Is Silence Trouble for Jim Christian?

Two weeks ago, TCU basketball seemed to have good momentum with their recruiting after talented recruits such as Josh Richardson and Ryan Rhoomes visited campus and were impressed.

Just when Jim Christian thought that he had caught a break with Missouri State coach Cuonzo Martin going to Tennessee (Missouri State was rumored to be Richardson’s other top choice), Martin chose to offer Richardson a scholarship to play at Tennessee as well.

The silence from Richardson is for an obvious reason in that he is still waiting to officially visit the University of Tennessee, and with the new basketball facilities just built at the university and the 18,000 seat Thompson-Boling Arena that is filled every night, Richardson will be impressed. The kicker is whether Richardson will be scared off by possible sanctions that might be handed down to the program from the NCAA. TCU fans must hope that sanctions that include a potential post-season ban will scare off Richardson.

The silence and lack of news on Ryan Rhoomes is more concerning. After Rhoomes visited TCU, his prep school coach said of TCU, “Yes, it’s the leader. I think he likes the idea of playing one year in the Mountain West and then 2012-2013 [in the] Big East.”

Over 10 days later and there has been nothing from Rhoomes in the way of a commitment to TCU. NBE Basketball Report reported that Richardson was intrigued by Providence and the new coaching staff there. Well the last time I checked, no one attended a college because they were intrigued by it. They go to a school where they love the coach and love the opportunity it gives them. So I take the comment that he is intrigued for what its worth. But nonetheless, Rhoomes has still not made any decisions. With the beginning of the late signing period just six days away, Jim Christian must seal the deal with Rhoomes.

His physicality, ability to score, and ability to rebound are crucial skills to have as TCU makes its victory lap in the Mountain West and then heads to the Big East.

Another New York player, Shaquille Stokes, will visit TCU tomorrow, April 8. Stokes plays at Lincoln High School in New York City. Lincoln is the same high school that Sebastian Telfair of the Minnesota Timberwolves played at as well. Stokes and Rhoomes are friends and could be waiting for Stokes to visit before they both make their final impression of TCU. TCU is in need of a backup point guard to play behind Hank Thorns and take over the reigns in the 2012-2013 season.

If Stokes and Rhoomes will be influenced by the other’s decision then the visit of Stokes to TCU on Friday may be Christian’s most important visit so far. Rhoomes is the best player that TCU is recruiting this year and has been rumored to be on his way to Fort Worth to play for over a month now but has not yet committed. Stokes is a quick point guard with good ball handling and scoring skills.

With LeAntwan Luckett, a four-star guard from Mississippi, most likely headed to junior college over TCU or any other division one program, Jim Christian has little margin for error.

Christian did not have the talent or depth to compete and win games last season. After losing 25 points per game in scoring, he was left with little depth and a depleted roster. What looked so promising was the TCU fought so hard down the stretch. The players never gave up on Christian and they never gave up on their season.

TCU will be improved in 20110-2012 with the roster that they currently have, and the return or departure of Ronnie Moss could swing some momentum to or away from the team, but the improvement would not be the type of growth that Christian or the TCU fanbase wants unless he is able to put some young depth together to help out Thorns, Niko Cerina, and Garlon Green. Rhoomes, Stokes, and Richardson could all find roles as freshman and significant roles.

Adrick McKinney has already committed to TCU, and he will bang down low. But more is needed from the 2011 recruiting class, and there is no time to lose for Jim Christian has he needs to seal the deal.

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