As first reported last night on my Twitter, Dylan Johns, a 6-foot-10 center from the Houston Trent International School, has committed to LSU and plans to enroll in December.

Eugene Harris, the head coach at Trent, said Johns chose LSU over Baylor, Michigan State and Oklahoma STate.

“He has a real, real high skillset as far as athleticism around the basket,” Harris told SNY.tv by phone. “He has a good IQ for a big man, good hands, soft touch. He plays defense and can rebound good.”

Harris said Johns is now home in London and will return to the U.S. sometime this fall.

“He went back to London,” he said. “He’s not going to play this semester. He will probably come and train with the team and then go straight to school.”

Johns played at the Reebok Breakout Challenge in Philadelphia this past July with Colombian forward Tony Trocha. Like Johns, Trocha is planning on enrolling in an American school in December after taking intensive English classes, his mentor, Jamie Ibanez, told SNY.tv.

Ibanez said Kentucky, UCLA, Florida, Texas A&M and Rice are all holding scholarships for Trocha.

KARVIAR SHEPHERD TO TCU

New TCU coach Trent Johnson scored a major pickup Monday when Karviar Shepherd, the Rivals No. 3 center in the Class of 2013, picked the Horned Frogs.

“I liked TCU because it was close to home,” he told ESPN.com’s Reggie Rankin, who first reported the news. “I liked the coaching staff and how they improve Bigs.”

The 6-foot-9, 215-pound Shepherd out of Dallas Prime Prep Academy also considered Texas A&M, Texas, Kansas and Oklahoma.

MASON TO KANSAS

Frank Mason, a 5-foot-11 point guard from Massanutten (Va.) Military Academy, committed to Kansas over  Virginia Tech, South Carolina, Providence, Seton Hall and Rutgers, according to the Journal-World.

“I chose KU because of its tradition, coach (Bill) Self’s winning percentage and the type of players they have there,” Mason told the paper. “I want to align myself with players of that ability and character. They are all the type of people I want to be around.

“It’s a great program, from academics to basketball. I talked with the players (on official visit last weekend) a lot and knew it was the right place for me. It’s a great program. They’ve won a lot of Big 12 championships, made a lot of Final Four appearances and have multiple national championships. It’s a dream come true.”

Mason initially committed to Towson but reopened his recruitment after not qualifying academically, the Richmond Times-Dispatch reported.

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Now that TCU will join the Big 12 next July, the Frogs can look forward to bus trips to Austin and Waco.

Needless to say, TCU coach Jim Christian likes the easier travel schedule.

“Obviously, geographically for us, it’s going to be nice,” Christian told SNY.tv by phone.

“We’ve now been in two leagues, the Mountain West and what would’ve been our time in the Big East, without playing one conference road game on a bus. At least now we get a chance to do that.”

TCU’s closest conference game in the Mountain West is a two-hour flight to New Mexico. The league also features teams in California, Colorado, Wyoming, Nevada and Idaho.

By joining the Big 12, TCU can resume regional rivalries against teams like Texas, Baylor and the Oklahoma schools.

“At least now we’re able to save our kids some travel time and our fans can travel to see us a little bit,” said Christian, whose team was just 6-26 over the last two years in the Mountain West. “If I ranked the beneficials, that’s definitely high on my list.”

The Horned Frogs had already started recruiting in Big East territory, landing former Newark NIA Prep forward Ryan Rhoomes before he was ruled ineligible by the NCAA and making recruiting visits to places like St. Benedict’s Prep in Newark.

Now, Christian and his staff can focus more heavily on trying to recruit the fertile state of Texas and the surrounding areas.

“Obviously, with the kids in Texas, it’s given us a stronger identity because of the geographical rivalries,” Christian said. “But we have made some inroads with some kids on the East Coast, and I think we’ll continue to recruit those kids as best we can.”

From a coaching standpoint, it was only a few weeks ago that Christian had to be thinking ahead to matching wits with Big East coaches like Jim Boeheim of Syracuse, Jamie Dixon of Pittsburgh and Jim Calhoun of UConn.

Now, Syracuse and Pitt have signed on to join the ACC, and UConn may not be far behind.

