USF's top hoops recruit wants out

Westchester (N.Y.) Community College center Jarrid Famous, regarded as the prize of the University of South Florida's incoming men's basketball recruiting class, no longer wants to attend USF and is seeking a release from his letter-of-intent.

Famous, 6 feet 11, does not "feels comfortable with USF anymore" and is prepared to sit out the 2009-10 season without playing if USF doesn't release him, said Mickey Carrey, an assistant at Westchester.

Famous has left phone messages with Heath about wanting to get out of the letter-of-intent, but Heath has not returned Famous' calls, Carey said. Heath has E-mailed Famous and wrote he's "determined not to release" him.

Since Heath has not responded to the request, Carey said Famous is in the process of contacting USF athletic director Doug Woolard to get his release.

"There seems to be a rift among the [Westchester] coaches wanting him to go to Arizona," Heath said. "The dad assured me the kid is coming. I spoke briefly with Jarrid today, and I am supposed to talk to him again later today."

Famous could not immediately be reached for comment by the Tampa Tribune.

Last season as a sophomore at Westchester, Famous ranked among the nation's top three in the junior college ranks in points (25.2) and rebounds (13.7). He also averaged 2.1 blocks.

He committed to USF on April 20 over Arizona, Missouri and Seton Hall and signed on April 23.

The week before Famous committed, USF assistant Byron Samuels, who was involved in the recruiting of Famous, was fired by Heath. A few days later, USF assistant Dan Hipsher left for Alabama. Famous was not notified about either coaching change by Heath, Carey said.

"Jarrid's mind is made up," Carey said. "Last week, he got really fed up. It got to the point ... Heath says I'm going to come see him on this day and then he says he can't make it. After a while that gets old. I think the situation at USF doesn't look good.

"I was concerned when you have half your staff leave in a week. Now a month and a half later and there's still uncertainty who will be on staff. Plus Heath only has two years left [on his contract].

"Since Jarrid signed, he hasn't seen Coach Heath, Coach Heath hasn't called him. He doesn't know anything about the coaching staff. He didn't feel comfortable with the situation anymore. It seems to be very unstable."

Carey said Famous is undecided where he wants to attend college. He said he likely would consider the same schools - Arizona, Missouri and Seton Hall - he did before he signed with USF.

If Famous does not receive his release from USF, he would have to sit out the 2009-10 season and then would have two years of eligibility remaining at a new school in 2010-11 and 2011-12.