Baylor lands another elite big man

Scott Drew has made it abundantly clear that Baylor, one of the programs on the rise in the Big XII, is not going anywhere anytime soon.

While the Bears have seen a number of very good players leave the past two seasons -- Curtis Jerrells, Kevin Rogers, and Henry Dugat in 2009, Tweety Carter, Ekpe Udoh, and Josh Lomers this past offseason -- there is no shortage talent coming into the program.

Last season, after being a finalist for the services of John Wall (although it took a bit of shadiness to get to that point), Scott Drew was still able to land Memphis castaway Nolan Dennis, a four star guard in the class of 2009 who becomes eligible this season. This year's class is headlined by big man Perry Jones, who is a consensus top ten recruit, but also includes Boston College transfer Brady Heslip, UCLA transfer and former top 25 recruit J'Mison Morgan, and three-star point guard from Wall's AAU program (D1 Sports) Stargell Love.

That's not it.

Isaiah Austin committed to Baylor last night.
(photo credit: MaxPreps)

Drew proved that his recruiting has not been a fluke last night as Isaiah Austin, a talented seven-footer and a top five big man in the class of 2012, committed to the Bears during halftime of the Adidas Nations game in Chicago. Austin is a face-up big man, noted for his ability to run the floor, his jumper, and the fact that he can put the ball on the floor and get to the rim. He needs to add strength and improve with his back to the basket, but with two full years left before he gets to Waco, Austin has plenty of time to develop.

Baylor will lose potential all-american LaceDarius Dunn after this season, and may very well lose Jones as well, which means that Drew will need to bring in a strong 2011 class to bolster Heslip and Morgan getting eligible.

With the Bears heavily in the mix for elite recruits Quincy Miller, LeBryan Nash, Deuce Bello, and BJ Young, among others, that is a very good possibility.

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