Texas Tech land 3-star recruit Isaiah Manderson

A busy summer for Rivals 3-star center Isaiah Manderson (Oldsmar, FL – Oldsmar Christian School)  has concluded with Manderson’s decision to join coach Tubby Smith’s Texas Tech Red Raiders.

Manderson, who had originally signed his National Letter of Intent to play for Oregon State, was released from his commitment earlier this June when Beavers head coach Craig Robinson was fired after six seasons with the school. As reported by The Oregonian, Manderson is excited to get the opportunity to play for former Kentucky and Minnesota head coach Tubby Smith:

"“The campus is beautiful – the coaches, the fans. It’s a great situation for me. I get to play for a Hall of Fame coach and he can make me a better player.”"

Smith is coming off a 14-18 record last season – his first at Texas Tech – playing in the particularly difficult Big 12. Manderson will bring his much needed 6-foot-11, 230 pound size to Texas Tech, as the Red Raiders lost both their big men Dejan Kravic and Kader Tapsoba to graduation.

The Oregonian also reports that Manderson cancelled a recent trip this past weekend to the University of Oregon after making his decision to take his talents to Lubbock – choosing Texas Tech over Cleveland State and Temple, as well as Oregon.

It’s a bitter pill for Oregon State fans to swallow, as Manderson was excited to play for Craig Robinson, noting that he wishes Robinson hadn’t been fired and that the former coach was a “good person.” Manderson’s de-commitment does, however, open another scholarship spot for the Beavers, who are optimistically looking towards the future with new head coach Wayne Tinkle.