Signing Day Is Here

Well today is the day that we have all been waiting for since last spring's signing period. This is the time of the year where the basketball season is getting under way and high school seniors are making their childhood dreams a reality. This year's senior class is one of the deepest and most talented in the country. With four players in this class ranked in the top 130 in the country on Rivals.com's top 150 players for the 2010 class, today will be the day that 3 of those 4 players sign their National Letter of Intent's to play Division 1 basketball. 2 of the 3 will head out of state and one will play for the home state LSU Tigers of Coach Trent Johnson. That one player is Matt Derenbecker(pictured right), the 2009 1A Top 28 Most Outstanding player from Metaire Park Country Day School will sign his LOI with LSU today. Matt is currently ranked 90 in the 2010 class on ESPN and the 17th ranked small forward in the country. He is rated 71st in the Rivals.com 150 rankings and on HoopScoop.com's rankings as well. A consensus top 100 player LSU will be getting a talented guard at 6'7" that is long, athletic, can shoot the 3 and is mentally tough. He is a competitor that knows how to win and will do whatever it takes to get that win. Over the years I have watched Matt grow from a lanky 6'2 guard as a freshman with no ball handling skills and a streaky shot to a kid that is dead-eye shooter with handles and is stronger then the eye sees. Matt will be a good addition to the LSU Tigers.

Our next top 130 player expected to sign today will be Langston Galloway(pictured right) from Christian Life Academy in Baton Rouge, LA. Galloway is 6'3" guard that is a very good shooter that can handle the ball, get to the rim and finish with ease and has increasing athleticism. Galloway has proven over the past 3 years to be one of the elite players in the state every year and will look to continue his college career for a very good coach in Phil Martelli at St. Joseph's University in Philadelphia, PA. Galloway is a 2-time 1st team All-State player, 2-time District 7-1A MVP and 3-time 1A state champion.(2006-08) Last year he led his team to the semi-finals of the state tournament with a loss to Derenbecker and current LSU player Eddie Ludwig, who eventually went on to win state. Langston is ranked 120 on rivals 150 rankings, the #43 rated SG on ESPN and 79th on HoopScoop.com.

The third signee that is rated 127 nationally on rivals.com is Brian Williams(pictured right) of Glen Oaks High School will sign his letter of intent today 1 pm from the Glen Oaks HS library. Williams is also rated  165 on HoopScoop, and 54th rated SF on ESPNU. Williams will be signing today with Oklahoma State and Coach Travis Ford. Williams was recruited heavily to OSU by former LSU coach Butch Pierre, now and assistant at Oklahoma State. Williams is a 6'5" athlete that has tremendous leaping ability, good handles, good shot and can defend. Williams is a 2 time all-district 6-4A performer for the legendary Harvey Adger of Glen Oaks. Brian also was the 2008-09 Class 4A player of the year along with the Baton Rouge Metro POY. OSU is getting a great kid that is humble and works extremely hard. Williams is just one of yet another high D1 signee for Coach Adger and the first since 2005 when PG Ryan Francis signed with Tim Floyd and Southern Cal. Which as you all know Francis had a great freshman year for USC and then later was brutally murdered in May 2006 while visiting Baton Rouge.

The 4th top rated player is Shavon Coleman(pictured right). Coleman is expected to make a decision after his HS season is over with. Coleman is ranked 97 overall on Rivals 150 rankings and is from Thibodaux HS. Coleman is a 6'4" long athlete that can really score the basketball. He is quick, can handle the ball, very good passer and just unique talent. As of now Coleman is being recruited by Oregon, Oregon State, LSU, Texas among others. Coleman is 2 time all-district 8-5A performer and led his Thibodaux HS team to a Regional Round playoff game before losing to the eventual 5A state champ Ouachita Lions. Coleman jumped on the scene hard last spring after a great showing at the Crush Main Event tournament in Birmingham, AL along with a great showing in Manhattan, KS with the Texas D-1 Ambassadors. Coleaman will look to capitalize that great summer into his senior season. Last year Coleman was a all-state honorable mention selection.


Other players that are committed and expected to sign today:

Markel Brown- 6'4" athlete from Peabody HS in Alexandria will sign with Oklahoma State.
Ronald McGhee- 6'4" SG from Istrouma HS in Baton Rouge is expected to sign with Univ. of New Orleans
JJ Thomas- 6'5" Forward from Scotlandville HS in Baton Rouge will sign with Stephen F. Austin
Michael Harrell- 5'10 PG from Southern Univ. Lab School in Baton Rouge will sign with Southeastern La.
Dominick Scelfo- 6'1" PG from Jesuit HS in New Orleans will sign with Cornell.
Kourtney Roberson- 6'9" PF originally part of the 2009 class from Arcadia HS in Arcadia, LA but went prep school will resign with TX A&M. Roberson is currently at Christian Life in Humble, TX.

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