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Thursday, November 11, 1999
Islanders find cupboard not so bare during second early-signing period
Head coaches Estes, Arrow trying to fill needs instead of entire roster
By Mark Zuckerman
Caller-Times
After a whirlwind NCAA early signing period one year ago that saw the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi basketball teams build their entire rosters from nothing, head coaches Ronnie Arrow and Sheryl Estes entered this week's signing period needing to make only a few additions to their squads.
"Last year we needed everything," said Arrow, who hopes to sign "a couple of kids" during the early signing period, which began Wednesday. "This year we can fill the certain things we need to be better."
Neither the men's nor the women's team announced any signings Wednesday.
With seven juniors and three sophomores on his roster, Arrow's recruiting efforts have been concentrated on the high school level. Next year's incoming freshmen will only be subject to two of the Islanders' four years as a provisional NCAA member, making them eligible for postseason play their junior season.
That, along with the ability to be more selective in offering scholarships, has helped A&M-Corpus Christi recruit a handful of top players who might not have been approachable a year ago.
"We can pinpoint exactly what we need and be able to go after the best player we can get," Arrow said. "It's never easy, but at least it will get us in a lot more doors of some upper-echelon players."
With only 11 current players on scholarship, Estes has more room to work with than Arrow. Still, the Islander women's team is expected to receive just one letter of intent during the early signing period.
"I probably did about as many home visits as last year, but it is different. You're looking for specifics," said Estes, who is specifically looking for a point guard and a post player. "It's certainly not as hard to sign four players as it is 11."
Trying to search the nation for high school talent while also preparing her team for its first season of play has proven to be a tough challenge for Estes.
"It's difficult, because you have to worry about a team and recruit at the same time," she said. "I know recruiting's very important, but I guess this year, with a young team, I would have liked to have been here more."
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