Burnt Orange Nation, a Texas Longhorns community

Did you know that Findlay Prep, "high school" team of Texas signees Avery Bradley and Tristan Thompson, is not much more than an AAU team masquerading as a high school team? Did you know that Findlay Prep is not actually a high school? Me neither. I'm not sure there's any reason to doubt the players that come out of that program (they do actually go to a nearby high school), but there are plenty of reasons to question the propriety of an institution such as Findlay Prep.

After removal from the St. Benedict's basketball team on Wednesday, Tristan Thompson made the decision to transfer to Findlay Prep, the Henderson, Nevada prep school that 2009 commit Avery Bradley attends. Thompson should be in uniform next week for Findlay's game February 20 against Duncanville in Dallas, 2009 commit Shawn Williams' high school. Thompson has a connection to Findlay because an AAU teammate plays for the Pilots. Former St. Benedict's teammate Myck Kabongo is expected to transfer to Findlay after the season. In a strange twist of fate, Findlay and St. Benedict's may face each other this season, as both are attending the National High School Invitation Tournament in early April. That could get interesting.

Point guard Myck Kabongo of St. Benedict's Prep is now the first commitment for the Longhorn basketball class of 2011. Kabongo stars with 2010 commit Tristan Thompson on their high school and AAU teams. Recruited by Rick Barnes and Rodney Terry, Kabongo has told his AAU coach for some time that he knew Texas was the right place for him, finally committing on his birthday. With transfer Jai Lucas becoming eligible some time next season and Kabongo enrolling during Lucas' senior season (assuming Lucas doesn't lose a year of eligibility for playing in one exhibition game), the future of the Longhorn point guard position is settled for years to come.

Now Barnes is really building himself a program. We got mommas throwing their babies at us!