April 13, 1999
Andy Slocum of West Monroe, La., has signed a national letter-of-intent to play college basketball at Texas A&M, Aggies coach Melvin Watkins said Tuesday.
Slocum, a 6-11, 235-pound center from West Monroe High School, is ranked as the 88th best prep player in the country by recruiting analyst Bob Gibbons. Slocum averaged 21 points and 14 rebounds a game as a senior and also considered Utah, Notre Dame, Tennessee, Florida State, Texas, Alabama, Southern California, Tulane and Oklahoma.
"We are very excited to add Andy to what we think is a very good recruiting class," Watkins said. "He adds not only height to our team, but also has the ability to step on the floor and shoot the three pointer. He comes from a winning high school program and was very well coached by Sidney Smith."
Slocum also is a standout pitcher for West Monroe's nationally-ranked baseball team and according to USA Today has a 93 miles-an-hour fast ball. Slocum will join two other West Monroe athletes, football signees Brian West and Jason LeDoux, on the A&M campus. West also plays on the West Monroe baseball team.
Slocum is Watkins' fourth signee this year, joining three players who signed in November - 6-5 guard Bernard King of Gibsland, La., 6-1 guard Jamaal Gilchrist of Middleburg, Va., and 6-7 forward Carlton Brown of Temple (Texas) Junior College. The early signing class was ranked No. 2 in the Big 12 Conference and No. 27 nationally by Gibbons.
1998-99 TEXAS A&M BASKETBALL RECRUITS
Player Pos. Ht. Wt. Cl-Ex Hometown (High School/College)
Carlton Brown F 6-7 210 Jr-Tr San Antonio, Texas (Jay/Temple JC)
Jamaal Gilchrist G 6-1 175 Fr-Hs Middleburg, Va. (Notre Dame Academy)
Bernard King G 6-5 180 Fr-Hs Gibsland, La. (Coleman)
Andy Slocum C 6-11 235 Fr-Hs West Monroe, La. (West Monroe)