April 17, 2008

University, MS (UWIRE) -- With the opening of the spring signing period, the Ole Miss basketball team expects at least one signature.

The 6-foot-7 forward Murphy Holloway from Irmo, S.C., has been committed to Ole Miss and to head coach Andy Kennedy, despite a late charge from recently hired South Carolina head coach Darrin Horn.

Holloway is rated a four-star prospect and the 17th rated small forward in the 2008 class by Scout.com, as he averaged 28 points and 18 rebounds per game as a senior.

Holloway, along with fall signee Terrance Henry and rising sophomore Malcolm White, give the Rebels three four-star forwards to replace the three graduating seniors in the frontcourt.

After signing four players in the fall, Holloway gives the Rebels five incoming freshmen, and assuming all the potential signees qualify academically, a packed roster.

With five rising sophomores, along with rising juniors Eniel Polynice and David Huertas returning, the Rebels have only one scholarship open for the 2008-2009 season.

Kennedy said the last scholarship was still open for debate.

"We're going to continue to recruit some things," Kennedy said. "We'll just have to see how the picture evolves ... Depending on some things that we are going to discuss, but we haven't had the end-of-season meeting yet, and we'll sit down and talk. Kids have ideas, coaches have ideas. We'll talk about some things that make sense for the program."

Kennedy did not mention either rising senior forward Terrence Watson or rising junior guard Rodney Jones in his list of returning players.

Look back on fall class

At 6-foot-9, Terrance Henry gives Ole Miss a power forward that can extend his game to the 3-point line, the type of player that hurt the Rebels in losses to Auburn and South Carolina this season.

"Terrance Henry has a completely different body type (than any of the graduating seniors), at 6-foot-9, about 190 pounds," Kennedy said. "He is a qualifier. We're going to get him here in the summer so he'll have a few months to put on some weight and continue to physically mature. He is a face up athletic four man with ball skills that can shoot from three."

Henry will be joined in Oxford by his Carroll high school teammate Wilson after the two were both named first team All-State in Louisiana.

"His teammate Brandon Wilson is 6-foot-5 with a seven foot wingspan, and has a really long athletic active body," Kennedy said.

Kennedy picked up his first player from Memphis with White who is from Craigmont high school, and gives the Rebels another scoring option.

"Terrico White ended up leading the city of Memphis in scoring," Kennedy said. "He had a great year. He lead Craigmont to 20-something wins. He is 6-foot-5, 210 pound wing who will give us another ability to score not only from the perimeter, but because of his size he can do some things around the basket."

Ole Miss went all the way to the state of Idaho, to find a replacement for departed senior point guard Brian Smith, in Vallivue product Will Bogan.

"Will Bogan was the player of the year in his classification where they won the State championship," Kennedy said. "He had another tremendous year. "

(C) 2008 Daily Mississippian via UWIRE