An open letter to Keno Davis

Dear Keno Davis:

You are an ass.

Let me explain.

I know that you kind of got screwed by Joseph Young.

I know how it looks. I'm not an idiot. Joseph Young is a Houston native, and his father worked on the Houston basketball staff last season. But with the uncertainty surrounding Tom Penders' status as the Cougar's head coach, Young decided he wanted to try and play in the Big East. Once James Dickey was hired at Houston and Young's father was retained, Joseph's mind changed about Providence. It also happened to coincide with an aunt he is close to getting extremely sick. Sick enough that she needs a heart transplant.

Yes, Young signed a letter of intent. Yes, he made a commitment to your school. Yes, he is backing out of that commitment, one he felt strongly enough about to sign his name to a legally binding document. And whether or not you believe his story about wanting to spend time closer to his ailing aunt, or you believe he wants to go to Houston play for the program that his father works for, shouldn't matter. To me, those are both pretty legitimate reasons to allow a kid out of his LOI.

The bottom line is that Joseph Young no longer wants to play for Providence. He no longer wants to play for you. So instead of being the bigger man, being the adult, and allowing an 18 year old kid the chance to play college basketball, you are going to force him to sit out a season? Because as of right now, that is exactly the case.

Look, I'm not saying that the Youngs handled this situation perfectly. And I'm not denying the fact there's a possibility that some questionable dealings and shady decision making has gone on behind the scenes. But from where I sit -- which happens to be right next to every Providence recruit, and every assistant from another school also pursuing a Providence recruit -- you are the one that comes off looking bad. You look like the asshole. You look like a bitter coach that can't handle losing a recruit. Explain to me how this makes a high schooler want to play for you?

I have another question for you, coach. If honoring a contract was so important to you, why didn't you finish out the five-year deal you had at Drake? Because a better situation, a better job -- Providence -- came along, right? And this is different than Young wanting to leave ... how, exactly?

Let him go, Keno.

You've made your point: its quite possible that Young's decision isn't as transparent as some believe. We know.

Now let the kid play.

Sincerely, BIAH