A day after freshman center Boubacar Sylla transferred from Auburn's men's basketball team, Oklahoma freshman guard Tony Neysmith transferred in.
This from Auburn, with more to come in Wednesday's Star:
Auburn Basketball Signs Oklahoma Transfer Tony Neysmith
AUBURN -- Tony Neysmith, a 6-foot-5, 203-pound guard who played last year as a freshman at the University of Oklahoma, has signed a financial aid agreement with Auburn basketball, head coach Jeff Lebo announced Tuesday.
"We are very excited about Tony joining our program," Lebo said. "He is used to winning and has played for winning programs, and I know he is excited to be at Auburn and to be closer to home."
The Norcross, Ga., native played in 22 games for the Sooners, starting four, and averaged 0.5 points, 0.6 rebounds while shooting 40 percent from the field as Oklahoma went 23-12 (9-7 Big 12) and reached the NCAA Tournament second round.
The Sooners went 3-1 in the four consecutive games he started from Feb. 13-23 vs. Iowa State, at Texas Tech, at Baylor and at Texas. Neysmith scored four points and had two rebounds in eight minutes in his first career start vs. Iowa State. He scored two points each at Texas Tech and Alcorn State and had two points, two steals, an assist and a rebound in 14 minutes vs. Mount St. Mary's.
He played double-figure minutes five times.
He was ranked as the nation's No. 100 high school recruit in 2007 by Rivals.com as he was an honorable mention all-state selection as a senior at Norcross (Ga.) High School. He led Norcross to the Class 5A state title in 2007 and a No. 12 final USA Today national ranking by averaging 10.7 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.6 assists.
He started every game as a junior when he averaged 9.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.8 steals in helping the team to a 28-4 record.
Neysmith was high school teammates with Kentucky's Jodie Meeks, Georgia Tech's Gani Lawal, Florida State's Jordan DeMercy and Fordham's Brenton Butler.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Lebo's leavings
Since Jeff Lebo was hired as Auburn’s men’s basketball coach in the spring of 2004, 13 scholarship players have left the program with eligibility remaining. Five signed under Lebo’s predecessor, Cliff Ellis, who was fired in 2004.
Here is a preliminary list, with year departed, new school where applicable and reason for leaving:
ELLIS SIGNEES
C Dwayne Curtis, 2004, Ole Miss – Left after coaching change. Followed former Auburn assistant Tracy Dildy, a Chicago native who recruited Curtis from Chicago.
G Toney Douglas, 2005, Florida State – Father criticized Lebo for using son as a shooting guard as a freshman.
F Marco Killingsworth, 2004, Indiana – Left after coaching change.
G Lewis Monroe, 2004, Indiana – Left after coaching change.
F Brandon Robinson, 2004, quit – Academics.
LEBO SIGNEES
F Joey Cameron, 2006, Seton Hall – Playing time.
C Ryan Daniel, 2005, Lipscomb – Playing time.
G-F Daniel Hayles, 2006, South Alabama – Mobile native left to be closer to 2-year-old daughter.
F Matt Heramb, 2008, Kennesaw State – Playing time.
G Kelvin Lewis, 2007, Houston – Transferred when father became an assistant coach at Houston.
C Boubacar Sylla, 2008, Wyoming – Paris, France native said to have difficulty adjusting to Auburn. Will try Laramie.
F Emanuel Willis, 2006, Houston Baptist – Transferred from Southern Cal to Auburn after USC fired Henry Bibby but did not fit in.
G Michael Woodard, 2005, unknown – Following stops at Youngstown State and Los Angeles Southwest Community College, he left Auburn after appearing in five games in 2005-06. He cited role and playing time.
Here is a preliminary list, with year departed, new school where applicable and reason for leaving:
ELLIS SIGNEES
C Dwayne Curtis, 2004, Ole Miss – Left after coaching change. Followed former Auburn assistant Tracy Dildy, a Chicago native who recruited Curtis from Chicago.
G Toney Douglas, 2005, Florida State – Father criticized Lebo for using son as a shooting guard as a freshman.
F Marco Killingsworth, 2004, Indiana – Left after coaching change.
G Lewis Monroe, 2004, Indiana – Left after coaching change.
F Brandon Robinson, 2004, quit – Academics.
LEBO SIGNEES
F Joey Cameron, 2006, Seton Hall – Playing time.
