Is nice!

THE STORY EVERYONE IS TALKING ABOUT
Late Recruits Give Ringing Endorsements

With the draft intrigue now long passed (well, unless Mbah a Moute doesn’t hire an agent, then goes undrafted, then returns to school … [sigh] … ), we return our attention to the players who actually want to play college basketball.

With the recruiting season all but finished, only a few big names from the juco ranks remained up for grabs – and boy, they all committed to their new schools with unbridled joy! Just look at these statements:

From Charles Garcia, Jr., the newest member of the Washington Huskies: “I just didn’t want to deal with the whole recruiting process,” he said. “I wanted to get it out of the way.” That’s the spirit! Go UW!

From Roburt Sallie, now a Memphis Tiger – which isn’t too bad considering that the only reason he was available now was because Nebraska – that’s right, NEBRASKA – was forced to boot him under Big XII rules due to an administrative error. “For some reason, God didn’t intend me to play for Nebraska. I was dedicated to them and I still wish today I’d have the opportunity to play for them because they’re great.” See? A Tony the Tiger reference! He’s gonna love Memphis! And it’s natural to be pining after your homely ex after you start dating the cheerleader!

Finally, Kentucky transfer Derrick Jasper finally determined where his new home would be – and it will be in the desert, playing for Lon Kruger’s squad in Vegas. His supporters say he wanted to be closer to his Cali home. UK fans think he might have been too soft for Lexington. We think, given the destination, the reason behind the transfer is more basic:

Four more headlines, including plenty of legal action for the week, after the jump.

FOUR STORIES WORTH A FEW LINES APIECE

Look, Don’t Touch, and For God’s Sake Don’t Show – Kansas’ presumed floor leader for next season, Sherron Collins, was found liable in a civil suit for “exposing himself and rubbing against [the plaintiff] despite being told repeatedly to stop.” Bill Self had enough problems already, with four of his best players now in the draft – now he apparently needs to reteach Collins when it is appropriate to stick his body on a man.

Because Whistleblower Interviews Are All the Rage – Former O.J. Mayo hanger-on Louis Johnson met with officials from the NCAA, Pac-10, and USC over the weekend in what we’re sure was a friendly, jocular seven-hour probe. What types of questions do you imagine the USC attorneys were asking? “So … Mr. Johnson, do you prefer radical Islamic terrorism, or killing babies with your bare hands?”

Better Late Than Never – A late addition to the “returning to school” list from yesterday: Lester Hudson, who withdrew his name from the draft with nary a moment to spare. Hudson had hoped to go in the first round, but withdrew when NBA scouts told him they had no fucking clue where UT-Martin was.

A Deal with the Devil … – … but damned if we could tell you who is the devil and who just sold their soul: Comcast and the Big Ten Network appear to be near a compromise deal to put the rarely watched money-grubbing Jim Delany plaything boutique network on the Comcast premium sports tier after one season in its basic tier.