One staying, one backing out at Mizzou

The future of Missouri's basketball class of 2006 has been up in the air since Quin Snyder resigned on February 9th. One member of that class has made his decision.

"My family and I have been talking about this since coach Snyder left, since day one," said Redlands College forward Ty Morrison. "We have come to the conclusion that I am going to try to get out of my letter of intent."

The 6-foot-7 Morrison said the decision had very little to do with Missouri's hiring Mike Anderson.

"I wish Mike Anderson all the luck there at Missouri," Morrison said. "It was just the whole idea about Snyder. When I signed my letter of intent, I was real excited about playing under Snyder, taking nothing away from Mike Anderson. He's a good coach. I was hoping Melvin Watkins would get the head coaching job. If he would have gotten it, there is a good chance I still would have come to Mizzou."

Morrison asking out is just one step--Missouri has to agree.

"That's correct, they still have to give me the release," said Morrison, who played in just 17 games for Redlands this season. "It seems like Coach Mike Anderson is being cooperative so I would believe he would do so."

Morrison had visited Oregon prior to signing with Missouri and danced a little bit with Washington. His future is now wide open.

"I still have three visits left, and I will take my three visits. Oregon also told me prior to the Missouri situation, something might still be available if something didn't work out," Morrison said. "I'm just going to wait for all the schools to come in again if I were to be released. Then I'll try to narrow it down as quickly as possible."

Morrison was not the only member of his juco team who was planning to play at Mizzou next season. 6-foot-8 forward Vaidatos Volkus also signed with the Tigers in November. We asked Morrison about his teammate's plans.

"I don't want to speak for Volkus, but I will tell you based on prior conversations he's going to stick it out and come to Missouri," Morrison said. "He's real excited to play at Missouri."