Prospect Watch: Eugene Crockett

[Sly Fox]

Here's yet another name to be watching. I sniffed around some local contacts down here in the Houston area based on some leads and came up with this kid:



EUGENE CROCKETT
Ozen (Pronounced Oh-ZAN) High School
Beaumont, Texas
Class of 2006

6' 9" (Sometimes listed at 6' 10")
240 lbs

AAU: Houston Hoops & Houston Elite
Went to 2005 Nike All-American & 2004 Reebok ABCD Camp[s (Both Invitation Only)

He's originally from Sacramento, CA before transferring to his family's hometown of Beaumont. Unfortunately they headed to the Golden Triangle just before Hurricane Rita blew through the area this fall. The good news is that everyone is back in school and basketball is plugging along just fine.

Last season Crockett transferred to Ozen from Sacramento High and helped the Panthers to a 34-5 record. The team spent most of the season in the FAB 50 and was one of the top teams in the Southwest United States.

"It was the right move for me," explained Crockett, who is also a cousin of former Ozen star Kendrick Perkins. "Down there the players are corn-fed, big and strong, although I feel California has more talent. Coach Andre Boutte does a great job and they have a big-time program," Crockett added.

Crockett recorded a 68.25 SPARQ Basketball Rating and was one of the better rebounding forwards in attendance in Indianapolis. He told us he was a "strong lean" to Georgia Tech.

"Me and coach (Paul) Hewitt are trying to get that done, no, we will get that done," Crockett said.

cal.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=434839

As a freshman & sophomore in Sacramento he was considered one of the elite players in the nation (Top-150 in his class). He's not developed as well the past year or so according to those in the know. But he still has the raw athletic ability that is getting him plenty of looks.

Rivals lists his current school choices as:

Arizona State
Nebraska
Oregon State
Santa Clara
UT-Arlington
Tulsa


Eugene (left) with his cousin Matthew Garth of Dallas (TX) Wilson

The West Coast schools were probably onto him early when he was a Norcal phenom. Tulsa made a big push for him this summer as did UTA. Apparently the offers are really starting to roll in for Eugene.

Galaxy of Stars has him 168th in the nation.

Texashoops.com rates him 61st in State of Texas after having him 28th prior to summer

RCS Sports has him 24th in the greater Houston area

[lustudentrep]

Eugen Crockett was on campus today and will attended practice later tonight and through the weekend, dont know a lot about that kid or how interested he is in Liberty.....but we was every bit of 6'8"/6'9" and a SOLID 250....big kid..wait very big kid

[Sly Fox]

If he's on campus, he's interested. Whether he is interested enough to pass on scholarships from bigger name programs is the real key. This kid has the potential to be a beast in the paint.

Thanks for the heads up on the visit. I can assure you this was purely coincidental. Or perhaps it was providential.

[SCAR]

I think this is the kid that knows Rell Porter but I could be wrong. I know Rell had a teammate that wants to play with him that is big like this guy but he could have been there last week. I barely know what city I'm in let alone what day things happen.

[lustudentrep]

Scar that was a different kid, i can not remember his name off of the top of my head, but he was actually in town last week. New asst. coach Alexis Sherrard is bringin some players in!

[Sly Fox]

Rell is from a little town in East Texas that is several hours north of Beaumont. So I kind of doubt that Eugene is the one you are referring to.

Ronnie Morgan is from Dallas and is another of our targets that you can read about in another thread.

I haven't seen him play in person yet (but I intend to since he has district games in Houston) but my friends who have say he's immensely gifted and is strong on the boards. He needs improvement in developing some more offensive moves. But thta's what good coaching can accomplish.

His high school has generally been ranked in the USA Today Super 25 for the past 5-6 years. That's impressive because they are a public school that doesn't recruit like most of the others in the national rankings. They have been competing as a 4A school since they opened a decade or so ago. But they have moved up to 5A. You may have noticed the mention of his cousin Kendrick Perkins who now plays for the Celtics. Kendrick helped build Ozen's national rep.

[Sly Fox]

lustudentrep - Was Eugene the only kid we have on campus this weekend?

[thesportscritic]

Sounds like a good post player. The team definitely needs to bulk their post game.

