The Morning Stake | 2019.05.14

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Addicted to the Game. NBA’s Chris Dortch writes about how Jarrett Culver is addicted to the game and ready for the NBA:

After that run, Culver had nothing left to prove in college. He knew it, his family knew it, Beard knew it. As sorry as he is to see Culver go, Beard is equally thrilled for him. Culver did what he was supposed to do, and more important to Beard, what he said he would do. Now it’s on to the next level, where he’s a certain high lottery pick.

“I have no doubt he’s going to be an NBA star,” Beard said. “Again, it’s a case of where talent intersects the love of the game. Nobody’s going to outwork him. I say that with all due respect to all NBA players. I understand how hard guys work. But no one will outwork Jarrett Culver.

“Like we say around here, you’ve got to be addicted. A lot of people are addicted to game night, when the band plays and the cheerleaders are rocking. TV cameras and all that. There are only a select few that are just addicted to it, who are in the gym when nobody else is looking. Jarrett’s at the top of the list. He’s addicted to winning. He’s addicted to working. He’s just addicted to the game.

Wanting Beard. Detroit Free Press’ Nick Baumgardner has a list of coaching candidates to replace John Beilein, who agreed to coach the Cleveland Cavaliers. Of course any program is going to want one of the best coaches in college basketball, so this shouldn’t be a surprise. But Coach Beard and Coach Adams and Sean Sutton have been busy.

Hosting Tyreek Smith. So there were these some things posted on 4-star forward Tyreek Smith’s visit to Texas Tech, which have now been taken down, including Beard and Smith taking a Lime Bike tour of the campus and an arm-wrestling contest between Smith and Sean Sutton, where if Sutton wins, Smith has to commit on the spot. At the scene was Mark Adams, Beard, Sutton (obviously), Ronald Ross, and Matt Temple. It was entertaining for sure. So, if you were wondering what some of those guys were doing, well, they’re recruiting their tails off.

Another Transfer Possibility. Via the Spokesman’s Jim Meehan, USC graduate transfer Derryck Thornton is interested in 5 programs, Gonzaga, Boston College, St. John’s, Auburn, and Texas Tech, and averaged 7.7 points a game last year and was replaced by a true freshman in the starting lineup.

Ellis to Memphis. Memphis continues to build their program as guard Boogie Ellis committed to play for the Tigers, so Memphis is out of the running for guard RJ Hampton, who is probably now down to Kansas, Kentucky, and Texas Tech. Personally, my money is still on Kansas, it has been for a while. I’m hoping for the best, but not expecting it. USA Today has what each team has at the guard position and to offer Hampton.

Texas Tech Football

Wells in Amarillo. Via KAMR’s Clint Brakebill has some Twitter tweets from head coach Matt Wells visit in Amarillo, where Wells talked about Tyler Carr, Dalton Rigdon, and Trevor Roberson.

And you’ll need headphones to hear this, as Brakebill is trying to tape from a distance.

Rogers on His Commitment. Mansfield offensive lineman Caleb Rogers committed to Texas Tech and RedRaiderSports’ Matt Clare spoke to Rogers about his commitment:

“It is my mom’s school, she graduated from Texas Tech,” Rogers said. “I actually had a shirt made for her with the picture of us from the unofficial visit, and I surprised her for Mother’s Day today. Texas Tech has always been a school that I liked, it was where I wanted to go.

“I was thinking about it and considering my options, and I thought about who really wanted me. I knew the Texas Tech coaches wanted me there and I knew they had the education. I want to major in Education and eventually become a coach.

“The location is perfect, because my family can come see me from the Dallas area and my Grandmother lives in Amarillo. Everyone is close and they can call come see my games at the college level. Plus, my Grandmother says that I look good in red.”

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