Anchor Drop, April 12, 2018: Romeo Langford Sets Announcement Date

Good morning.

Romeo Langford, the nation’s sixth-ranked recruit according to Rivals, will announce his college choice on April 30 in a ceremony at New Albany High School. This announcement will be open to the public.

I’m not going to read anything into the announcement date, the location, or any delays, and if you do you’re probably reading too much into it. While announcing your commitment at your high school might seem favorable to the hometown school, it’s only been four months since five-star offensive lineman Cade Mays announced at his high school in Knoxville that he would be attending the University of Georgia. Guys do that all the time; it’s just that it’s usually Duke or Kentucky and not Vanderbilt.

And the delays are what they are. I’m fine with a guy waiting to make sure he’s making the right college choice. Whether Langford comes here or stays home to attend Indiana, the last thing I’d want is for a kid to be miserable with his college choice. That’s not good for the kid, and it’s not particularly great for the program, either. NC State going 4-14 in the ACC with Dennis Smith Jr. on the team makes a lot more sense in light of FBI documents released the other day that suggest Smith didn’t really want to go to NC State, but did so simply because his parents were on the take.

Still, though, I fear for Langford’s safety if he doesn’t choose Indiana in that ceremony, when a Taco Bell in Sellersburg, Indiana, chose to display a sign reading “Romeo Langford Live Mas Choose IU.” When Kentucky fans warn you about a fan base being insane, you should probably believe them.

On to other Vanderbilt news...

The Commodore women’s bowling team will open the NCAA Tournament today at the Tropicana Lanes in St. Louis, at 9 AM CT. The Commodores will open the double-elimination event against conference rival Sam Houston State. Yes, Sam Houston State is a conference rival in women’s bowling; we’ve been over this before. The event can be livestreamed at ncaa.com. The Tennessean has some words about the bowling program’s recruiting.

Also, bowlers Kristin Quah and Maria Bulanova were named All-Americans yesterday.

Women’s tennis goes for the SEC title this weekend starting with a match at #7 South Carolina at 4 PM CT today. They’ll then travel to Florida on Saturday. Vanderbilt, South Carolina, and Florida are all currently tied for first place with just one loss in SEC play; the implications of this weekend are obvious.

Morgan Baxendale is the SEC Freshman of the Week after her individual win at the Brickyard Collegiate over the weekend.

Clarksville High School is naming a tournament after the late Donny Everett, a CHS alum.

Off the West End

Luke Kornet closed out the NBA regular season with 23 points in a 110-98 Knicks win over Cleveland. On the other hand, Luke will have a different coach next season, with Knicks coach Jeff Hornacek being dismissed yesterday.

In not so good news, David Price got pulled after giving up four runs in the first inning in a Red Sox loss to the Yankees. (Though I guess that’s not bad news if you’re VTPhD.)

Also, MLB players lost their damn minds yesterday.

The Korean Basketball League is kicking a player out of the league for being too tall. That’s just bizarre.

SI’s Andy Staples ponders why you don’t see college football coaches refusing to punt.

The Preds open the playoffs tonight at 8:30 PM CT against the Colorado Avalanche. I more or less always have a playoff beard, but if you don’t, now is the time to grow one.