Auburn hoops gets extreme makeover class

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Posted 6:45PM on Thursday, July 7, 2005

AUBURN, Ala. (AP) Jeff Lebo is staring at yet another obstacle, trading major college basketball's smallest team for perhaps the biggest group of newcomers. When Auburn's second-year coach landed his ninth signee on Wednesday in prep guard Quantez Robertson, it completed an almost total makeover forced by departed seniors and transfers that depleted already thin numbers. ``This is definitely one of the biggest recruiting classes I've heard of,'' said Tim Watts, national recruiting analyst for Rivals.com. Lebo sums up the Tigers' transformation: ``This is a whole new team.'' Robertson, a prep guard from Cincinnati, Ohio, nabbed the scholarship that came available with Toney Douglas' transfer to Florida State. Lebo's big class seems even more impressive considering Auburn was only allowed to bring eight recruits to campus for official visits because of NCAA sanctions stemming from violations committed prior to Lebo's arrival. The Tigers got a needed boost when the NCAA changed a rule allowing teams to sign as many players as they need to reach their scholarship allotment. Seven of Auburn's nine signees will be available next season, led by McDonald's All-American forward Korvotney Barber. Jarvis Hill will spend next season at a prep school while former Furman player Quan Prowell will sit out the year because of the NCAA's transfer rule. The lone returning starter is Daniel Hayles, who averaged six points a game. All told, Auburn's returnees combined to average only 16 points a game last year. Like Douglas, sophomore-to-be Ryan Daniels transferred, switching to Chattanooga, Lebo's former school. ``We're excited about the new faces, but show me a team that plays a lot of freshmen, (and) I'll show you a team that struggles,'' Lebo said. ``Hopefully we'll get better as the year goes along, but we'll take some lumps along the way because of our youth.'' Auburn's nine signees topped the SEC, with Mississippi at second-most with seven. But Watts said the overhaul might be a good thing. ``You want players who can play, and I think Jeff Lebo has found that,'' the recruiting analyst said. ``But mainly, you want guys who want to play for you.'' Information from: The Birmingham News (Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)