[lustudentrep]

Yes, it is rare to bring in two players in one weekend, but not unheard of, with a kid like this my guess would be u want him to have all your attention. Although Baker and Holland came on the same weekend, and look where they are.

Sly- Why is dees in your banner? we are not living in the past!

[Sly Fox]

SuperJon made it for me last night and I wasn't paying close attention. I'll have him fix it for me.

[thesportscritic]

I saw Crockett at Men's practice at the Vines Center and he is big. A much needed post player is needed for the team come next season. I guess we will find out who signs with us this week I think. (Early Signing Period)

[Sly Fox]

Andre Boutte is Eugene's coach. Perhaps Chris might want to give him a ring sometime Monday to see how things went.

[TheInsider]

The player you are thinking of that is friends with Rell Porter is JT Durley and he visited last weekend.

[ATrain]

Welcome back Insider...haven't seen you around in a while. Lets hope we can get this kid signed, he seems like he'd be a great fit.

[PAmedic]

The dude looks SOLID. After all the conjecture: what's the connection that brought him to LU? maybe just good recruiting by Dunton's staff?

and SLY, any ideas on why he has

not developed as well the past year or so

[Chris Lang]

I've been trying to get Eugene's high school coach to call me back, but with little success.

[jcmanson]

Just announced that 6'10" center from UVA, Sam Warren, will be leaving program. Insiders say he was not ACC-caliber. Maybe we should look into him. He is a big kid, and seems to have class.

virginiasports.collegesports.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/110705aaa.html

[guest]

Coach Sherard was working on Sam release in order to talk with him today

[PAmedic]

Sam Warren Leaves Virginia Basketball Team

Virginia men's head basketball coach Dave Leitao made the announcement on November 7.

Nov. 7, 2005

CHARLOTTESVILLE - University of Virginia men's head basketball coach Dave Leitao announced on Monday (Nov. 7) that center Sam Warren has left the team. Warren plans to remain at Virginia through the end of the fall semester.

"Sam is a terrific young man and I wish him well," Leitao said. "I am sorry he won't be with us."

Warren is a 6-10 freshman from Greenwood Village, Colo.

[thesportscritic]

In the Flames Club meeting today, Coach Dunton talked about some of the recruits that should be sending in their papers today or sometime this week. He said it was a big man so I am assuming one of those recruits is Eugene Crockett, who should or could be signing with us this week from what Coach Dunton said. If anyone was at the meeting today or SCAR or anyone else who is close to the coaches or Coach Dunton want to let us know, it would be appreciated.

[theinsider]

The signings Coach D was probably speaking was Armon Jones and Eugene Crockett.

[SCAR]

From what I understand Armon Jones is a done deal and Eugene is getting the full court press in person tomorrow from Coach Zach Jones. If Zach gets it done tomorrow that would be huge.

[luoldtimer]

scar
should have placed note here, not in "another verbal for dunton".
any word on home visit yesterday in texas?

[SCAR]

I have not talked with the coaches today but I am headed up to school to work out...I may stop by afterwards to catch up with them before they leave for Charlottesville...Welcome to the board too Old timer...Share some of your stories from the old days with us when you get a chance.

[Sly Fox]

Its great seeing some more new posters arrive recently. And yes, I know 'theinsider' isn't a newbie. I'm just glad registration is catching on.

I'm curious if Zach hit any other schools down here while he was in my neck of the woods. If he didn't make it over to Cypress Community Chrisian I'm going to be disappointed. That 7' 3" kid is there for the taking. Hardly anyone knows about him yet and he's a transfer in senior.

[PAmedic]

evidently we could use a center. 7'3" oughta do it.

[PAmedic]

SCAR- call Zach up on the celly and give him the scoop before SLY has a hemmorhage.

[Sly Fox]

Apparently Crockett moved back to Cali this week. Here's a thread on the local HS hoops message board in SE Texas:

www.websitetoolbox.com/tool/post/fnesports/vpost?id=785174

I assume we are the scholarship offer they are referring to in the thread.

[Chris Lang]

Could explain why coach Boutte didn't return several phone messages I left him regarding Eugene.

[Sly Fox]

If you read the thread, it indicates that Andre & Eugene weren't exactly best buddies. And I'm sure he's in no hurry to talk about a kid who flew the coop.