Rebs Add Four

Andy Kennedy added four players today during the early signing period. Many followers of the Ole Miss basketball program are calling this the best class Ole Miss has signed in probably ten years or more and one of the Top 3 in Ole Miss history. While granted the history of Ole Miss basketball has not been very good except for a few years here and there, this is a very good step in the right direction and continues to prove how good of a coach Andy Kennedy will be.


(UMAA)OXFORD, Miss. – The Ole Miss basketball program bolstered its future on Thursday, as head coach Andy Kennedy announced the signing of high school seniors Terrance Henry, Brandon Wilson, Terrico White and Will Bogan to national letters of intent.

Henry and Wilson will join the Rebels after playing together at Carroll High School in Monroe, La., for coach Chris Oney, who played point guard at Ole Miss in 1996-97. White played prep ball at Craigmont High School in Memphis, while Bogan will arrive in Oxford from Vallivue High School in Caldwell, Idaho.

A 6-foot-9, 190-pound forward out of Monroe, La., Henry may be Kennedy’s signature signee in his two years of recruiting at Ole Miss. He is the highest rated Rebel freshman signee since Justin Reed, who was the nation’s 24th-ranked prospect by ESPN.com in 2000. A consensus top-100 national recruit, Henry is ranked the country’s 60th-best prospect by Scout.com, No. 83 by Rivals.com and No. 95 by ESPN.com. Scout lists him as the nation’s No. 19 power forward and ESPN the No. 24 power forward, while Rivals has him as the No. 12 small forward.

The athletic lefty said he chose Ole Miss over such programs as Kansas, Kentucky, LSU, Arkansas and Miami (Fla.). Last year he helped Carroll to a share of the District 2-4A Championship and was the 2-4A Co-MVP and a second team All-State pick. He averaged 22 points, 12 rebounds and five blocks for the Bulldogs last year.

“Terrance is a multi-talented combo forward who we feel has all the necessary skills to immediately impact our program,” Kennedy said. “At 6-9 with a motor that always runs, he has the skill set to play multiple positions. His ball skills separate him from most kids his size. Terrance is a high character kid that will be a tremendous ambassador for our university.”

Wilson played at Carroll this year after starring at nearby Rayville (La.) High School through his junior season. A 6-foot-5, 205-pound guard/forward, Wilson averaged 19 points and eight rebounds as a junior at Rayville.

At 6-5, Wilson has a wingspan of over seven feet, one of the attributes that helped him shine at the Ole Miss Elite Summer Camp. He is ranked as a three-star prospect by both Rivals.com and Scout.com.

“Brandon is a monster athlete that is the true definition of an under-the-radar recruit,” Kennedy said. “His versatility is his greatest asset as we feel he can score inside and out while having the potential to be a lock-down defender due to his incredible length. He has tremendous potential.”

At 6-foot-5 and 195 pounds, White is a highly coveted big guard who put up 22.2 points, seven rebounds, three assists and three steals per game last season at Craigmont. The high flyer and accurate shooter helped Craigmont to the state quarterfinals as a junior and was a finalist for the Commercial Appeal’s Best of the Preps Player of the Year award.

“Memphis is a very important recruiting area for us,” Kennedy said, “and we could not be happier that Terrico is our first signee from this area as we attempt to re-establish our presence there. Terrico can really score with range up to 22 feet. He can also create off the dribble and finish at the rim with his explosive athleticism. He is physically ready for the SEC right now.”

White, who said he chose Ole Miss over Arkansas, is ranked by Youth Prep Stars recruiting magazine as the No. 35 overall player in the Southeast and has been listed as a three-star prospect by both Rivals and Scout. He has also played quarterback and receiver for the Craigmont football team.

A point guard from Caldwell, Idaho, Bogan came on strong late in his high school career to prove one of the top prospects in the Northwest. The 6-foot-1, 165-pounder was the 5A South Idaho Player of the Year and an All-State first team selection in 2007. The first Idahoan to sign with Ole Miss in the 98-year history of the program, he is also rated as a three-star prospect by Rivals.com and Scout.com.

“Every once in a while, if you continue to work hard, you will get lucky in recruiting,” Kennedy said. “We got lucky finding Will and could not be more excited about him joining our program. He is a tough, quick guard that can really create off the dribble while possessing legitimate 3-point range. An excellent student, Will epitomizes what we are looking for in our student-athletes at Ole Miss.”

Bogan led his Vallivue High School team to a 19-5 record and the consolation championship at the 5A state tournament last season. In the consolation game, the all-star shooter amassed a team-high 28 points, grabbed five rebounds and collected four steals. He is also a great student, maintaining a 4.0 GPA through his high school career.