More for Monday

Here is some good news: Herb Pope is recovering well.

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Here's the official announcement Fresno State on Mychal Ladd -- may he have the maturity to learn from his mistakes:

Ladd Leaves Fresno State, Cleveland Expects to Fill Final Scholarships This Summer
Stephen Trembley
Fresno State Athletics Communications (Men's Basketball)

FRESNO, Calif. -- Sophomore guard Mike Ladd has left the Fresno State men’s basketball program and will transfer to another institution, head coach Steve Cleveland announced today.

“The personal conduct of our student-athletes on and off the court will continue to be a priority,” Cleveland said.  “Mike has played a significant role in our program the past two years.  I do support Mike in this decision and I am confident that he will do those things that will help him reach his full potential as a student-athlete.”

Ladd reflected on his decision and appreciated the support of the Bulldog community.

“My decision to leave Fresno State is not a basketball decision,” Ladd said.  “I love the players and the coaches.  I learned a lot from Coach Cleve.  Right now, I just need to take a new direction in my life off the court.  I think being near family and friends will really help me during this time.  I want to thank all of the fans for being so good to me.  I will miss Fresno and my friends.”

Two scholarships remain for the 2010-11 season.  Cleveland expects to add one more individual available to compete immediately and one Division 1 transfer.

“Our intention is to add a Division I transfer who can address our depth issue as a premier post player,” Cleveland said.  “We are still currently involved in adding one more player to this year’s roster.”

The remaining scholarships will be finalized with athletic aid agreements.

Cleveland has already restocked the Bulldog roster with the signing of incoming freshmen Bracken Funk, Tyler Johnson, Kevin Olekaibe and John Ryan along with junior college transfer Tim Steed, who have committed to playing for the Bulldogs in the upcoming 2010-11 season that starts Nov. 12, 2010 in Provo, Utah, against nationally ranked Brigham Young University.

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It's a given: there are abuses by all in the recruiting-and-then-remaining-on-a-roster equation. Plus, it can sometimes be difficult to 'officially' determine which players were pushed, which saw the handwriting on the wall and determined they would rarely play, which were recruited over versus which decided a higher level or more 'gifted' (read into that what you will) basketball program was where they wished to be.

It's simply not true that forcing a player out or possessing a rep for doing such is ever harmful because every kid thinks they are the one, the exception who will never face such pressure. Do you really think Mike Anderson's recruiting at Missouri is now irreparably harmed -- let alone even dinged -- by his decision on Tyler Stone? See Tim Floyd, see Larry Eustachy, et all. Gary Williams knows better. There is also no way the NCAA can spin this practice regardless of any Herculean effort.

Revoked scholarships surprise college athletes
Alan Scher Zagier
Associated Press
May 24, 2010

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — After scoring just 22 points all season in mop-up duty, Missouri freshman forward Tyler Stone has no illusions of bolting college for the NBA after a single year. 

Instead, the 6-foot-7 Memphis native is a different sort of one-and-done: a college athlete leaving a school sooner than his family expected as a prized recruit takes over his scholarship. 

"I can't see how a school can love him to death one year and the next year cut him loose," said his mother, Sharon Stone. "They had to get rid of somebody..."

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