For sure, Christian has to start thinking about coaching against Bill Self at Kansas, Rick Barnes of Texas and Frank Martin at Kansas State.

“There’s Hall of Fame coaches in the Big East and there’s Hall of Fame coaches in the Big 12, so I don’t know if it’s really any different,” Christian said.

“And again it’s our last year to play in the Mountain West Conference, a league that we haven’t had much success in, so we’re trying to do as best we can to have the type of year that we need to have so we can continue to move our program forward.”

RELATED CONTENT

**Marinatto disappointed with TCU’s departure 

**Big 12 invites TCU to join

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The Big 12′s presidents and chancellors voted unanimously to authorize negotiations with the Horned Frogs, who are the defending Rose Bowl champions in football.

TCU was planning to leave the Mountain West for the Big East next year, but now it appears that won’t happen.

For the time being, the Big East will remain at 16 basketball and eight football teams, although Syracuse and Pittsburgh have committed to joining the ACC.

TCU Chancellor Victor Boschini Jr. suggested a move to the Big 12 might be a better decision for his school, a former member of the old Southwest Conference that once included current Big 12 members Texas, Texas Tech and Baylor. It also included Texas A&M, which is leaving the Big 12 for the SEC next year.

“These discussions with the Big 12 have huge implications for TCU,” Boschini said. “It will allow us to return to old rivalries, something our fans and others have been advocating for years. As always, we must consider what’s best for TCU and our student-athletes in this ever-changing landscape of collegiate athletics. We look forward to continuing these discussions with the Big 12.”

Big East spokesman John Paquette declined immediate comment.

The decision to go after TCU was the first aggressive move by the Big 12 since it lost Nebraska (Big Ten) and Colorado (Pac-12) over the summer and learned the Aggies were leaving. The Big 12 is still waiting to see if Missouri will leave after its curators on Tuesday gave its chancellor the authority to explore options.

The Big 12 said interim Commissioner Chuck Neinas would begin talks with TCU immediately.

Bringing in TCU would boost the Big 12 back to 10 members, depending on whether Missouri stays or leaves.

“We’re proud that TCU has been invited to join the Big 12,” Texas athletic director DeLoss Dodds said. “Their commitment to academics and success on the field make them an excellent fit. With a solid budget and strong financial support, they have been proactive at improving facilities. Their close proximity to all conference institutions makes for a comfortable travel situation.”

The move would also be a financial windfall for TCU.

Big 12 chancellors and presidents have agreed to equally share revenue from the conference’s most lucrative television deals if member schools agree to give those top-tier rights to the league for at least six years. The agreement is subject to approval by university governing boards.

The revenue-sharing plan would give each school about $20 million in June and that figure is expected to grow by 2013 when the league’s new 13-year contract with Fox Sports kicks in.

The Big 12′s television contract with ABC/ESPN expires in 2016 and likely will bring in additional money when renegotiated.

(The AP contributed)

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But with A&M poised to join the Southeastern Conference for 2012, and TCU already set to enter the Big East next year, the two Lone Star State schools located about 175 miles apart could meet up in a revised Big East/SEC Challenge beginning next year.

“I think it would be great,” TCU basketball coach Jim Christian told SNY.tv.

“Obviously, if all this goes through and both teams play their inaugural season in a great non-conference matchup, both schools would be excited about it. It goes back to the days of the Southwest Conference when both schools were in it and competing [until 1996]. The rivalry is tremendous.

“Whenever TCU and Texas A&M compete, it’s always great crowds. It’s always a great event.”

If the SEC adds A&M, Florida State, Missouri and Clemson, as has been reported it is trying to do, the super-conference would expand to 16 teams.

The Big East currently has 16, with TCU becoming No. 17 next year.

As presently constituted, the Big East/SEC Challenge features all 12 SEC teams against three quarters of the Big East. Four Big East outfits must sit out the dance each year.

But if the SEC expands to 16 teams, 32 teams in the two leagues could play, with one Big East team left standing against the wall with no dance partner.

As things stand now, there are a few interesting matchups in this year’s Big East/SEC Challenge.

St. John’s-Kentucky, Florida-Syracuse, Vanderbilt-Louisville and Pitt-Tennessee come to mind.

