Elijah Millsap

[NewsCopy]

Grambling Lab's Elijah Millsap has signed with Louisiana as the late signing period continues for spring sports. Millsap averaged 29.8 points and 14.5 rebounds as a senior for Grambling, earning All-Northeast honors from The News-Star. He was also All-District 2-1A in a season that saw him score 34 points and grab 14 rebounds in a double-overtime loss to Southern Lab in March's Top 28 semifinals. Millsap was also recruited by Louisiana Tech, Texas A&M and Mississippi State. The source of the story

[Cajunsmike]

I believe Milsaps was named the Louisiana Class 1A player of the year.

[NewsCopy]

UL's men's basketball team will benefit from some extra manpower just in time for the start of Sun Belt Conference play next week. The Ragin' Cajuns will have freshman guard Elijah Millsap available for play for the first time Saturday when UL returns from a week-long break for finals and travels to meet Stephen F. Austin. In addition, UL could have sophomore guard Derek Gray back in action for Saturday, and no later than next Wednesday's league opener at New Orleans if he completes academic requirements during this week's final examinations. "They'll help us, no question," said UL head coach Robert Lee. "They haven't played for a while and it'll take a while to get back going, but when they do they'll make a difference." Millsap, a product of Grambling and one of the most highly-regarded players in last year's Cajun signing class, was cleared by the NCAA Clearinghouse earlier this week and is immediately eligible for Saturday's 6 p.m. contest against the Lumber-jacks. His certification had been delayed with questions surrounding one high school class and whether it counted toward core courses. The rest of the story Dan McDonald dmcdonald@theadvertiser.com

[Tripple Threat]

I hope that Millsap is more confident on the court than Gray was his freshman year.

[RaginEsquire06]

I hope that Millsap is more confident on the court than Gray was his freshman year.

I hope that Milsap has taken the initiative to stay in good physical conditioning...as well as playing in some stiff round ball games on his own accord. Did Gray practice with the team this fall?

Your right TT...I can recall Gray giving some good minutes....especially on defense...but his shot was way off! His confidence level is hopefully through the roof by now!

[LARaginCajun]

I hope that Milsap has taken the initiative to stay in good physical conditioning...as well as playing in some stiff round ball games on his own accord. Did Gray practice with the team this fall?

Your right TT...I can recall Gray giving some good minutes....especially on defense...but his shot was way off! His confidence level is hopefully through the roof by now!

Since the basketball team is not going to make the NCAA tournament this year, I think they should just go ahead and redshirt Milsap this year.

[Cajun Express]

Since the basketball team is not going to make the NCAA tournament this year, I think they should just go ahead and redshirt Milsap this year.

You have no idea if this team will make the NCAA THIS season. There is an as good a chance of them going as not going. Saving a player for next year is why we probably did not go to the NCAA in what should have been Blane Harmon's last season. Jesse sat him and the NCAA never gave him his redshirt final season. Had jesse not saved him we might well have another NCAA appearance and maybe another win.

[Cajun Express]

I hope that Millsap is more confident on the court than Gray was his freshman year.

It is truly a case of physical and emotional maturation. I think Millsap will be ready to contribute many minutes at a high level this season. The biggest challenge to getting him the minutes will be chemistry of the team, while he may be ready as an individual we need teamwork. After all he is just starting practice and the others have played against some stiff competition.

[rhineaux]

Since the basketball team is not going to make the NCAA tournament this year, I think they should just go ahead and redshirt Milsap this year.

Disagree. There are still around 20 reg. season games left this year. He can get that ankle right and back in shape and be a contributor. He needs this time so he can start developing chemistry with his team. Holding him out for the sake of 6 games wouldn't be too good. Not to mention, once we lose a few guys next year, that is already almost a full season worth of experience and leadership that has been built.

[RCAJUN90]

Disagree. There are still around 20 reg. season games left this year. He can get that ankle right and back in shape and be a contributor. He needs this time so he can start developing chemistry with his team. Holding him out for the sake of 6 games wouldn't be too good. Not to mention, once we lose a few guys next year, that is already almost a full season worth of experience and leadership that has been built.

What type of player is Milsaps? A scorer or defensive guy? What is his potential impact?

[cajunpepper]

What type of player is Milsaps? A scorer or defensive guy? What is his potential impact?

The kid was a prolific scorer in high school. He scored 38 in the state semifinal game against southern lab last year. I have a feeling that Milsap, by the end of everything, will be the best player we signed this year.

[Tripple Threat]

What type of player is Milsaps? A scorer or defensive guy? What is his potential impact?

During his Sr. Year, Millsap avg something like 28 pts and 14 rbs. Derrick Gray also avg something like 28pts per game in his Sr. Yr. It will be interesting to see how Gray progresses this year. The playing time is there for one of these guys. By the way Millsap is 6'5 and 200+ lbs. If Millsap clicks, the Cajuns will have a third outside threat. That would be huge for the offense and opening up the interior for some nice movement/slashes to the basket.