surratt to fresno state

socalogo.gif (8739 bytes)
SoCalHoops Recruiting News

Fresno State: Surratt A Target,
Collins & Others--(Nov. 14, 2001)

According to our friend, Eric Prisbell who writes for the Fresno Bee, Fresno State has sent a National Letter of Intent to the home of Armando Surratt (5'-10" Sr. PG) who attends Oakland Technical HS. Armando played this summer with George Albanez' "805 Basketball" club program, and based on his play in the spring at the Mats' Madness Tournament and then another fine showing at ABCD Camp and in Las Vegas, Armando attracted a lot of attention, mostly from the East Coast. However, for various reasons (mostly thought to be academic), Armando has not yet committed, and this news would mean that yet another California player with ties to the SoCal region would be staying in California. It would also mean that the Bulldogs, who are playing this year without any real point guard on the roster, would be picking up a player with an excellent handle and great quickness, something that's not in great supply at Fresno State right now, considering that Tito Maddox is gone (and reportedly signed a contract with the ABA's new Phoenix franchise) and Chris Sandy (the anticipated starter after Maddox was declared ineligible) is also ineligible. In any event, we'd look for the Bulldogs to sign not only Surratt in the fall, but one more point guard in the spring. Here's the article sent to us from the Bee:

Armando Surratt probably headed to fresno..

By Eric Prisbell
THE FRESNO BEE

Recruiting season

Fresno State's coaching staff is expecting Oakland Tech's Armando Surratt to be the first recruit signed for next season. Fresno State is sending a letter-of-intent to his home today, the first day of the weeklong early signing period.

A 5-foot-10 point guard, Surratt averaged 18 points a game last season and has already said he is leaning toward the Bulldogs.

Questions surround his academic standing, so he might have to sit next season.

Surratt received national attention this summer when he played well against Duke-bound Sean Dockery at the adidas/ABCD Camp.

Six other recruits have expressed interest in joining the Bulldogs. Fresno State expects some recruits to delay deciding until the spring -- and until Tarkanian makes a definitive statement on his coaching future.

In all, the Bulldogs expect to sign four players for next year. Other key targets are Inglewood High's DeAngelo Collins, Long Beach City College's Les Norman, Riverside City College's Omar Weaver and Milford (Conn.) Academy's Darryl Hill.

"If we have a good season, and we expect to," assistant Danny Tarkanian said, "then it should only enhance their interest by spring. We're fine with anyone waiting until the spring to sign."