A key recruit's late decision to renege on his pledge to join San Diego State has Aztecs coach Steve Fisher fuming.
Former Loyola Marymount forward Kevin Young, who initially signed a non-binding grant-in-aid agreement with San Diego State last November, revealed Friday he has changed his mind and enrolled at Kansas. Fisher told the San Diego Union-Tribune the next day that Young's decision was especially disappointing because the Aztecs "passed over three or four very talented players" to honor the transfer's commitment.
"I'm disappointed that a young man who I am very fond of would not feel an obligation to honor an eight-month commitment," Fisher said. "And I'm equally disappointed in a program and coach I'm very fond of to pursue a player who made an eight-month commitment."
That coach, of course, is Bill Self, who defended himself against accusations he had acted unethically by plucking Young from San Diego State. Self told the Lawrence Journal-World that Young had decided not to go to San Diego State before Kansas began recruiting him.
"I don't blame coach Fisher for being disappointed at all because Kevin did commit to them," Self said, "but Kevin also told them he wasn't going to San Diego State before we recruited him, so we didn't steal him from San Diego State by any stretch."
Regardless of how Kansas landed Young, his addition is a coup for a team in need of frontcourt depth after the early departures of the Morris twins.
Young averaged 10.9 points and 5.5 rebounds during the 2009-10 season at LMU, making up for his lack of back-to-the-basket polish with his shot-blocking, defensive energy and ability to score in transition. He spent last year getting his academics in order in junior college and will have two years of eligibility at Kansas beginning next season.
Young told the Journal-World that the choice between Kansas and San Diego State came down to the exposure the Jayhawks can provide.
"It (SDSU) is a great school as well," Young said. "There's nothing they did wrong or anything that made me change my mind. I just figure this is a bigger stage and a lot more opportunity."
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