offer him a scholarship.

Ater Majok, 6-10 Carlingford (Australia) American International Institute BF: A one-time official visitor to Maryland, he selected (on April 28) Connecticut as his college destination over finalists Baylor, Kentucky, Kansas and others.

Quincy Roberts (top 200), 6-5 Harrisburg (PA) High WG: After averaging 18.5 points, 6.5 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game this past season, he signed on April 28 with St. John’s over Virginia (visit). He made an early verbal commitment to Miami that later was rescinded by mutual agreement.

Brick Oettinger, the basketball recruiting analyst for the ACC Area Sports Journal, has covered the recruiting scene for more than 30 years. His work appears exclusively in/on the Sports Journal, the Prep Stars Recruiter's Handbook, PrepStars.com and ACCSports.com.