TheCropDuster
Five-Star Recruit
Soda isn't coming to NU
BY LEE BARFKNECHT
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER
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Nebraska apparently has a 7-foot hole in its men's basketball roster for the coming season.
Husker players at the Council Bluffs summer league on Wednesday night said 7-foot, 230-pound Toni Soda from The Patterson (N.C.) School isn't coming to Lincoln because he doesn't have the necessary course work to be eligible.
NU coach Barry Collier traveled to Croatia last year to secure Soda's commitment and meet his parents.
When Soda signed last November, he was listed as a four-star recruit out of five stars by rivals.com; was ranked No. 35 nationally by HoopScoop recruiting; and was the No. 15 prep school player in rankings by scout.com.
Soda's apparent return to prep school and the departure last spring of 6-9 senior forward B.J. Walker leaves Nebraska with only three players taller than 6-7 - 6-11 junior center Aleks Maric, 6-9 sophomore forward Jim Ledsome and 6-8 redshirt freshman Chris Balham.
Nebraska captain Charles Richardson, a senior guard, said Wednesday night he assumes that the Huskers are looking to use the two scholarships still available.
"We've had a couple of big men on campus within the last couple of months," Richardson said. "There's been no word on that yet.
"With recruiting starting up again this week, I assume they are trying to get somebody right away."
If Nebraska has front-court playing time available, Balham wants to challenge for it. He was a dunking machine in his game on Wednesday night, putting to good use the 15 pounds he has gained to 235.
"Without a doubt, he is the strongest guy on our team," Richardson said. "That's a lot to say for a redshirt freshman."
Also drawing good reviews on Wednesday was incoming freshman guard Jay-R Strowbridge from Ardmore, Ala., who committed after freshman guard Marcus Walker transferred.
In analyzing the 6-0, 180-pound Strowbridge, Richardson said: "He is really quick and can jump. And he's got good size for the Big 12. He'll come in and get good quality minutes."
Roburt Sallie, a 6-5 incoming freshman guard, already is in Lincoln. Two other incoming freshmen - 6-4 guard Ryan Anderson and 6-6 forward Kris Douse - are scheduled to arrive this week, Richardson said.
Maric is still in Australia trying to make his home country's national team. He could be gone as late as the first week of September.
"Hopefully if Big Al comes back in good shape," Richardson said, "we'll be ready to roll."
Contact the Omaha World-Herald newsroom
Copyright ©2006 Omaha World-Herald®. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, displayed or distributed for any purpose without permission from the Omaha World-Herald.
BY LEE BARFKNECHT
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER
RELATED LINKS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
»
NU Men's Basketball
»
Big 12 Men's Basketball
Nebraska apparently has a 7-foot hole in its men's basketball roster for the coming season.
Husker players at the Council Bluffs summer league on Wednesday night said 7-foot, 230-pound Toni Soda from The Patterson (N.C.) School isn't coming to Lincoln because he doesn't have the necessary course work to be eligible.
NU coach Barry Collier traveled to Croatia last year to secure Soda's commitment and meet his parents.
When Soda signed last November, he was listed as a four-star recruit out of five stars by rivals.com; was ranked No. 35 nationally by HoopScoop recruiting; and was the No. 15 prep school player in rankings by scout.com.
Soda's apparent return to prep school and the departure last spring of 6-9 senior forward B.J. Walker leaves Nebraska with only three players taller than 6-7 - 6-11 junior center Aleks Maric, 6-9 sophomore forward Jim Ledsome and 6-8 redshirt freshman Chris Balham.
Nebraska captain Charles Richardson, a senior guard, said Wednesday night he assumes that the Huskers are looking to use the two scholarships still available.
"We've had a couple of big men on campus within the last couple of months," Richardson said. "There's been no word on that yet.
"With recruiting starting up again this week, I assume they are trying to get somebody right away."
If Nebraska has front-court playing time available, Balham wants to challenge for it. He was a dunking machine in his game on Wednesday night, putting to good use the 15 pounds he has gained to 235.
"Without a doubt, he is the strongest guy on our team," Richardson said. "That's a lot to say for a redshirt freshman."
Also drawing good reviews on Wednesday was incoming freshman guard Jay-R Strowbridge from Ardmore, Ala., who committed after freshman guard Marcus Walker transferred.
In analyzing the 6-0, 180-pound Strowbridge, Richardson said: "He is really quick and can jump. And he's got good size for the Big 12. He'll come in and get good quality minutes."
Roburt Sallie, a 6-5 incoming freshman guard, already is in Lincoln. Two other incoming freshmen - 6-4 guard Ryan Anderson and 6-6 forward Kris Douse - are scheduled to arrive this week, Richardson said.
Maric is still in Australia trying to make his home country's national team. He could be gone as late as the first week of September.
"Hopefully if Big Al comes back in good shape," Richardson said, "we'll be ready to roll."
Contact the Omaha World-Herald newsroom
Copyright ©2006 Omaha World-Herald®. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, displayed or distributed for any purpose without permission from the Omaha World-Herald.
