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BULLDOGS GET COMMIT; OTHER NEWS

Rob Harrington
robharrington@prepstars.com
May 24, 2011

Mississippi State picked up a rising senior pledge from Fred Thomas, a 6-5 WG at Jackson (MS) Hill. Though not nationally renowned, Thomas had attracted strong mid-major interest from other college programs. He averaged 23 points and six rebounds per game as a junior, and obviously carries additional value for MSU due to the fact that he’s an in-state prospect.

The Bulldogs also hold a commitment from national top-100 AL WG Craig Sword. They remain in deep pursuit of potential McDonald’s All-American Devonta Pollard, a talented forward who also hails from Mississippi.

DECHELLIS LEAVES STATE COLLEGE
FOR ANNAPOLIS

It’s highly unusual for an increasingly successful coach at a major conference program to leave for a mid-major, but that’s precisely what happened at Penn State. Ed DeChellis, who directed the Nittany Lions to the NCAA tournament this past season, left PSU in favor of Navy.

While the move is shocking on the face of it, some national columnists have lashed out against Penn State administration — not DeChellis himself — as the primary factor in his departure. On the other hand, others have noted that higher expectations would have caused DeChellis to have been fired prior to 2010-11 based on previous seasons of mediocrity.

Whatever the case, the Lions obviously must do soul searching in order to determine exactly how they’ll strive to position themselves within the Big Ten and nationally. Hiring a new coach certainly won’t be any easier due to DeChellis’ move, and particularly given this late timing. From a recruiting perspective, the Class of 2012 is likely to become an intense scramble for whomever takes the job.