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I was reading the article without reading the editors note above, thinking something is not right here. Its a good article. Texas has come a long way since 1979. What's sad is, for the most part, Texas universities have not reaped the benefit of the improving basketball talent in the state. I listed below high profile players from Texas that went out of state to play. 90’s Shaquille O’Neal (LSU) Jimmy King (Michigan) Ray Jackson (Michigan) Thomas Hill (Duke) Ansu Seasay (Miss.) Larry Johnson (UNLV) Kenny Thomas (New Mexico) LaBradford Smith (Louisville) Andre Patterson (Indiana) Maceo Batson (Michigan) Kenyon Martin (Cincy) 2000’s Jawan McClellan (Arizona) Ike Diogu (Arizona St.) Emeka Okafor (UCONN) Jake Voskhul (UCONN) Von Wafer (FSU) Chris Bosh (Ga Tech) Jeremis Smith (Ga Tech) Deron Williams (Illinois) Bracey Wright (Indiana) Darell Arthur (Kansas) Daniel Horton (Michigan) Daniel Ewing (Duke) John Lucas III (Okla St.) Glendon Alexander (Okla St.) Jason Maxiell (Cincy) Cartier Martin (K State) Pros Kendrick Perkins (signed with Memphis) C.J. Myles Stephen Jackson Gerald Green Ndubi Ebi (signed with Arizona) Rashard Lewis

Great stuff. Thank you for posting it! I would have never found it.

Congrats to a outstanding athlete and fine young man. 6'9 is getting up there. Is there any chance that basketball is still in his future? Please tell me some have expressed interest in him. What about walking on at A&M?

So this means they dont have a good basketball coach? Your contradicting yourself here.

I sure would like to see him continue playing basketball, but high jumping at the D1 level aint to shabby! What school is interested orangeman? And are there other basketball options for him that he is considering?

BUT...............according to everyone here who is an expert, Letsinger cant play with the big dogs(larger schools, all star games, etc.). I mean after all, he is ONLY a 1A player, right. Congrats to him. I sure hope someone will give him a chance at the next level. Basketball and high jumping!

Maybe not. But you cant make chicken salad out of chicken s***.

Excellent post.

Reality check here! Sutherland could have coached Buna this year and it wouldnt have made a difference. Players win games. Plain and simple.

You cant talk about Texas high school football tradition without including the Brownwood Lions or Plano Wildcats. Both schools have won 7 state championships, most in Texas. SLC might now have 7 as well. Others of note: Permian, Stephenville, LaMarque, Austin Westlake, Temple, Celina, Houston Yates, PNG, Schulenburg, Waco, Abilene, Wichita Falls, Cuero, Refugio, Ennis, Sealy, Dangerfield, Converse Judson, WOS, Pilot Point.

That is sick!

Man you will be cutting it close. Ive made that drive and it isnt short. Lets say you do ten run them, game is over at 11:30 at best. You get out of Sour Lake by 12, at best. Your looking at least 3 1/2 to 4 hours till you walk into the drum. Game is over by then. Dont risk your life driving like a maniac to a basketball game. I know its important to you but it isnt worth your life. Have faith that they will make it to the title game, and then take all the time you need on Sat to drive to Austin.

First of all, most people in Texas have never heard of HJ. And if they have it isnt because of their baseball team. Secondly, quit worrying about what everyone else says on a message board. Just play.

No offense, but you must not know anything about MM. BS will have to play way above their heads to hang in this one. And yes i have seen both teams play, as well as WH. MM is not only the best team at regionals, but the best team in 1A. Doesnt mean they cant be beat, but it would be an uspet.

I think EC goes the deepest. Thomas is the best 2A player in the state and they have talent around him. Just seems like its their year. Same could be said for WH and Letsinger, but Martins Mill stands in their way. MM would be the best team WH faces all year if they meet. HJ has a shot. Ozen? Who knows. Thats a tough bracket.

What about the last 3 years when he was playing in the toughest 2A district in the state and putting up the same stats? Does that count for anything?

That doesnt mean Fuller is not a great coach though. I was just trying to give some love to other coaches who get overshadowed because of lack of talent. Jackson, Henry and English are good examples. There are lots of great coaches in our area. Those who have won state titles and those who havent even won district titles. But year in and year out the team with the most talent usually wins, not the team with the best coach.

I dont disagree with what you are saying. But coaches get to much credit, and too much criticism. Talent wins games, plain and simple. Do you think HI or Evadale or Bridge City would have made the playoffs with Foster, Fuller or Sutherland coaching them this year? No. If WH is not as good next year(which is likely), will it be because of the coach? No. Why didnt Scotty Phillips or Lucky Gamble win while at WH? Both of them are two of the best football coaches in the state, and both have won state championships. I am not trying to argue with you, as we both agree Fuller is an excellent coach and more importantly a good man. I just know there are lots of very good coaches out there that dont get credit because they dont have the same talent at their school as others.

Talent helps. It would be hard not to win with that group. Same for Boutte, Hargrave and Joubert. They are all good coaches, but talent wins MOST games not coaches. Any of those mentioned though would be deserving of Coach of Year.

No problem, apology accepted. Its my fault for responding to ltown and the other guy. I just added fuel to their fire. I was just trying to defend Letsinger. They are just uninformed hs kids running their mouth, though we probably all are guilt doing that in high school. Let this thread die.

Slow down there partner. I didnt and wont bash any kid. I am defending Letsinger, not bashing him. Ltown is the one who has a problem with him. Go back and read again my friend.

First off, Kountze played in the 3A and lower division of the Whataburger tourney. Get your facts right. And they do the same when they play in the Bagg Insurance tourney. How about the 23 pts Letsinger put up against Splendora(a 3A playoff team) when he was a freshman. How about the Quadruple Double he had against Kountze(who went on to win state that year) as a soph. How about Newcomer of the Year as a Freshman in a tough 2A district. How about 1st Team All District as a soph in the toughest 2A district in the state. How about 1st Team All District as a Junior in the toughest 2A district in the state. How about leading his team to a 28-2 record as a senior, and will for sure make 1st Team All State this year. How about a well respected 3A coach who had his team in Austin a year ago(he might know his stuff) saying Letsinger is better than anyone 4A Lumberton(your school) ever produced. HOw about playing with those mighty big school boys on the AAU circuit during the summer and holding his own. Are these good enough for you?

You sure know a lot about Lumberton. But like you said, your from Westbrook right. You and bball07 must be brothers. Both of yalls logic is flawed, big time. You are trying to put down a kid because he plays at a lower level. That means he must not be good right. If thats true, then Shaq wasnt any good because he played at the 3A level. Same for Ashton Hall. Same for Terry Teagle(i am sure you dont know who that is). Same for the Johnson brothers who played at Morton on the 1A level. Same for Walter Payton and Jerry Rice because they only played 1AA football. I'll give you the benefit of the doubt because your only a hs kid and dont know any better. But Letsinger could start for any team in this area and more than hold his own.

Is this a joke? There shouldnt even be a vote on this. Letsinger is the Player of the Year in 1A. NO questions asked, not even up for debate. Sure their are other fine 1A players in the area, but get real.

Dont argue with HJ fans. They know everything.