BY MIKE DeCOURCY
The Cincinnati Enquirer
It was 10 minutes after the start of the news conference to announce his decision to leave the University of Cincinnati basketball program, and Danny Fortson already was gone. Seems he has developed a habit of leaving early.
Fortson slipped through a side door merely to get away from the lights and television cameras for a moment. In reality, his timing on the announcement that he will enter this June's NBA Draft could not be more ideal.
Today begins the spring recruiting period for NCAA Division I basketball, with UC's Bob Huggins among those coaches who will be back on the road trying to fill their teams' rosters with talented players. Huggins hopes to award five scholarships to spring recruits.
With Fortson having made his decision, there will be no concern among the junior college big men the Bearcats are pursuing that he will be in their way.
''A guy like that, they knew Dan was going to go,'' Huggins said. ''I think everybody puts themselves in those shoes and says, 'Shoot, I would go.' ''
The Bearcats will lose more than half of their scoring as Fortson leaves with seniors Darnell Burton, Damon Flint, Rodrick Monroe and Terrence Davis after a 26-8 season and a second straight Conference USA title.
What does Huggins do to replace such an integral part of his team's recent success?
''The same thing we always do,'' he said. ''We just have to go out, see who we can recruit and then figure out a way to play. I've been here eight years, and I don't think we've played the same way any of those years.''
He would like to sign two power players, a point guard and an athletic wing type. ''We need a little bit of everything,'' Huggins said.
Of the players UC evaluated, the school has decided to back off recruiting 6-foot-7 forward Cedric Carter of Lon Morris (Texas) College. He is expected to visit LSU and Alabama.
The Bearcats also backed off Cedric Goodwin, a 6-7, 230-pound power forward eyeing LSU, Colorado State, New Mexico and Kansas State.
Among those still on the list:
- Michael Horton, a 6-1 point guard at Allegany (Md.) Community College rated among the Top 10 prospects in junior college, is strongly considering UC.
- Jermaine Ousley, a 6-9 center at Tyler (Texas) JC, has visited Fresno State and will look at Washington and Arizona besides UC.
- Francisco Elson, a 7-foot center at Kilgore (Texas) College, is looking at UC, Cal and Washington.
- Ronnell Blizzard is a 6-8 forward at Sacred Heart high school in Waterbury, Conn. He is being pursued by Southern California, among others.
- Leon Jones, a 6-4 shooting
guard from Battle Creek, Mich., reportedly is most interested in signing with Michigan, but UC has not surrendered.
The Bearcats must be careful as they attempt to fill their five vacancies, because they have only six official visits remaining to bring recruits to the UC campus.
If two players the coaches bring to town choose not to sign, they'll have to land at least one player willing to take an unofficial visit.
''We're really very honest and open in recruiting. I tell guys if they don't want to really get better and they don't want to work, they shouldn't come here,'' Huggins said. ''Because I don't want guys who don't want to improve.''
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