Jamison interested in Tech

Justin Jamison is best known for being a pitcher selected by the Texas Rangers in the 13th round of the 2009 MLB Draft. But that could change in the near future after revitalizing his basketball career at Missouri State-West Plains in the NJCAA.

The former professional baseball player is thinking about becoming a Texas Tech Red Raider when the time comes this spring.

"I actually got a phone call from Coach Joe Esposito on Thursday," Jamison said. "We have a great relationship. I love Coach Esposito. I talk to Coach Esposito about once a week and Coach Tubby Smith once every couple of weeks. I love them. They're great. I can just really tell that they're real big about caring for their guys and they'll take care of you."

Being recruited by a head coach with a National Championship under his belt certainly doesn't hurt Tech's cause.

"In my opinion, he's a Hall of Fame head coach," Jamison said. "He has National Championship and Final Four experience, and he's been successful everywhere he's been. So it's an honor to be recruited by him and be able to talk to him on a regular basis and stuff like that."

As a 6-foot-9, 260-pound power forward, however, other schools keep good tabs on the Division I prospect.

New Mexico, Oregon and Pittsburgh each offered Jamison on Wednesday after scouting him in a 116-114 triple overtime loss against Sedalia (Mo.) State Fair Community College.

"I had 17 (points) and 12 (rebounds) that night," Jamison said. "It was New Mexico, Oregon and Pitt were all in the building. I picked up offers from all three, so it was a good night. Just coming off the court, you like to get feedback from your coaches and from other people. A lot of those coaches had games the night before and are getting on a plane to go straight to another game, so just to know they take time out of their schedule to watch me play and offer me a scholarship right after a game just takes the cake."

He also has offers from TCU and Kent State.

Not all schools are getting the same look from the power forward though.

Jamison only listed four schools off the top of his head he has thought deeply about visiting, and he already has visited one of those schools unofficially.

"At this point, I know I'm definitely going to be taking visits to Texas Tech and definitely taking a visit to Pitt," he said. "At this point, I'm pretty sure I'm going to take a visit to Oregon. I went on an unofficial visit to K-State while I was at home for Christmas break.

"I'm starting to narrow it down to where I want to take my visits and where I want to narrow the list down to. I've got about seven to 10 teams now. I'll just go from there in the next couple of months."

The winning school expects a lot in return.

"I bring a lot of things," Jamison said. "The main thing is, I think, is my upside because I haven't been playing. This is my first year playing in about four to five years. It's not like I'm an old guy whose potential is tapped out. I'm still getting better, still learning and still getting into basketball shape. It's been a work in progress.

"As far as other things, I love to play with my back to the basket. I can score with my back to the basket. I can score with both hands. I can rebound pretty well. I bring a presence on the defensive end also . And I can run the floor. I'm a mobile big man. I'm not a big guy who just makes his way up and down the floor real slow. I can get up and down the floor and get buckets in transition as well."