| 1996 | Oct | Nov | Dec | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Jan | Feb | March | April | May | June | July | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| 1998 | Jan | Feb | March | April | May | June | July | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| 1999 | Jan | Feb | March | April |
05/26/99 - If you live in the Memphis area and would like to see MSU recruit Trey Sanders or other Mid-South signees, then you will be interested in this upcoming event.
The AAU/MIDSOUTH SHOOTOUT!
It will be held on June 29th, at the campus of Memphis University School in Memphis. This game will feature the area's top graduating seniors, and will feature players that will be attending Memphis, Arkansas, Tennessee, Georgetown, Mississippi State, Arkansas State, etc. next fall!
(Come see MSU signee Trey Sanders, Mississippians Earl Barron, Jimmy Boykin, John Gunn and Aaron Harper, and more!)
Check out the MidSouth-Hoops website for details.
05/19/99 - Hoop Scoop Online ranks MSU's basketball recruiting class 3rd in the country even after taking Bender out of the class. Click here to read more about what they had to say.
05/17/99 - Jonathan Bender, after much thought, decided late last week to forgo his basketball scholarship to MSU and fax in his letter of declaration for the NBA Draft. I know this is a very tough loss for our coach, Rick Stansbury, because he put several years of his life into recruiting Jonathan. I truly feel for him but Rick Stansbury will get over this loss and take MSU to heights we have only imagined. Actually we did get a taste of those heights during the 1996 Final Four season. I expect him to take us there on a consistent basis.
In other basketball recruiting news, MSU signed one of the top 10 juco players in the country with the signing of Antonio Jackson. Antonio, a point guard, will be a great addition to MSU's backcourt. With the recent addition of two-guard Derrick Zimmerman, MSU has filled it's most pressing need, which is guards.
05/16/99 - For the first time since I have been following the Jonathan Bender rumors, someone has actually quoted a member of Jonathan's family saying that he will go pro. Click here to go to the Picayune Item's article quoting Jonathan's sister. We will know for sure later today.
05/15/99 - Derrick Zimmerman is officially a Bulldog after signing with MSU yesterday.
05/14/99 - Two-guard deluxe Derrick Zimmerman, according to a very reliable source, will sign with MSU at his noon press conference today. Welcome to the Bulldog family, Derrick.
05/14/99 - Disregard the Jonathan Bender to NBA rumors. All they are, are rumors. My Picayune sources continue to tell me Jonathan will be a Bulldog next season.
05/13/99 - I have been told by two very reliable sources that shooting guard deluxe Derrick Zimmerman is likely to announce for MSU at his noon press conference Friday. If anyone attends his press conference, please email me as soon as you can as to his decision. BTW, it also looks like MSU may be looking good with juco point guard Antonio Jackson. Just imagine a backcourt that includes Derrick at the 2-guard spot and Antonio at the 1-guard spot.
Others who seem to be confirming this are MidSouth Hoops and Bama Online.
05/13/99 - No additional news on Jonathan Bender. However, I can report that the rumor that he would have a press conference Wednesday to announce for the NBA Draft was incorrect. Looks like one more Bender rumor bites the dust.
Here's the latest from Picayune. Jonathan was at school yesterday (another Bender rumor bites the dust). No press conference has been scheduled for today or any day for that matter as of Wednesday night. One source very close to Jonathan says he is still bound for MSU. As I hear more from my Picayune sources, I will post it on my page.
05/12/99 - WTVA's (Tupelo, MS.) Will Kohlmeyer had an update last night on his 10 pm broadcast. He said he spoke to Rick Stansbury just prior to the 6 pm broadcast and Rick told him that he had spoken with Bender today (Tuesday) and Jonathan ASSURED him that all this NBA talk is false and he WILL BE a Bulldog.
For awhile yesterday I had my doubts that Jonathan would ever be a Bulldog. If you received the emails I received yesterday you would have too. What I have finally come to realize is a lot of Bulldog fans (and news media) fell into the same trap that I did and believed rumors circulated by those that are scared to death Jonathan will wind up at MSU. I have to assume this is just part of the dirty side of recruiting. Who knows, Jonathan may ultimately decide to declare for the draft. However, as of Tuesday, no one has quoted him as saying he will.
BTW, Jonathan was selected as the top player in the south by the Orlando Sentinel newspaper.
05/12/99 - Lady Bulldog signee LaToya Thomas was named to the 32nd annual Orlando Sentinel All-Southern basketball team.
05/11/99 - According to MidSouth Hoops, Derrick Zimmerman has narrowed his list to three schools: Mississippi State, Louisiana Tech and Texas.
05/11/99 - I know everyone is worried about Jonathan Bender possibly entering the NBA Draft. This worry comes from another rumor, this time by CNNSI, saying that he will declare for the draft Wednesday (Once again no quote from Jonathan himself). All I can say is what I have continuously heard Jonathan say in all his interviews and that is he will be at MSU next season. Guess we'll just have to see what today and tomorrow bring.
05/09/99 - Despite what some of you may have read on other websites, Miss. State is not the leader for point guard Antonio Jackson. Antonio is deciding between Alabama and UMKC with MSU 3rd on his list. I have to admit, I sure wish these other sites were correct because Antonio would make a dynamite point guard for MSU. It would be fantastic to see Antonio, Derrick Zimmerman (if we are lucky enough to sign him), and MSU signee Jonathan Bender in the lineup at the same time.
05/09/99 - No news on recruit Derrick Zimmerman. Hopefully, I will be hearing something from one of my sources in the next day or two.
05/08/99 - There are quite a few newspapers and message boards reporting that Juco point guard Antonio Jackson is leaning to or will sign with MSU this weekend. One even went so far as to say he is visiting MSU this weekend, which is absolutely not true. I wish it were true because my sources believe MSU would love to sign Antonio, but the very strong rumor I am hearing is Antonio will sign with University of Missouri-Kansas City very soon. The rumor is Antonio's Juco coach will also be hired as an assistant coach at UM-KC.
BTW, two-guard Derrick Zimmerman is officially visiting Texas this weekend.
05/07/99 - Howell Cable, the father of MSU ladies head basketball coach Sharon Fanning, had a very bad stroke recently. Mr. Cable was taking care of Ethel Cable, Sharon's mother, who has alzheimers. Due to his stroke and her mother's condition, Coach Fanning found a very nice retirement home in Chattanooga, TN. for her parents to live at. Please pray for Coach Fanning's parents.
05/06/99 - LSU "officially" announced the Lamont Roland signing yesterday. Look for Derrick Zimmerman to make an announcement early next week. The rumor is it is now down to MSU and Texas.
05/05/99 - The word is shooting guard Derrick Zimmerman will make a decision in the next few days, maybe as early as this weekend. He will choose either MSU or LSU is what I'm hearing. With LSU's Sunday night (5/1/99) signing of number 1 juco shooting guard Lamont Roland , you have to feel good about MSU's chances. LSU is keeping the Roland signing quiet until Derrick makes his choice is what I have been told.
05/04/99 - The word is MSU signee Jonathan Bender was seen at the Miss. State Sanderson Rec Center this past Saturday. I was told he was trying out for the one walk-on spot that is left on the MSU basketball team. Think he earned it. (:
05/03/99 - Just thought you would like to read what MSU basketball signee Jonathan Bender told Clarion-Ledger sports writer Sekou Smith when Sekou asked him about the rumors that he would apply for the NBA Draft. In Jonathan's own words: "It's just mess. Just mess."