A Daily Dose

FOOTBALL
Well signing day is Wednesday, so we should be seeing lots of recruiting stories this week. Here is one look at the process from the view of a couple of recruits, including GT commit Calvin Johnson. He talked about going to clubs and partying all night. You just hope that most of these kids see though all that and decide based on factors that will matter to their future in the long term. For Calvin Johnson, it appeared he did that. Check out this quote - "Johnson says the nightlife was larger at Insomnia, but he chose Georgia Tech because, "I was really concerned about my academics. Even if I don't go to the next level, I can still have a great job out of college.". Good for Calvin. Let's hope a few of the other key recruits left see the light also. We will know by the end of the day Wednesday. Stay tuned................ Here is a good short look at the Jackets recruiting efforts, particularly the efforts to strengthen our efforts in the state of Georgia. Rivals has our class ranked in the middle of the ACC and top 50 in the nation................ Here's a look at the Bullpup's recruiting class........... Here's an article on Larry Coker, HC at Miami and his recruiting style. Mentions that one standout, Darryl Richard, is down to GT and Miami.......... Here are some funny historical football quotes, including this one regarding our 1990 win over UVA - "Beano Cook, ESPN analyst, after undefeated Virginia lost to Georgia Tech and was knocked out of first place in the Atlantic Coast Conference: "This is the worst thing to happen in Virginia since Appomattox." ................ Funny, I didn't know that the Georgia Tech band played with Tina Turner at halftime of SuperBowl XXXIV. Or did I?....................... If this is not proof that recruits should consider Georgia Tech for a REAL education, I don't know what is. David Kearly, whose career at Univ of Florida was cut short due to injuries is now pursuing a graduate degree in city planning at GT..............

BASKETBALL
Leonard Hamilton is giving his players plenty of rest after a Sunday game as he prepares for GT on Tuesday............... Congrats to Luke on an outstanding game. He is getting some recognition in the media and even from ratface himself (Coach K)............... Here is another take on the Dook game............. The LadyJackets continue their slide, losing to NC ST. They are now 11-10 and 2-7 in the ACC................ On the recruiting trail, the AJC has written about Morris and Howard going pro. A half-hearted attempt to convince them college is where they belong, but we will see. Notice that along with Pat Riley and Jerry West, also in attendence was John Paxson, Danny Ferry, Bernie Bickerstaff, Dick McGuire and Billy Knight. Remember that article a few weeks ago where Morris said he WOULD be playing in college and that NBA was out of the question. Don't count on it.................. Jeremis Smith scored 22 points in Dunbar's latest victory crushing Western Hills 87-40. Jeremis is 2nd in Texas 4A in scoring at 26.6 a game and tied for 8th in rebounding at 8.7 a game............... Anthony Morrow scored 22 in his team's latest victory. They are now 19-3............. Rivals has posted their updated top 150 high school seniors. Jeremis Smith at #37 (was #41), Ra'Sean Dickey #54 (was #53), Anthony Morrow #94 (think he was >100 prior, not sure), and Zam Fredrick actually drops off the list (was about #127). On most other rankings Fredrick is consistently in the top 100, between 60-90. Randolph Morris comes in at #15 (was #19). It looks like most of our recruits either moved up or stayed the same with Rivals except from Buck Fredrick. Not really sure what happened there. At the end of the day, it's just a few people's opinion.

STORY ON WILL BYNUM

Top-notch transfer

It's getting more difficult to land a super transfer these days for many reasons. For one thing, most stars would prefer to transfer to the NBA rather than another school. Transfer Will Bynum has bucked that trend and the impact he has had on Georgia Tech cannot be overstated.

Tech was good before Bynum became eligible, but is a national contender with him. Once he became eligible in December, Bynum elevated Tech to the top of the ACC with his blend of outstanding quickness and 3-point shooting. Last week, he scored 25 points against Maryland, 20 in a victory at Wake Forest, and 17 in a loss to North Carolina State.

A guard who stands just shy of 6-feet, Bynum is a Chicago street legend who earned the nickname "Will The Thrill" for his ballhandling and scoring skills. He sat for a year and a half at Arizona before jumping to Atlanta and playing for coach Paul Hewitt. But before Hewitt could get Bynum, he had to travel to the transfer's home in the mean streets of Chicago's South Side. Hewitt made the trip last October. Bynum's mother was so concerned about his safety she insisted on walking him back to his rental car.

"You had gangs, everybody doing all sorts of things in the hallways and in the bathrooms," Bynum told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution of his high school, Crane Tech. "I was going to get out of Chicago."

Bynum, who averages 11 points a game, wears a tattoo of the NBA logo on his biceps and a load of bravado on his sleeve. He's one of those guards who loves to dribble between his legs, fire crazy passes and try just about anything on the fast break. With a slew of athletic wing players to fill the lanes, Georgia Tech is a fun team to watch.