Tito Horford Incident Dims LSU’s Prospects

As Louisiana cleans up from a record three hurricanes in one year, the state’s top basketball power also is recovering from a Caribbean storm that left destruction in his wake.

When Alfredo (Tito) Horford enrolled at Louisiana State University in late August, the 7-foot-1 man-child from the Dominican Republic was expected to be the dominating center the Tigers needed to round out a star-studded squad.

But two months later, the freshman had been kicked off the LSU team for missing a practice and a scrimmage and was reported on his way either to join a friend at American University in Washington or to play pro ball in Italy.

Horford’s stormy sweep through Baton Rouge ended with LSU Coach Dale Brown declaring, “The romance is over.”

The debris left behind may cause significant problems for LSU this season and in the future. Horford’s departure leaves a big gap on the Tiger squad and may provide new ammunition for NCAA investigators already investigating possible violations in the LSU athletic program.

The intense recruiting war waged for Horford, a high school star at Marian Christian Academy in Houston, has left a trail of ethical and legal questions.

Horford signed a letter of intent to play at the University of Houston but was ruled ineligible because of recruiting violations by the coaching staff. Brown has been accused of similar violations.

But the LSU coach claims he was cautious “to the extent of paranoia” in his efforts to abide by NCAA recruiting rules, even having his secretary tape telephone conversations.

Brown says the Horford incident underscores the problems of big-time college sports and recruiting.

“I think it’s a case of maybe we’re putting too much emphasis on developing superstars,” he said. “Sometimes we can put people in a position before they are ready to be there.

“If he can get his personal problems worked out,” Brown added, “he has the potential to be a superstar.”

LSU had hoped Horford would become a power in the middle, relieving the pressure on 6-foot-7 forward-center Nikita Wilson and multitalented forward John Williams.