Tobi Oyedeji showed he's a tough person to discourage.
In a pickup game Monday at Reed Arena with former and present Texas A&M men's basketball players, Oyedeji was booted off his team. Less than 48 hours later, the 6-foot-8 senior-to-be at Bellaire High School orally committed to play for the Aggies.
After a long day Monday at A&M's elite camp, Oyedeji was running with the likes of NBA players Acie Law IV and Antoine Wright and a handful of Aggies that will make up the 2009-10 team.
Oyedeji completed a long courtship with A&M coach Mark Turgeon on Wednesday morning, the day after getting home from the elite camp.
"[A&M] was one of the elites in my mind with the facilities, and I knew the players, so I really had an idea that I was going to do it," Oyedeji said. "I think just going to the camp, playing with all the guys and bonding with everybody just made it that much better. It made it an easier decision."
Oyedeji is the second four-star frontcourt player to commit to A&M from the class of 2010. He joins Dripping Springs' Daniel Alexander, who chose A&M in May.
Oyedeji, ranked No. 85 by Rivals.com, is the seventh-ranked player in Texas. Alexander is the third-highest rated player in the state.
Turgeon may have heard about Oyedeji's trials in the pickup game. Oyedeji said the third-year coach at A&M was excited to get the call that he was coming to A&M and that they later talked about Oyedeji getting in the weight room.
"I loved the way he said it, just live in the weight room this summer," Oyedeji said. "That's a challenge I'm willing to take on."
Oyedeji averaged 16 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks a game his junior season at Bellaire.
Oyedeji saw A&M play LSU at Reed Arena. He said he loved the atmosphere but was really sold when he attended Midnight Madness along with Turner and 2011 A&M recruit Jamal Branch.
"Watching all the fans rush into the stands was amazing," Oyedeji said.
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Posted by: On: 6/13/2009
Comment Title:
Gig 'um
Posted by: On: 6/13/2009
Comment Title:
Miller is a dumb..., I think I need to change the grease in my Fry Daddy also.
Posted by: On: 6/12/2009
Comment Title: stop making stuff up and provide your data
Miller you have no data to support your assertions. Please provide all these top teams that you analyized and give us the cold hard facts. If you can't it just shows that your a blow hard.
Posted by: miller58 On: 6/12/2009
Comment Title: RE: miller you have no idea how basketball works
My personal opinions:_____Just another example of the Aggie Spin Machine bs lies: can't discuss facts and just make up stuff?_____My standards of recruiting 3 to 5 difference makers each year, were developed by taking the 16 top ncaa teams, and looking at their actual recruiting records each year!_____The methods used were statically sound, going back 8 recruiting years took into consideration highs and lows, etc.: and the really ignorant made up bs methods from the Aggie Spin Machine daily to support poor coaching and even worse recruiting, is getting even more ridiculous!_____miller58
Posted by: On: 6/12/2009
Comment Title: miller you have no idea how basketball recruiting works
Miller its obvious that you have no idea how this works. No teams or coachs recruit like you demand. Additionally, there are only 5 players on the floor at a time. I'd say that 4-8 total great recruits (or 1-2 great recruits a year) is on par with the top programs in the country. Turge has anything but a bare cupboard and he showed this with 2 strait second round appearances. Please keep your complaints limited to football. Your obviously not an aggie but for some strange reason you keep complaining about our coachs. I have to say that your the most dedicated troll i have ever seen.
Posted by: On: 6/11/2009
Comment Title: Fries are burning
Love to stay around to chat but I have to go change the grease in the Fry Daddy!
Posted by: miller.58.longhorn On: 6/11/2009
Comment Title: GREAT ADDITION BY TURGEON
My personal opinions:_____Nice pickup for Turgeon and YOU Aggies.... Like I said last night......Turgeon is a good coach, with facilities that are truly unmatched (for now) in the Big 12 or elsewhere and has great fan support....so he will win plenty of recruits and win plenty of games too. Now go get your TV tuned to watch the CWS! Can't wait for football season!
Posted by: miller58 On: 6/11/2009
Comment Title: IT"S A START ! WE NEED A MINIMUM OF 3 TO 5 DIFFERENCE MAKERS EVERY YEAR TO COMPETE IN THE BIG 12 AND THE NCAA?
My personal opinions:_____TURGEON NEEDED 3 difference makers, and got only 2 in '08; short 1 for the bare cupboard!_____Turgeon needed 3, got only 1 in '09; short 2 more for the bare cupboard!_____And for the current class, Turgeon needs 3, has only 2; short 1 more for the bare cupboard!_____To summarize today, we have 2 which is a start, but we need 4 more bare cupboard players to just barely catch up?_____If he doesnt get them he's done, if he does get the 4 more difference makers, then we'll see if he can coach them?_____miller58
Posted by: On: 6/11/2009
Comment Title: so miller?
yesterday you said we should replace Turge. Are you happy with him now?
Posted by: miller58 On: 6/11/2009
Comment Title: GREAT ADDITION BY TURGEON
My personal opinions:_____Nice pickup for Turgeon and you Aggies._____Well done coaching staff._____miller58
Posted by: On: 6/11/2009
Comment Title: 2 nationally ranked 2010 guys
Oyedeji and Alexander build on a strong 2009 class and with the addition of Branch (Top 10) in 2011, the future is certainly bright! Great work Turge! Looking forward to going dancing for the 5th year in a row!