At one point Thursday afternoon, Manassas rising senior forwardReginald Buckner was still on the fence, telling interested partieshe had yet to make a decision on a college destination.
Then, just after 4 p.m., the news suddenly began to spread overInternet message boards and recruiting services that Buckner, a 6-8, 195-pound forward who led Manassas to its first state-title gamein 23 years last season, had committed to Ole Miss.
"I'm just finding out too!" said a surprised Manassas assistantcoach Jerry Anthony, Buckner's AAU coach.
After telling a reporter earlier in the day he was stillconsidering Ole Miss, Missouri and UTEP, among others, Buckner had achange of heart late Thursday afternoon, electing to commit to Andy Kennedy's Rebels following a conversation with his mother.
"My mama said I needed to go ahead and make my decision, and shehad Ole Miss in mind," said Buckner, who had additional scholarshipoffers from Baylor, Bradley, Georgia State, Lamar, Middle Tennessee State and Southeast Missouri.
"She really didn't want me to go too far from home."
Ranked the No. 91 overall prospect in the class of 2009 byRivals.com and the No. 19 small forward prospect nationally, Buckneraveraged 16 points, 13.7 rebounds, 6.7 blocked shots, 2.5 assistsand 1.2 steals per game as a junior last season in leading Manassasto its first state title game appearance since 1985.
He was one of five finalists for The Commercial Appeal's 2007-08Pepsi Best of the Preps player of the year award and will joinTerrico White, a fellow BOP finalist and star at Craigmont lastseason, at Ole Miss in 2008 .
"Coach Torrey Ward, the assistant coach at Ole Miss, was at asmany of our high school games this year as he could come to,"Anthony said. "I think coach Ward and coach Andy Kennedy recruitedhim more aggressively than any of the other coaches did.
"I think it's going to be a good fit because Ole Miss is going toplay real aggressive defensively, and that fits right in withReggie, with the way he defends and blocks shots."
Buckner said Kennedy told him he had one scholarship stillavailable for 2008, but planned to hold it for Buckner until 2009.
"Kennedy told me I was their No. 1 (recruit), and that they werewilling to hold a scholarship from (2008) to next year," he said."So it's 100 percent I'm going to Ole Miss."
