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Catching up with Josh Selby and His Mother

By: Brett Blevins

"Tennessee did nothing wrong," Ms. Witherspoon reiterated a few time throughout the conversation. In actuality contacting the UT coaching staff, and figuring out who would break the news, was one of the hardest things to do after the 3 month contemplation of decommitting finally came to an end. In the end, momma had to make the call and inform Coach Steve Forbes (Bruce Pearl was in Israel) of the decision, because that is what mothers do. Coach Pearl followed up the next morning with a phone call but the decision stood. Josh had come to realize he rushed his initial choice, only considering 2 schools.

"I just felt I rushed into the commitment last time. This time I want to see all the options and what's out there," Selby said echoing his point over and over. As of right now Josh said he is open to hearing from any school that wants to call.

"I am going to do my homework and research. I'm going to study every school and see what is a good fit. I'm open to all schools."

He and his mom did mention that the choices this time around are unbelievable, and you can get the sense that Tennessee just lost out on one of the nation's brightest guards. They did say UT would still be a factor, but when talking about high level coaches who have played in and won national championships, and how flattering that is, it is obvious the Tennesse program doesn't measure up with the Kentucky's, UConn's, and Kansas's of the world.

The two also put to rest the conspiracy theory that the decision was based on influence from Nike and World Wide Wes.

"Get your son a track coach," was his exact words, Ms. Witherspoon said of a passing conversation they had in Akron. "That is the only advice he has ever given me. I've never went to dinner with him or anything like that. It is blown way out of proportion."

Josh also mentioned that he doesn't really know Wes, only pointing out who his mom was at NBPA Top 100 Camp. So the witch-hunt can stop, even though it won't as long as the CBS's of the world need to write a slanted story everytime they enter a gym to attract readers.

It is like I posted last week. This is just a story of a kid who committed too early and now had second thoughts. Nothing more, nothing less. We will follow up in the next few weeks to see if the list has grown or changed.

POSTED: 7-23-2009

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