It’s not clear how much interest there would be for, say, Clemson-DePaul or Missouri-Seton Hall.

But TCU against A&M could be a big hit.

“It’s a natural rivalry,” Christian said. “There’s no question about it.”

BIG EAST TIE GIVES TCU RECRUITING EDGE

TCU has already landed Newark NIA Prep forward Ryan Rhoomes, the first New York area product to commit to the Texas school since it was announced it was joining the Big East.

But Christian says the school’s tie-in with the Big East is paying dividends with the Class of 2013 and beyond.

“We’ve been really, really impressed with the reaction we’re getting from kids because of our association with the Big East,” Christian said.

“We’ve had many, many kids come to campus and express a great amount of interest. [They are] the type of kids that we would need to have join us and be competitive in the Big East.”

2011 BIG EAST/SEC Challenge schedule:

Date Time (ET) Game Network

Thu, Dec 1

7 p.m. Providence at South Carolina ESPNU

7:30 p.m. St. John’s at No. 2 Kentucky ESPN2 / ESPN3.com

9 p.m. Mississippi at DePaul ESPNU

9:30 p.m. Georgetown at No. 14 Alabama ESPN2 / ESPN3.com

Fri, Dec 2

6:30 p.m. No. 12 Florida at No. 4 Syracuse ESPN / ESPN3.com

7 p.m. No. 19 Cincinnati at Georgia ESPNU

8:30 p.m. No. 7 Vanderbilt at No. 9 Louisville ESPN / ESPN3.com

9 p.m. Auburn at Seton Hall ESPNU

Sat, Dec 3

3:15 p.m. Arkansas at No. 6 Connecticut ESPN / ESPN3.com

5:15 p.m. No. 17 Pittsburgh at Tennessee ESPN / ESPN3.com

7 p.m. LSU at Rutgers ESPNU

9 p.m. West Virginia at Mississippi State ESPNU

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The 6-foot-9, 240-pound power forward from South Jamaica, Queens and Newark NIA Prep, will attend TCU, choosing them over Seton Hall, Providence and Oklahoma State.

Texas Christian will play next season in the Mountain West Conference before transitioning to the Big East beginning in 2012.

“It came down to that because I felt like going into the Mountain West will better me for the Big East instead of going to a Big East school and kind of struggling,” said Rhoomes, who averaged 10 points, eight rebounds and two blocks as a postgrad at NIA Prep.

“I think I’ll go there and get with the program and progress from there.”

Since TCU was admitted to the Big East for 2012, Rhoomes is TCU coach Jim Christian’s first recruit from the New York metropolitan area .

“I think I’ll bring a lot of intensity to the program because they’ve been struggling for the past couple years, so I think with my talents, I go in there with an offensive and defensive presence so I think it will be a good, fun situation for me,” he said.

NIA Prep coach Rudy King says Rhoomes has “a lot of potential, a lot of upside.”

“We haven’t really seen all of his skill development yet,” King said. “He has a nice, soft touch. He rebounds the ball very, very well. He’s aggressive. Great practice guy. He brings a lot of intensity to the floor, as far as the game and he’s positive mentally.

“Off the court he’s a great kid. I just think that he’s a great player for Jim Christian to pick up from the New York area because he’s going to be a great ambassador, too.”

Rhoomes said he hopes to recruit other area players to TCU, including Lincoln point guard Shaquille Stokes.

“Most definitely, as soon as I get done with this I’m going to try to bring Shaq Stokes to this picture,” Rhoomes said.

Even though he’ll play in Texas, Rhoomes will come home for the Big East Tournament and games at Rutgers, Seton Hall and St. John’s.

“I think going away will just better me in my career,” he said, “so I think coming home will make it even better.”

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In this edition of The Big East Report, Texas Christian basketball coach Jim Christian, a Bethpage, N.Y. native, talks about his program’s move to the Big East in 2012.

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The Horned Frogs are joining a league with an automatic bid.

TCU will become the 17^th member of the Big East Conference, and ninth football program, July 1, 2012 and will join the league for all sports beginning in the 2012-13 season.

“We’re going to the Big East, let’s get fired up,” TCU athletic director Chris Del Conte said. “It’s a great time to be a Frog.”

Click here to read the full story at SNY.

