Newly introduced Texas A&M men's basketball coach Bill Kennedy made the first big move of his tenure with the hiring of ace assistant coach Glynn Cyprien. This move has me excited because it finally appears that the leader's of the men's basketball program are focusing on making Texas A&M a major player in the Texas high school recruiting game. The churning seas of Texas high school and AAU coaches can be murky and treacherous, and were an area that former coach Mark Turgeon was all too willing to stay out of. Cyprien could change all that. As a graduate of UTSA, has has ties and connections to the state of Texas, and brings with him a well deserved reputation as one of the nation's top recruiters. He spearheaded the number one overall recruiting class as the head assistant for Josh Pastner at the University of Memphis, a program that Texas A&M could outmatch in terms of profile and facilities.
Cyprien's addition to the staff gives A&M the ability to take the next step that they couldn't under Turgeon. In order for the Aggies to move into the upper echelon of men's basketball, they need to start bringing in the high profile players that can get them deep in the tournament and draw national attention and prestige. The Aggies need their Kevin Durant, and Glynn Cyprien is the guy that can bring him in,
In Addition to Cyprien, it has been rumored that one of the remaining two openings on Kennedy's staff will be offered to Creighton assistant Steve Lutz who also brings a considerable amount of connections in Texas. The 39-year old Lutz was the head recruiting coordinator as an assistant at SMU under well known recruiter Matt Doherty. During that time he was also on the board of directors for the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches, and should make a valuable addition to Kennedy's staff, which is poised to be a major force in the Texas basketball recruiting scene for the next few years.
The first target on the list for Cyprien has got to be local Bryan High School superstar guard J-Mychal Reese, who could be the dynamic scoring guard that the Aggies have craved since the departure of star point guard Acie Law. Reese's interest in the Aggies had reportedly cooled considerably in the past months, largely due to former coach Mark Turgeon's less than exciting offensive style and personality. A&M had once been the front runner to sign Reese, but has been overtaken by Texas and Kansas, who appears to be the leader for his services. Turgeon's departure and the arrival of Kennedy and Cyprien could be just what the A&M needs to get back in the race for Reese's services.