Louisville Signs Langford For 2010

Louisville signed Alabama forward Josh Langford, a native of Huntsville, Alabama. Langford has family in the Louisville area and has visited the area many times over the years. Pitino watched the 6-foot-6, 200 pound player play in Orlando, Florida and offered him a scholarship.

Langford is ranked the No. 11 small forward in his class by scout.com. Rivals.com rates him the No. 86 player overall. Langford was also recruited by Mississippi State, Clemson, Memphis, Miami, Alabama, Missouri, Kansas State, and Southern California. Langford is Louisville first signee for 2010.

Some college coaches are still seething over the one and done rule. The dilemma being do you recruit the highly rated prospect and shun the player with potential and build your program for your future? These are hard tough questions that need to be answered.

The future benefit of the program should take precedence over recruiting the highly rated player in hopes of landing a national championship.

Around The NBA

Ron Artest, Sacramento Kings is close to being traded to Houston for Bobby Jackson and Donte Green.

The Charlotte Bobcats signed Emeker Okafor to a six year 72 million deal.

Atlanta signed Maurice Evans to a three year 7.5 million deal.

Derrick Character Saga Continues

The Derrick Character story is intriguing. Most of you probably don’t know a thing about Character; but he has been a very sharp thorn in Louisville coach, Rick Pitino’s side. It has literally been a two year roller coaster ride for Pitino For his credit he has bent over backward to help Character, but always with tough love.

Pitino has shown a real interest in the person; the individual and because of that he has a tendency to try to help whenever possible; almost to a fault. But that’s Pitino; who shows tough resolve but also compassion. When it is all said and done; Pitino has a good heart.

So the Headlines reads, Pitino gives Character A Second Chance. It should read 4th chance, because it has taken Character all of four chances to get things right. He has not succeeded or traveled long to this point. You Really can’t say that he has learned from his mistakes. Because he keeps making them over and over.

Character, a 6′ 9′ center, has a wealth of talent that could be further refined His life long ambition was to go to the NBA. Pitino arranged a tryout at the Orlando combine. Character had a profile in the combine media guide, and at the last minute he decided not to attend and he took his name out of the NBA Draft Lottery.

No one knows why but Character has discipline issues and needs to learn to follow through on the court and in life.
Character could go far, but needs to address commitment and follow through.