C Ryan Daniel, 2005, Lipscomb – Playing time.
G-F Daniel Hayles, 2006, South Alabama – Mobile native left to be closer to 2-year-old daughter.
F Matt Heramb, 2008, Kennesaw State – Playing time.
G Kelvin Lewis, 2007, Houston – Transferred when father became an assistant coach at Houston.
C Boubacar Sylla, 2008, Wyoming – Paris, France native said to have difficulty adjusting to Auburn. Will try Laramie.
F Emanuel Willis, 2006, Houston Baptist – Transferred from Southern Cal to Auburn after USC fired Henry Bibby but did not fit in.
G Michael Woodard, 2005, unknown – Following stops at Youngstown State and Los Angeles Southwest Community College, he left Auburn after appearing in five games in 2005-06. He cited role and playing time.
Monday, May 19, 2008
So long, Sylla
This from Auburn University athletics media relations. More coming in Tuesday's Star:
Auburn's Boubacar Sylla To Transfer To Wyoming
AUBURN -- Freshman center Boubacar Sylla has been granted a release from his scholarship at Auburn University and will transfer to the University of Wyoming, head coach Jeff Lebo announced Monday.
Sylla appeared in only three games before suffering a stress reaction in his ankle against Kennesaw State Nov. 13. The 7-foot-1, 270-poundnative of Paris, France, averaged 1.0 point and 1.0 rebound in 4.3 minutes per game. He shot 50 percent from the field.
"Boubacar had a very difficult first year at Auburn University," Lebo said. "Along with his season-ending injury, Boubacar had a hard time adjusting to Auburn."
Sylla totaled eight points, six rebounds and two steals in an exhibition vs. Bluefield College and had three points and three rebounds in nine minutes vs. Kennesaw State before his injury.
Auburn's Boubacar Sylla To Transfer To Wyoming
AUBURN -- Freshman center Boubacar Sylla has been granted a release from his scholarship at Auburn University and will transfer to the University of Wyoming, head coach Jeff Lebo announced Monday.
Sylla appeared in only three games before suffering a stress reaction in his ankle against Kennesaw State Nov. 13. The 7-foot-1, 270-poundnative of Paris, France, averaged 1.0 point and 1.0 rebound in 4.3 minutes per game. He shot 50 percent from the field.
"Boubacar had a very difficult first year at Auburn University," Lebo said. "Along with his season-ending injury, Boubacar had a hard time adjusting to Auburn."
Sylla totaled eight points, six rebounds and two steals in an exhibition vs. Bluefield College and had three points and three rebounds in nine minutes vs. Kennesaw State before his injury.
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Let the speculation begin
AUBURN -- There's a coaching search on at Auburn, and here are my highly, highly speculative thoughts of how things will go.
First, don't expect a quick hire. Coaches Auburn might want have conference and NCAA Tournaments ahead, and it's not likely those coaches will interview until their seasons end.
Since a professional search firm has been hired to conduct the search, don't expect an abundance of leaks ... certainly not before the top prospects finish their seasons.
I expect Jacksonville State's Jim Case to be on Auburn's wish list. He's had the Gamecocks consistently competitive in their conference, and baseball has been among JSU's most consistently competitive programs in the Division I era.
I expect Troy's Bobby Pierce to be on the wish list, though he carries one big caveat with ties to Alabama. Alabama coach Jim Wells will retire some day soon, and Auburn doesn't want to lose another coach to Alabama.
I expect Auburn to make another run at Vanderbilt's Tim Corbin. He's done well at the hardest place in the SEC to win, and he was offered the job last time Auburn searched for a coach. Could his mind frame be different four years later, especially since Auburn is that far removed from all of the coaching upheaval that marked 2003 and 2004?
There's also former Tiger catcher Casey Dunn, now the head coach at Samford. He'll have his supporters on the inside, but how far will that take him?
I expect that Auburn will attract a strong field. Former Auburn coach Tom Slater, who resigned Saturday after his meeting with athletics director Jay Jacobs, recruited three consecutive top 20 classes.
Auburn started as many as six freshman position players this season. That includes slugger Hunter Morris, who was Boston's second-round pick last year but opted for college.
On the mound, freshman pitchers Cory Luckie and Grant Dayton showed promise.
Auburn, like other programs in Alabama, plays at a disadvantage because the state has no education lottery. Other SEC programs in lottery states have lottery-funded scholarships.
