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http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050823/SPT0101/308230017
Tuesday, August 23, 2005 Top recruit’s coach: Player will reject UC
By Dustin Dow
Enquirer staff writer
Bob Huggins’ forced exit from the University of Cincinnati is already having an effect on recruiting.
Seven-foot-two center Jason Bennett will not commit to UC as originally planned, said his high school coach, Rex Morgan.
A top 10 player at his position nationally in the 2006 class, Bennett was going to orally commit to the Bearcats soon, said Morgan, his coach at Arlington Country Day School in Jacksonville, Fla.
“They now have no interest in Cincinnati,� Morgan said of Bennett and his family. “He was going there because of Huggins. Now, with the way Cincinnati handled everything, I hope no one goes there. He turned down Ohio State, Wake Forest, Connecticut two weeks ago. To say we’re disappointed is an understatement. The kid is devastated.�
Nick Aldridge also was upset, but not to the point that he’ll write off Cincinnati completely. The 6-foot-6 power forward from South Webster, Ohio, has orally committed to Cincinnati, but withdrew that commitment today upon learning of the developments surrounding Huggins’ job.
“Now I’ve got to look at other schools,� said Aldridge, who had planned to sign with Cincinnati in the fall. “The only way I will stay with Cincinnati is if coach (Andy) Kennedy gets the job or someone else that I like. I’m just really upset right now that coach Huggins is leaving.�
Kennedy is expected to be named interim head coach for the upcoming season.
“I thought Cincinnati would get Bennett,� said recruiting analyst Clark Francis. “You can forget that now. This really just set recruiting back a couple of years.�
Tuesday, August 23, 2005 Top recruit’s coach: Player will reject UC
By Dustin Dow
Enquirer staff writer
Bob Huggins’ forced exit from the University of Cincinnati is already having an effect on recruiting.
Seven-foot-two center Jason Bennett will not commit to UC as originally planned, said his high school coach, Rex Morgan.
A top 10 player at his position nationally in the 2006 class, Bennett was going to orally commit to the Bearcats soon, said Morgan, his coach at Arlington Country Day School in Jacksonville, Fla.
“They now have no interest in Cincinnati,� Morgan said of Bennett and his family. “He was going there because of Huggins. Now, with the way Cincinnati handled everything, I hope no one goes there. He turned down Ohio State, Wake Forest, Connecticut two weeks ago. To say we’re disappointed is an understatement. The kid is devastated.�
Nick Aldridge also was upset, but not to the point that he’ll write off Cincinnati completely. The 6-foot-6 power forward from South Webster, Ohio, has orally committed to Cincinnati, but withdrew that commitment today upon learning of the developments surrounding Huggins’ job.
“Now I’ve got to look at other schools,� said Aldridge, who had planned to sign with Cincinnati in the fall. “The only way I will stay with Cincinnati is if coach (Andy) Kennedy gets the job or someone else that I like. I’m just really upset right now that coach Huggins is leaving.�
Kennedy is expected to be named interim head coach for the upcoming season.
“I thought Cincinnati would get Bennett,� said recruiting analyst Clark Francis. “You can forget that now. This really just set recruiting back a couple of years.