LeFlore's title hopes get 'big' boost
LeFlore's chances of repeating as 6A state basketball champion has received a major shot in the arm with the transfer of DeMarcus Cousins, who is rated as one of the top high school players in the country.
DeMarcus Cousins, a 6-foot-10 post player, has enrolled at LeFlore after transferring from the Birmingham area, Rattlers coach Otis Hughley said.
"This kid is just sheer talent," Hughley said of DeMarcus Cousins, who has already been offered by Florida, Kentucky, Alabama, Auburn, Indiana, Texas, Missouri, UAB, among others. "Have you seen a 6-10 kid get a rebound, take it the distance of the floor, put it between his legs and throw a bounce pass cross-court for a layup?
"You're talking about a young man who can do in basketball what JaMarcus Russell did in football and be the first pick in the draft -- or be the valedictorian, if he works at it."
DeMarcus Cousins, the second-ranked junior center in the country according to Scouthoops.com, played last season at Erwin High in the Birmingham area but was dismissed from the team before it reached the state tournament, where the Eagles fell to Williamson in the 5A semifinals. He transferred to another Birmingham-area school, Clay-Chalkville, but withdrew earlier this month after the Alabama High School Athletic Association declared him and two other incoming transfers ineligible to participate in athletics at the school.
Clay-Chalkville was subsequently fined $900 and placed under a year's probation for violating the AHSAA's recruiting rule by contacting the players prior to their transfer.
DeMarcus Cousins' mother, Monique Cousins, said the situation at Erwin stemmed from her son "being a child and not necessarily making right choices at the time." A native of Mobile and graduate of McGill-Toolen, she said she decided to move to Mobile to be close to family and provide a better environment for her children.
"Mobile not only offers an environment conducive to wholesome living, but affords me the opportunity to live near my family members, who can be trusted for timely advice and assistance in rearing my children," she said. "As the saying goes, it takes a village to raise a child. What better village to raise a child than the one I was raised in?"
DeMarcus Cousins, who was born in Mobile and lived here until the fourth grade, declined to comment on the situations at Erwin and Clay-Chalkville other than to say, "It's a learning experience and it'll help me move on."
He said it was Hughley's reputation, which he learned of through "word of mouth," that drew him to LeFlore.
"It's a great school, a great program and a great coach that can help me take my game to the next level," DeMarcus Cousins said, "and also help me grow up as an individual."
Hughley said DeMarcus Cousins is "a great kid" who has a world of potential both on and off the court.
"He's just been misunderstood," Hughley said. "Kids make mistakes and everybody deserves a fair chance. ... There's been enough finger-pointing in his direction. There needs to be some restoration, some focus and clarity in his life."
At LeFlore, DeMarcus Cousins will be eligible to begin practice Nov. 5 with the rest of the team and play right away. He will join another highly touted recruit, 6-6 senior swingman Nick Williams, a Marquette commitment who is the only returning starter from last year's state championship team, which finished 32-3 and was ranked No. 14 in the country last season by USA Today.
Hughley said the exposure the program has gotten from the high ranking and from playing in several national tournaments -- including the nationally televised T-Mobile Classic in Seattle -- has drawn athletes wanting to join the team.
"Every year, I get kids showing up here wanting to play basketball," Hughley said. "After being on TV, now it's gone to another level."
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