Roger Franklin transfers to North Texas, makes Mean Green a mid-major threat

North Texas is a team to watch for the next couple of seasons.

Its awkward to say. The Mean Green finished at 8-8 in the Sun Belt last season, a disappointing finish for a team coming off of a trip to the 2010 NCAA Tournament that returned most of that roster. This year, however, North Texas graduates seemingly everyone. Five of their top six scorers graduate, meaning that Kendrick Hogans, who averaged 8.5 ppg and 3.7 rpg in 24 mpg, and Jacob Holmen, 5.8 ppg and 3.0 rpg in 15 mpg, are the Mean Green's two leading returning scorers.

But for all the experience that North Texas graduates, the talent that head coach Johnny Jones has coming into the program provides hope that the program can avoid a rebuilding season.

For starters, there is Tony Mitchell, a 6'8" combo-forward. Mitchell was a top 20 recruit in the class of 2010. He signed with Missouri, but due to a myriad of academic issues -- stemming from the high school he attended in Florida to some questionable test scores at the high school he attended in Dallas -- he was never cleared to play for the Tigers. In January, when his final appeal was denied by the NCAA, Mitchell opted to enroll with the Mean Green, where he should become eligible in December.

Mitchell isn't the only transfer Jones has brought in. Roger Franklin, a former top 100 recruit that spent the past two seasons toiling away on Oklahoma State's bench, decided to leave Stillwater and made the decision today to transfer to North Texas. There is a shot that he will be eligible to play immediately, as well. Franklin's father had surgery to remove brain tumors a few years ago, and according to the Denton Chronicle, there is a chance that the tumors have returned.

And then there is Jones' recruiting class.

Its headlined by Jordan Williams, a 6'6" wing forward that was a borderline top 100 player and considered by many to be a high-major recruit. He's joined by another three-star recruit in 6'10" Forrest Robinson, another player that received quite a bit of high-major interest.

The key for the Mean Green will be how well new comers Brandon Walton, Trey Norris, and Chris Jones and returnees Tyler Hall and Avery Redmond can handle the back court.

That said, there is plenty of front court talent to buoy this team in the Sun Belt.

The Mean Green will be a team to keep an eye on for the next few seasons.