Tyler prospects put recruiting on hold

Tyler Junior College has a big week coming up. After losing to Navarro 71-64, Tyler will face San Jacinto and Jacksonville in the final week of the regular season.

"We've played pretty good basketball. We haven't won them all, but we've played well," said Tyler head coach Mike Marquis. "We've put ourselves up against a wall, but if we can finish up well, we'll at least have a chance."

Tyler needs a couple of wins to assure itself a shot at the postseason. There is plenty of recruiting attention at the school, although the players would like to probably put that off for a couple more weeks. That would mean they were in the playoffs.

"I think it's not a great high school year for size so I think all three of our big men are going to have an opportunity," Marquis said.

Kurt Looby, a 6-foot-10 sophomore, signed with Iowa in November and Theo White is committed to USC. But there are wo more post players at Tyler. Jessan Gray and Roald Raymond are both getting attention.

"He's a good juco post," Marquis said of White. "He's undersized a little bit but he's a warrior, gets a lot done. He's commanded a lot of double and triple teams."

Gray may be the most talented of the groupl.

"Offensively not too many people are on par with him," said Marquis. "He's 6-10, he's just got to pick the right situation for him."

"He's a half-court, throwback Big East five man," the coach added, in talking about Raymond. "He's got great hands, good low post moves, passes well. He's a strong physical presence. He's probably better suited at next level than at junior college because it's a pretty fast paced game in our conference."

JucoJunction will continue to follow the prospects at Tyler after the season ends.

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