Ryan McCoy Signs with Louisiana

  With the NCAA's late signing period starting today, many college basketball teams across the country are looking to put the final touches on their 2008 recruiting classes.

As reported Tuesday night at theadvertiser.com, UL's last piece to the puzzle for next season appears to be Houston native Ryan McCoy. The 6-foot point guard pledged to sign with the Cajuns after making an on-campus visit last weekend.

McCoy, who could not be reached on Tuesday, can sign a binding letter of intent as early as today and has two years of eligibility left. He won back-to-back NJCAA national titles at Arkansas-Fort Smith and Midland (Texas) College before signing with North Texas in April 2007 but sat out last season for personal reasons.

"He's a multi-dimensional guard," Midland coach Grant McCasland said. "He can shoot it and is a shot-maker. And obviously, he's a winner."

NCAA rules prohibit college coaches from publicly commenting on recruits until they have signed a letter of intent.

Coming out of Madison High, McCoy was ranked the 40th-best player in Texas in the class of 2005 by Texashoops.com. He signed with Tulsa but did not meet entrance requirements.

At Arkansas-Fort Smith in 2005-06, McCoy led the team in 3-point shooting (.467) and ranked second in assists (2.9 per game) and free-throw shooting (.711).

He was injured for most of 2006-07 at Midland but still shot 54.8 percent from the floor and 53.9 percent from 3-point range. For the season he averaged 5.1 points and 1.4 assists in 14 games. He logged seven points and one assist in the national title game against Chipola (Fla.) College.

"I think he's more of a playmaker than anything," McCasland said. "Ryan is a really talented basketball player who really didn't get to fulfill all of his potential for us because of an injury."

Despite the one-year layoff, McCoy will be expected to bring stability to the point guard position for the Sun Belt Conference West Division co-champion Cajuns, who lacked a consistent playmaker last season. As a team, the Cajuns committed 121 more turnovers than assists and averaged 65 points per game - the fewest in program history since moving up to NCAA Division I in 1971.

McCoy will likely compete for the starting job with Randall Daigle, who started 18 of 30 games last season. As a sophomore, Daigle led the Cajuns with 76 assists and 61 3-pointers and was third in scoring at 8.5 points per game in his first year of college ball. But Daigle, limited at times in practices and games because of blood-sugar issues related to his diabetes, is still learning how to run a team after playing off the ball at Northside High.

The Cajuns add McCoy to a recruiting class that already includes junior-college big men Jeremy Barr, Lester Ferguson and Lafayette native Colby Batiste. UNLV transfers Emmanuel Adeife and Lamar Roberson are expected to become eligible in December.

Barr averaged 5.5 points and 4.0 rebounds at San Jacinto (Texas) College this season. Ferguson shot 60.8 percent from the floor and averaged 5.2 points and 2.4 rebounds for an Arkansas-Fort Smith team that was ranked 12th in the final NJCAA national poll. Batiste averaged 7.5 points and 3.6 rebounds at Laramie County (Wyo.) Community College.

Joshua Parrott

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Originally Posted by NewsCopy

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This should be the final piece to the puzzle for UL basketball next season. We now have a seasoned team, several big men coming in and a point guard. No more excuses. I don't want to hear these guys need to learn to play together and it might take a while to jell, or they have never played Div. 1 basketball or we are still young, etc., etc. This is the year that UL needs to turn basketball around and get back to our winning and dominating ways. Nothing short of winning the conference and going to the NCAA tournament will make this coming year a success. We have been patient for several years. It is now time for the payoff. Coach Lee needs to produce a winner this year.

no excuses?


what shall we talk about then?

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Originally Posted by anhil8tor

_ no excuses?


what shall we talk about then? _

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I can't believe no one is talking about this signee. I fear that apathy among UL basketball fans may have taken hold.

He is well traveled for sure, if he is the answer I will be his biggest supporter.

I'm taking this signing cautiously. He was well respected out of high school, but neither of his JUCO years were overly impressive numbers wise. He shot the ball well, but 2-3 assists a game isn't what you'd expect from a great distributer of the basketball. I'd expect top notch point guards to have 5-6 assists a game on average at least. I'll take a wait and see attitude until I see him in uniform practicing or playing in games to determine his ability.

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Originally Posted by Sugar Land Cajun

This should be the final piece to the puzzle for UL basketball next season. We now have a seasoned team, several big men coming in and a point guard. No more excuses. I don't want to hear these guys need to learn to play together and it might take a while to jell, or they have never played Div. 1 basketball or we are still young, etc., etc. This is the year that UL needs to turn basketball around and get back to our winning and dominating ways. Nothing short of winning the conference and going to the NCAA tournament will make this coming year a success. We have been patient for several years. It is now time for the payoff. Coach Lee needs to produce a winner this year.

