May 14, 1999
Building on a recruiting class that already ranks among the finest in school history, Texas A&M coach Melvin Watkins said Friday that forward Keith Bean has transferred to A&M from North Carolina State. Bean is Watkins' seventh signee since November.
A 6-8, 250-pound sophomore-to-be, Bean will sit out the 1999-00 season and will have three years of eligibility remaining. Bean played in 24 games last year as a freshman for the Wolfpack, which finished 19-14 and advanced to the second round of the NIT. Bean averaged 4.7 points and 2.4 rebounds while making 49 percent from the field and 40 percent from three-point range. He posted six double-figure scoring games, including a career-high 14 points in just 10 minutes of action against Ohio State.
Bean played two seasons at prep school power Maine Central Institute, where he averaged 13.9 points and 8.7 rebounds as a senior for a team that had 10 players receive Division I college scholarships. In the summer of 1997, Bean was named to the all-star team at the prestigious adidas/ABCD Camp in Teaneck, N.J. After his senior year at MCI, he was rated as the 33rd best overall prospect and the fourth-best power forward in the country by recruiting analyst Bob Gibbons. He also was selected to play in the Cap Classic All-Star Game in Washington, D.C.
"Keith has the ability to be one of the most skilled big men in the Big 12 Conference," Watkins said. "He is one of those players who has a knack for scoring. We are excited about adding him to a fine recruiting class."
This spring, A&M has also signed 6-11 center Andy Slocum of West Monroe, La., 6-6 forward Larry Scott of St. James, Md., and 6-6 swingman Jesse King of Detroit, Mich. In November, Watkins signed 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.
1999 TEXAS A&M RECRUITING CLASS
(1999-2000 classification listed)
Player Pos. Ht. Wt. Cl-Ex Hometown (High School/College)
Keith Bean F 6-8 250 So-Tr Fontana, Calif. (Maine Central Institute)
Carlton Brown F 6-7 210 Jr-Tr San Antonio, Texas (Jay HS/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 HS)
Jesse King F/G 6-6 185 Fr-Hs Detroit, Mich. (Pershing HS)
Larry Scott F 6-6 215 Fr-Hs St. James, Md. (St. James HS)
Andy Slocum C 6-11 235 Fr-Hs West Monroe, La. (West Monroe HS)