November 16, 1999
Nick Anderson and Trayvean Scott, teammates at Southern Lab University High School in Baton Rouge, La., have signed national letters-of-intent to play college basketball at Texas A&M, Aggies coach Melvin Watkins said Tuesday.
Anderson, a 6-7 forward, and Scott, a 6-1 guard, complete the second straight outstanding recruiting class by Watkins and his staff, who last year signed a class that ranked among the top 20 nationally. Last week, the Aggies signed 6-10 center Nolan Butterfras of Cypress Creek High School in Houston.
"Nick and Trayvean are two young men we targeted very early in the recruiting process," Watkins said. "Needless to say, we're very excited they are coming to Texas A&M. Both of these players will play a part in us becoming a national presence on the college basketball scene. This recruiting class is an indication that the awareness of A&M basketball nationally is at a point where we can continue to recruit this type of talent."
Anderson, ranked as the 18th best prospect in the country by The Sporting News, is one of the highest rated national recruits in A&M history. Last season as a junior, he averaged 23 points, 12 rebounds and five blocked shots per game and earned first-team all-state honors. He is ranked among the top 40 national recruits by almost every recruiting service and is rated as the top guard/forward in the South by Regional Basketball Report. Anderson was also recruited by Tennessee, LSU, Houston, Kansas, Tulane, Louisville, Alabama, West Virginia, Florida State and Arizona.
"Anderson is one of the top 25 players in the country, and underrated by most," said Vince Baldwin of Midwest Hoops. "He has a game similar to former Kansas star Paul Pierce. Nick is a great pickup for Melvin Watkins and his up-and-coming program."
Anderson also played in the USA Basketball Youth Development Festival in Colorado Springs and averaged 16.3 points and 9.8 rebounds for the South team that won the championship.
The Sporting News calls Anderson a "world class athlete who is relentless with his effort, enthusiasm and ability to garner offensive rebounds."
Scott is ranked among the top 45 high school prospects and top seven point guards in the South by Regional Basketball Report and has been ranked among the top 100 players nationally by Bob Gibbons' All-Star Sports. He averaged 16.7 points and 7.0 assists per game last year and earned honorable mention all-state honors. Scott was also recruited by LSU, Minnesota, Tulane, Vanderbilt and Houston.
Anderson and Scott have led Southern Lab to three Louisiana Class A state championships, extending a streak of seven straight won by the school under legendary coach Joel Hawkins. The pair played, along with Butterfras, for the Houston Hoops AAU team that won the NIKE Summer National Championship last summer in San Diego. Anderson and Scott also played in the NIKE All-American Camp in Indianapolis, the NIKE Peach Jam, the NIKE/AAU Super Showcase, the NIKE Bluegrass Classic and the Run-and-Slam All-Star Classic at Purdue University.
"The Aggies are getting two of the best players in (Louisiana), the South and the nation," Ron Briscoe of Fastbreak Recruiting said of Anderson and Scott.
Fastbreak Recruiting ranks Anderson No. 32 and Butterfras No. 97 in its national top 100 rankings, which combines the rankings of several recruiting services. Butterfras, ranked among the nation's top 13 high school centers by Athlon, is described by Gibbons as "rugged" and a "very solid, strong low post prospect."
"One of the big stories of the fall has been the success of Texas A&M in recruiting big-time, national top 100 caliber prep prospects," said Brick Oettinger of The Sporting News. "Coach Melvin Watkins, starting his second season at College Station, has quickly proved that he can entice blue-chippers to A&M."
Next season, the trio will join the current class of newcomers at A&M that was ranked as the 14th best nationally by Gibbons. Freshmen guard Bernard King and freshman center Andy Slocum, both from Louisiana, are rated among the top 75 college freshmen in the country this season by Athlon. A&M will also welcome North Carolina State transfer Keith Bean, a 6-8, 273-pound forward who was rated among the top 33 high school players in the nation in 1998 by Gibbons.
1999-2000 Texas A&M Men's Basketball Signees
Player Pos. Ht. Wt. Cl-Exp. Hometown (High School/College)
Nick Anderson F 6-7 212 Fr-HS Baton Rouge, La. (Southern Lab)
Nolan Butterfras C 6-10 235 Fr-HS Houston, Texas (Cypress-Creek)
Trayvean Scott G 6-1 195 Fr-HS Baton Rouge, La. (Southern Lab)