Five-star Morgan to ask for release
J'Mison Morgan, a class of 2008 five-star prospect from South Oak Cliff (Texas) High School, will ask for his release from LSU, according to his AAU coach Jazzy Hartwell.
Hartwell said he spoke with Morgan's mother, Bianca Morgan on Monday morning and confirmed the news.
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"I just left his mom's and that's what she told me what was going to happen," Hartwell said. "His mom said they were going to get all of the paperwork straight. She just told me that."
Morgan, a 6-foot-10 center, signed with LSU in the early signing period and when John Brady was the head coach of the SEC school. When Brady was released from his position in mid-season, there were rumblings that a change could be on the horizon.
"[LSU assistant coach] Butch Pierre was always the one that talked to us. He's always been real straight up with us," Hartwell said. "I think I talked to [Trent] Johnson once and saw him only once. But Butch has always been really straight up with me."
Hartwell said Morgan's mother said UCLA will be strongly considered once Morgan is released from his National Letter of Intent. With Kevin Love leaving after one year, there is a need for a big man now more than ever with the Bruins.
UCLA was in the mix with Morgan before he signed with LSU. Morgan officially visited UCLA in the fall and had the Bruins in the final contention before deciding on LSU.
"All of the schools he looked at [in the fall] were in a position to win a national championship," Hartwell said. "You can bet that one of the reasons why [UCLA will be in the mix] is because there is an opportunity to play and there is a chance to win a national championship."