Still, Auburn has competitive facilities. Not so long ago, Plainsman Park was ranked as one of the nation's top college stadiums, and it's been upgraded since.
First, don't expect a quick hire. Coaches Auburn might want have conference and NCAA Tournaments ahead, and it's not likely those coaches will interview until their seasons end.
Since a professional search firm has been hired to conduct the search, don't expect an abundance of leaks ... certainly not before the top prospects finish their seasons.
I expect Jacksonville State's Jim Case to be on Auburn's wish list. He's had the Gamecocks consistently competitive in their conference, and baseball has been among JSU's most consistently competitive programs in the Division I era.
I expect Troy's Bobby Pierce to be on the wish list, though he carries one big caveat with ties to Alabama. Alabama coach Jim Wells will retire some day soon, and Auburn doesn't want to lose another coach to Alabama.
I expect Auburn to make another run at Vanderbilt's Tim Corbin. He's done well at the hardest place in the SEC to win, and he was offered the job last time Auburn searched for a coach. Could his mind frame be different four years later, especially since Auburn is that far removed from all of the coaching upheaval that marked 2003 and 2004?
There's also former Tiger catcher Casey Dunn, now the head coach at Samford. He'll have his supporters on the inside, but how far will that take him?
I expect that Auburn will attract a strong field. Former Auburn coach Tom Slater, who resigned Saturday after his meeting with athletics director Jay Jacobs, recruited three consecutive top 20 classes.
Auburn started as many as six freshman position players this season. That includes slugger Hunter Morris, who was Boston's second-round pick last year but opted for college.
On the mound, freshman pitchers Cory Luckie and Grant Dayton showed promise.
Auburn, like other programs in Alabama, plays at a disadvantage because the state has no education lottery. Other SEC programs in lottery states have lottery-funded scholarships.
Still, Auburn has competitive facilities. Not so long ago, Plainsman Park was ranked as one of the nation's top college stadiums, and it's been upgraded since.
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Slater resigns
This just minutes ago from Auburn University athletics media relations:
TOM SLATER RESIGNS AS AUBURN HEAD BASEBALL COACH
AUBURN-Tom Slater has resigned as head coach of the Auburn baseball program, Auburn Athletics Director Jay Jacobs announced Saturday.
“Jay and I met this morning, and we mutually agreed that there is going to be a change,” Slater said. “I’d like to thank Jay Jacobs, Dr. Ed Richardson and Auburn University for the wonderful opportunity I was given to be the head coach.”
In four seasons as head coach, Slater had an overall record of 115-113 and a Southeastern Conference record of 43-77. This season, Auburn was 28-28 and 11-19 in the SEC.
A Richmond, Va., native, Slater also served as an assistantcoach at Auburn from 1995-2000. He was named head coach at Auburn on June 29, 2004.
“We appreciate Tom’s efforts and the hard work and dedication of he and his staff over the last four years,” Jacobs said. “We wish Tom, his staff and their families the best of luck in their future endeavors.”
A search for a replacement will begin immediately. More to come in Sunday's Anniston Star.
TOM SLATER RESIGNS AS AUBURN HEAD BASEBALL COACH
AUBURN-Tom Slater has resigned as head coach of the Auburn baseball program, Auburn Athletics Director Jay Jacobs announced Saturday.
“Jay and I met this morning, and we mutually agreed that there is going to be a change,” Slater said. “I’d like to thank Jay Jacobs, Dr. Ed Richardson and Auburn University for the wonderful opportunity I was given to be the head coach.”
In four seasons as head coach, Slater had an overall record of 115-113 and a Southeastern Conference record of 43-77. This season, Auburn was 28-28 and 11-19 in the SEC.
A Richmond, Va., native, Slater also served as an assistantcoach at Auburn from 1995-2000. He was named head coach at Auburn on June 29, 2004.
“We appreciate Tom’s efforts and the hard work and dedication of he and his staff over the last four years,” Jacobs said. “We wish Tom, his staff and their families the best of luck in their future endeavors.”
A search for a replacement will begin immediately. More to come in Sunday's Anniston Star.
Tight end picks Auburn
Auburn received a commitment Friday night from one of the nation's top tight end prospects.