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The Big East, by a vote of its Presidents and Chancellors, extended the invitation for membership.

TCU will become the 17th conference member — and ninth football program — on July 1, 2012.  Its athletic teams will begin competing in the Big East in the 2012-13 academic year.

With an enrollment of 9,142 in Fort Worth, Texas, TCU competes in 20 sports.  The university’s Chancellor is Dr. Victor J. Boschini, Jr. and the Athletics Director is Chris Del Conte.  The university was founded in 1873.

“Our membership is genuinely excited to add an institution of the caliber of TCU to our Conference,” said Big East Conference Commissioner John Marinatto. “Chancellor Boschini and athletic director Chris Del Conte clearly share the same academic and athletic aspirations of our current members and are similarly committed to sponsoring a very highly competitive athletic program.  Located in one of the top five media markets in the country, TCU also enables the Big East to extend its media footprint, which already encompasses more than a quarter of the country.”

“The addition of TCU ensures that the Big East will continue to remain one of the nation’s premier athletic conferences well into the future,” stated John I. Jenkins, C.S.C., President of Notre Dame and Chairman of the Big East CEO Executive Committee.  “With TCU, the Big East adds an excellent academic institution that combines outstanding athletic achievement with a commitment to NCAA compliance and educational success of its student-athletes.”

The Horned Frogs have enjoyed significant recent success in the athletic arena and in the classroom.  The TCU football squad finished the 2010 regular season with a 12-0 record.  The Horned Frogs are ranked third in the current Bowl Championship Series standings.  A year ago, the football team played in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl.  The baseball team played in the 2010 College World Series.

Additionally, the women’s basketball team was the regular-season conference champion.  The men’s and women’s tennis teams were conference tournament champions.  The men’s swimming team captured a regular-season league crown.  The women’s volleyball team participated in the NCAA Championship.

Overall, the Horned Frogs produced nationally-ranked programs in football, baseball, men’s golf, women’s golf, rifle and equestrian.  Individually, 51 Horned Frog student-athletes earned all-America honors.

Academically, TCU student-athletes posted a departmental cumulative grade-point average of 2.98 in the 2010 spring semester, the highest since TCU began reporting scores in 1998.  Fifty-three percent of the student-athletes had GPAs over 3.0 for the spring semester.

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Texas Christian University will hold a 2 p.m. EST press conference Monday to announce that it will join the Big East Conference in all sports beginning in the 2012-13 season.

“I guess you gotta do what you gotta do with what’s out there,” former Syracuse athletic director Jake Crouthamel said by phone. “And what’s out there with TCU in football is certainly very attractive.  It’s the other programs that I think just from a travel perspective, it’s going to be very expensive.”

“But having said that, TCU is showing its stuff as a football program. That adds a  lot of credibility to the Big East, which it certainly needs.”

The TCU football team is currently 12-0 and ranked third in the BCS standings.

TCU spokesman Mark Cohen was not immediately available for comment.

The addition of TCU will bring the Big East to nine football teams and 17 basketball teams. The league recently said it was in favor of getting to 10 football teams.

Several Big East football coaches, including UConn’s Randy Edsall, have come out publicly in favor of adding a ninth football team to balance out the schedule.

Currently, teams play a seven-game, unbalanced schedule. Some teams play four home games and three away, while others play three home and four on the road.

During the annual Big East Media Day in Newport, R.I. in August, commissioner John Marinatto told the league’s football coaches not to discuss potential expansion, but he did address the topic.

“If it’s to our advantage to do something like that, everything’s on the table,” he said.

“We decided that we want to look at and study everything. And we try and do things in a quiet way behind the scenes.”

Villanova, a Big East member for basketball and other sports, has also been offered a spot for football, which would bring the conference to 10 teams.

“Villanova has been obviously a member of the conference for 30 years,” Big East Commissioner John Marinatto told AOL FanHouse, which initially broke the TCU news. “We’ve encouraged them for a number of years going back to 1997 to do whatever they feel is in their best interest. I think they’re in the process of evaluating that question and if they evaluate it in the affirmative, we’ll obviously have a conversation about membership.”

Villanova is expected to let the conference know by the end of the current school year, Fanhouse reported.

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