BURN THE HORSE
Coveted Arlington Country Day (Fla.) big man Michael Javes has signed with UALR.Javes (pronounced hov-ess), who committed to the UALR coaching staff in December, was finally able to take a visit to the campus last week. After returning home, he signed the “grant in aid” paperwork.
Javes could not take an official visit until taking the ACT. He’s since both taken and passed the standardized test. The whole of his academic work, including his high school in Columbia, will now go to the NCAA Clearinghouse to determine his eligibility.
It means Javes likely will not be with the Trojans when players report in two weeks for summer workouts. But it is possible he could be able to enroll in August.
Javes is a 6-10, 225-pound center who drew rave reviews at ACD for his potential. Big Six schools have been showing interest all along and that intensified in recent weeks.
Javes was named to the first team at the Presidential Hoopfest in Washington, D.C., which was one of several honors he received throughout the season.
ESPN rated him a 2 star and an 85 (link below).
Javes' apparently has dual citizenship with Columbia and Venezuela and both countries have shown interest in him for their national team programs.
Javes' eligibility could be important if sophomore Gus Leeper has surgery and has to take a medical redshirt this season.
UALR previously signed Will Neighbour (Daytona State/Great Britain), James White (Jonesboro, Ga.), Reggie Fondren (Northwest Mississippi CC), Taggart Lockhart (Talihina, Okla.), Eric Lawton (Mount San Jacinto (Calif.) JC) and Ben Dillard (Frisco, Texas).
Javes would put UALR back at 13 scholarship players for the 2011-2012 season.
Eric Kibi will not return for his senior season. Kibi averaged 4.4 points and 4.2 rebounds in 16.7 minutes per game last season. But he played in only 29 of the 36 games after being declared academically ineligible in December.
Also not returning is walk-on Logan Quinn, who red shirted last season. His family moved to California in the offseason and he’s transferring to nearby The Master’s College in Santa Clarita, Calif.
Searcy point guard Casey Wilmath is expected to walk-on this fall.
2011-2012 roster
Seniors (4)Courtney Jackson, Tramar Sutherland, D’Andre Williams, Marlon Louzeiro
Juniors (3)Reggie Fondren, Eric Lawton, Neal Barlow (WO)
Sophomores (3)Chuck Guy, Gus Leeper,Will Neighbour
Freshmen (5)
James White, Taggart Lockhart, Ben Dillard, Michael Javes, Casey Wilmath (WO)
http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/recruiting/player/_/id/126072/michael-javes