Philip Lutzenkirchen, a 6-foot-4, 245-pound senior at Marietta (Ga.) Lassiter High School, chose Auburn over offers from Clemson, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Stanford and Mississippi State, according to AuburnSports.com.
As a junior, Lutzenkirchen caught 46 passes for 496 yards and seven touchdowns. He'll play in the spread offense this year under new Lassiter coach Chip Lindsey.
Auburn's new spread offense under first-year offensive coordinator Tony Franklini factored in Lutzenkirchen’s college decision.
"The offense they run is the exact same system as we run, the same terminology," he said. "I know the spot I'll be playing, the ‘Y’ receiver, will get a lot of balls thrown at them. That was definitely a big part of me picking Auburn."
Lutzenkirchen is Auburn's eighth commitment for 2009. The list includes defensive linemen Terrence Coleman, Jamontay Pilson and Wilfred Journey, linebackers Harris Gaston and Eltoro Freeman, athlete Brandon Heavens and quarterback Raymond Cotton.
Philip Lutzenkirchen, a 6-foot-4, 245-pound senior at Marietta (Ga.) Lassiter High School, chose Auburn over offers from Clemson, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Stanford and Mississippi State, according to AuburnSports.com.
As a junior, Lutzenkirchen caught 46 passes for 496 yards and seven touchdowns. He'll play in the spread offense this year under new Lassiter coach Chip Lindsey.
Auburn's new spread offense under first-year offensive coordinator Tony Franklini factored in Lutzenkirchen’s college decision.
"The offense they run is the exact same system as we run, the same terminology," he said. "I know the spot I'll be playing, the ‘Y’ receiver, will get a lot of balls thrown at them. That was definitely a big part of me picking Auburn."
Lutzenkirchen is Auburn's eighth commitment for 2009. The list includes defensive linemen Terrence Coleman, Jamontay Pilson and Wilfred Journey, linebackers Harris Gaston and Eltoro Freeman, athlete Brandon Heavens and quarterback Raymond Cotton.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Auburn's commitments now seven
Auburn now has seven football commitments for the class of 2009, with former signees Eltoro Freeman and Wilfred Journet saying this week they will re-sign with the Tigers.
Freeman, a 2007 signee, committed Wednesday. He told AuburnSports.com that he's on course to graduate from Gulf Coast Community College in Perkinston, Miss., and will be able to re-sign with Auburn in February.
Freeman wound up at GCCC after failing to qualify academically out of Benjamin Russell High School, where he was one of the country's top linebacker prospects.
In his one junior college season, Freeman had 65 tackles with 17 for loss, including five sacks. He was all-state and all-region.
The 5-foot-11, 218-pound Freeman said he will redshirt his sophomore season at GCCC and will have three seasons of eligibility left for Division I.
Journet signed with Auburn in 2007 out of Acadiana (La.) High School, where he was Class 5A defensive player of the year. The 6-3, 247-pound defensive end detoured through Copiah-Lincoln Community College in Wesson, Miss.
Journet played four games for Copiah-Lincoln last season before a hip injury sidelined him. He will have two years of Division I eligibility.
Auburn's class of commitments to date includes defensive tackle Terrence Coleman, quarterback Raymond Cotton, linebacker Harris Gaston, athlete Brandon Heavens and defensive tackle Jamontay Pilson.
Freeman, a 2007 signee, committed Wednesday. He told AuburnSports.com that he's on course to graduate from Gulf Coast Community College in Perkinston, Miss., and will be able to re-sign with Auburn in February.
Freeman wound up at GCCC after failing to qualify academically out of Benjamin Russell High School, where he was one of the country's top linebacker prospects.
In his one junior college season, Freeman had 65 tackles with 17 for loss, including five sacks. He was all-state and all-region.
The 5-foot-11, 218-pound Freeman said he will redshirt his sophomore season at GCCC and will have three seasons of eligibility left for Division I.
Journet signed with Auburn in 2007 out of Acadiana (La.) High School, where he was Class 5A defensive player of the year. The 6-3, 247-pound defensive end detoured through Copiah-Lincoln Community College in Wesson, Miss.
Journet played four games for Copiah-Lincoln last season before a hip injury sidelined him. He will have two years of Division I eligibility.
Auburn's class of commitments to date includes defensive tackle Terrence Coleman, quarterback Raymond Cotton, linebacker Harris Gaston, athlete Brandon Heavens and defensive tackle Jamontay Pilson.
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