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No excuses you!! You mean we wont be young for the 99th year in a row like the football team

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Originally Posted by Sugar Land Cajun

_ This should be the final piece to the puzzle for UL basketball next season. We now have a seasoned team, several big men coming in and a point guard. No more excuses. I don't want to hear these guys need to learn to play together and it might take a while to jell, or they have never played Div. 1 basketball or we are still young, etc., etc. This is the year that UL needs to turn basketball around and get back to our winning and dominating ways. Nothing short of winning the conference and going to the NCAA tournament will make this coming year a success. We have been patient for several years. It is now time for the payoff. Coach Lee needs to produce a winner this year. _

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We won the West this year and I think we showed vast improvement over last years performance. This upcoming season will be very dissapointing if we do not win 20-25 games and make a run at the finals of the conference tourny.

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Originally Posted by cajun4life

_ We won the West this year and I think we showed vast improvement over last years performance. This upcoming season will be very dissapointing if we do not win 20-25 games and make a run at the finals of the conference tourny. _

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I'm with you and your expectations. I don't expect them to win the Sun Belt and go to the NCAA tourney next year, it would be nice, but I don't expect it. I just don't expect this team to dominate like in the past. I like the way we've gone young, but young in the Sun Belt and young in the conferences such as the ACC are two different things. This team will have to be well coached to succeed, because I don't think we have any game breakers or the type of players that will take over, so...let's see how our coach progresses...:eek:

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Originally Posted by CajunAmos

_ I'm taking this signing cautiously. He was well respected out of high school, but neither of his JUCO years were overly impressive numbers wise. He shot the ball well, but 2-3 assists a game isn't what you'd expect from a great distributer of the basketball. I'd expect top notch point guards to have 5-6 assists a game on average at least. I'll take a wait and see attitude until I see him in uniform practicing or playing in games to determine his ability. _

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Yeah...those point guard stats didn't make me jump for joy either.

Happy to have him on board... but I'm not saddling my hopes on one additional player to restore our 20 plus wins/season requirement. Overall, I do have loftier expectations for next year, but that is due to the experience carry-over (not so young anymore) and the additional big men coming in. I like an experienced point guard/shooting guard coming in... not worried about the low assists... will have to see him in action with this squad before rendering a verdict <---- about as worthless/meaningful as the rest of yours.

I'm just down due to baseball... I thought it would partially patch this large hole in my heart over football, but it just added to it's size. I've almost lost my criticism and/or joy over anything UL specific, until I know for a fact that our new admin is going to substantially over-reach my anticipated roll-out of a new private funding system. I have little hope otherwise. I didn't say I don't have the love... I just said that my hope is dwindling.

I agree with most of this thread.... No more "Young" excuses in foosball (not a typo..lol) nor hoops.... I do worry however over the cohesiveness aspect... Seems we have several "well traveled" (to copy another poster's term) and I will accept a slow start... The General has chosen this route however and it is his to produce... Once the conference starts, it is time to win.... and I agree win big... I am expecting a Conference Championship... short of that only the NIT will be considered progress in my humble opinion

As to the young football team, I have made my reservations in New Orleans based on the apologists telling me to be patient that things were not so bad and next year is the year.... short of New Orleans we need a new regime...

Baseball has earned it's right to say be patient.... I too am disappointed but I have faith in Coach Robe.... Things will be better.... if not this year soon...

The others have to earn that patience

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Originally Posted by Tripple Threat

_ Yeah...those point guard stats didn't make me jump for joy either. _

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In both JC stops he shared PG duty's with another guard. He missed some games at Midland, so his stats are not great. When he is better then any guard you have that plays point, other then Daigle, you take him. He shot over 50% from behind the 3-pt line.

AAU 2003:
Statistics Asst Pts
2003 13.0 14.0

Arkansas Fort Smith 2005-2006
Stats ?


At Midland: (Trs ?)
13min per game
FG 23 for 42 .548
3pt 7 for 13 .538
FT 19 for 30 .633
22 total assts
Avg: 5.1 pts

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Originally Posted by CajunAmos

I'm taking this signing cautiously. He was well respected out of high school, but neither of his JUCO years were overly impressive numbers wise. He shot the ball well, but 2-3 assists a game isn't what you'd expect from a great distributer of the basketball. I'd expect top notch point guards to have 5-6 assists a game on average at least. I'll take a wait and see attitude until I see him in uniform practicing or playing in games to determine his ability.

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One encouraging thing is that the guy played on two national championship teams. That may indicate he instinctively knows the game.

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Originally Posted by Cajunsmike

One encouraging thing is that the guy played on two national championship teams. That may indicate he instinctively knows the game.

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I'm not really much of a stat guy, but his stats did seem a bit anemic. Maybe the fact that his playing time was so limited had a major impact on that. I just like players that understand how to play the game.

Getting a 3rd PG on the roster is a smart move especially with Daigle's health issues always always being a possibility to keep him out. My question is where is this scholarship coming from? Is anybody transfering or losing a scholarship? With the new signees and and everyone who is supposed to return this would make 16 on the roster.

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<table bgcolor=#eaeaea> <td> <font color=#000000> <blockquote> <p align=justify>
&nbsp; Taking a break from a pick-up basketball game Wednesday night in his hometown of Houston, Ryan McCoy shared what convinced him to become the newest addition for the UL men's basketball team.

