Alongside his offers from Ohio State, LSU, Oklahoma State and Arkansas, Dallas native and Prime Prep Academy forward Jordan Mickey had an offer from Southern Methodist University.
“It wasn’t a very well-known program,” Mickey remembered. “A lot of people weren’t even looking to go there.”
Citing comfort and the relationship with his brother — former LSU wide receiver James Wright — Mickey chose LSU. But in tonight’s second round National Invitation Tournament game against SMU, Mickey gets a return home and an in-depth look at a revitalized program he couldn’t have envisioned in this position a few years ago.
Spearheaded by Hall of Fame coach Larry Brown’s return to the college game, the No. 1 seed Mustangs (24-9, 12-6 American Athletic Conference) were largely considered the biggest snub of the NCAA tournament field this season, just two years removed from limping to a 13-18 mark.
“In terms of building program, [Brown’s] got good people, the right kids,” said LSU coach Johnny Jones. “He’s taken some transfers and guys that really fit into his system. I think that’s really important. He’s done a great job with it, and they’ve competed at a certain level.”
Brown’s current Mustang club is paced by two of those transfers, sophomore guard Nic Moore and forward Markus Kennedy. The two are the only Mustangs to average double digit points and Kennedy leads the team on the glass, pulling down 6.9 rebounds per game.
Moore, who stands just 5 feet, 9 inches, matches up well with LSU’s small backcourt duo of junior Anthony Hickey and senior Andre Stringer. The duo make it a point to never rue over height, instead choosing to prove the doubters wrong.
Stringer struggled with his height disadvantage in middle and high school, but his confidence was aided while watching a Brown-coached vertically challenged guard — Allen Iverson — succeed in the NBA.
Stringer watched in amazement as Brown, then the head coach of the Philadelphia 76ers, seemingly knew exactly which buttons to push to get the most out of a sometimes volatile 6-foot Iverson.
“We know a guy like Larry Brown has a lot of tricks up his sleeve,” Stringer said. “He does well with small guards as you can see with Allen Iverson. [Moore] has had a tremendous year and Brown does a good job into putting him in positions where he can flourish.”
Kennedy teams with 6-foot-10 center Cannen Cunningham and his 6-foot-11 counterpart Yanick Moreira to present one of the deepest, most physical frontcourts LSU has seen.
Mickey and LSU junior forward Johnny O’Bryant III were synonymous in their assessment of the Mustang big men, noting their diverse tendencies around the basket.
“They’re probably some of the best bigs we’re going to see,” O’Bryant said. “They’re crafty around the rim, do a lot with the ball. It’s definitely going to be a big measuring stick for our bigs and our frontcourt.”
As for Mickey, he’ll return home to Dallas to play for the first time in his college career. He couldn’t put an estimate on the number of family and friends that will fill Moody Coliseum to watch.
No matter the number, Mickey said he keeps the same demeanor.
“Another day at the office,” Mickey said. “I try not to get overly excited or anything like that. I just want to go out, play my game and have fun. I’ll be excited to be back home.”