The Texas native signed a national letter of intent with the Ragin' Cajuns hours earlier.

"I had to like the coaches, and they seemed real cool," said McCoy, who has two years of eligibility remaining. "I think I'll fit in real good. I think in two years we might be able to compete for a national championship."

Those are big words, but McCoy might be the missing piece to help the Cajuns take the next step after earning a share of last season's Sun Belt Conference West Division championship.

<center><p><a href="http://www.theadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080419/SPORTS/804190328/1006" target="_blank">The rest of the story</a>

Joshua Parrott
jparrott@theadvertiser.com
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The 6-foot point guard emerged as a double-threat at Madison High in Houston, averaging 17 points and 10.2 assists per game as a senior. Ranked the 40th-best player in Texas in the class of 2005 by Texashoops.com, he signed with Tulsa but took the junior-college route after not meeting entrance requirements.

As a freshman at Arkansas-Fort Smith in 2005-06, McCoy led the team to the NJCAA national title. He led the team in 3-point shooting (.467) and ranked second in assists (2.9 per game) and free-throw shooting (.711).

McCoy said he missed 23 games in 2006-07 at Midland College in Texas with an irregular heartbeat. After being cleared by doctors, he helped the Chaps win the NJCAA national title. He shot 54.8 percent from the floor and 53.9 percent from 3-point range. For the season he averaged 5.1 points and 1.4 assists in 14 games.

In the national title game, McCoy chipped in seven points and one assist as Midland knocked off Chipola (Fla.) College, 94-75.

McCoy signed with North Texas in April 2007 but sat out last season for personal reasons. He plans on attending Houston Community College before coming to UL in the fall.

"It was real relieving to finally sign," said McCoy, who picked the Cajuns over Texas-Pan American and Oklahoma Baptist. "I'm excited about playing basketball again."

McCoy will compete for playing time with Northside graduate Randall Daigle, who started 18 of 30 games as a first-year sophomore and led the team in assists (76) and 3-pointers (61). Daigle was limited at times last season because of blood-sugar issues related to his diabetes and his lack of experience at the point.

Now the Cajuns need McCoy to become a leader for a team returning the nucleus of last season's success and five other newcomers in junior-college big men Jeremy Barr, Lester Ferguson and Colby Batiste and UNLV transfers Emmanuel Adeife and Lamar Roberson.

"My main thing is winning," McCoy said. "I'm going to pass first, pass second and shoot third. I look to make my teammates better, and I have a good knowledge of the game.

"I feel like I'm capable of getting the job done."




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"It was real relieving to finally sign," said McCoy, who picked the Cajuns over Texas-Pan American and Oklahoma Baptist."

Wow, we really scored a coup stealing this guy from those schools. Not impressed.:(

The standard has to be set.

No post season this year and Coach Lee is gone.
It is hard to believe we cannot make the post season especially with three tournaments = CBI, NIT, NCAA.

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Originally Posted by DieHard1280

"It was real relieving to finally sign," said McCoy, who picked the Cajuns over Texas-Pan American and Oklahoma Baptist."

Wow, we really scored a coup stealing this guy from those schools. Not impressed.:(

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I saw that too and would have thought bigger schools might have wanted him considering he was a winner in JC. Stay out a year and you fly under the radar. However, keep in mind he is being brought in to back up Daigle and be a steady player. I don't think we expect him to be a superstar.

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Originally Posted by Cajunsmike

_ I saw that too and would have thought bigger schools might have wanted him considering he was a winner in JC. Stay out a year and you fly under the radar. However, keep in mind he is being brought in to back up Daigle and be a steady player. I don't think we expect him to be a superstar. _

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Yep, Ranked Top 40 coming out of Texas high school and signed with Tulsa Univesity. He is a real dud!

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Originally Posted by Tripple Threat

_ I'm with you and your expectations. I don't expect them to win the Sun Belt and go to the NCAA tourney next year, it would be nice, but I don't expect it. I just don't expect this team to dominate like in the past. I like the way we've gone young, but young in the Sun Belt and young in the conferences such as the ACC are two different things. This team will have to be well coached to succeed, because I don't think we have any game breakers or the type of players that will take over, so...let's see how our coach progresses...:eek: _

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I'm not disagreeing with your expectations, but I am disagreeing with your assessment that we have no "game breakers or the types of players that will take over" a game. If Chris Gradnigo, Travis Bureau and Elijah Millsap don't fit that profile then no team in this conference has anyone that can.

From what Ryan's former coaches have told me, McCoy is a traditional point who can play both guard spots and is a proven winner. He can run a half-court set and get out on the fastbreak. With more consistent play in both areas last season, the Cajuns likely win the SBC West Division outright.

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Originally Posted by DieHard1280

"It was real relieving to finally sign," said McCoy, who picked the Cajuns over Texas-Pan American and Oklahoma Baptist."

Wow, we really scored a coup stealing this guy from those schools. Not impressed.:(

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So did he get a scholarship?