Mean Green

Joseph Fulce, one of the North Texas men's basketball team's top recruiting targets for its upcoming signing class, was on campus last week to talk with the Mean Green's coaching staff. Fulce's visit was just the latest sign that UNT is in the height of one of its most intriguing recruiting season in recent memory. UNT is, after all, coming off its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1988 and has a load of momentum in its favor. UNT appears to have three scholarships to give after losing three seniors, plus Oklahoma State transfer Roderick Flemings. Senior guard Michael Sturns played as a walkon last season and will fill one of those four scholarships.

The following is a look at a few of the players on the Mean Green's radar. Feel free to weigh in on this blog. Who would you like to see UNT sign?

Fulce -- The combo forward is the type of player who could elevate the Mean Green both in the Sun Belt Conference and beyond. Fulce signed with Texas A&M after his senior season at Plano in 2006 when Texashoops.com rated him No. 15 among the seniors in the state. Providence, UNC-Wilmington and Illinois State are among the other teams that have offered Fulce a scholarship. Landing the former Plano standout would be huge for UNT.

Jordan Smith, 6-3 shooting guard, Irving God's Academy -- Smith is ranked No. 25 in the state by Texashoops.com, which rates him as one of the best perimeter shooters in the state. Like Fulce, Smith has spent the last year in prep school to improve his academic standing. UNT lost Kendrick Davis and Calvin Watson after last season and could use a few more options as far as scorers on the wing. UNT could do a whole lot worse than Smith, who has also been offered a scholarship by Liberty. The Mean Green has not signed a high school player as highly rated as Smith by Texashoops.com since Harold Stewart in 2005.

Marquez Haynes, 6-3 combo guard, Boston College -- Haynes has been released from his scholarship at Boston College and is considering his options. UNT really wanted Haynes before he committed to Boston College two years ago. The question now is whether he is the true point guard UNT needs to help replace Ben Bell after next season. Bell is the only natural point guard on UNT's roster. Haynes is considered more of a combination guard.

Kevin Busby-Hayden, 6-1 combo guard, Dallas Spruce -- Busby-Hayden is the son of former UNT player Donnell Hayden and is ranked No. 52 on Texashoops.com's list of the top seniors in the state. UNT needs to add at least one point guard in its next recruiting class. Busby-Hayden could be the player UNT needs. He averaged 14.4 points and 4.6 assists a game and made 75 3-pointers on the season to lead District 13-4A.

Booker Woodfox, 6-1 shooting guard, San Jacinto JC -- Woodfox played for Lewisville and committed to Louisiana-Lafayette before he ended up at San Jacinto. He averaged 18.7 points a game during the regular season this year and hit 39.6 percent of his 3-point shots. He is a former teammate of UNT point guard Ben Bell. UNT head coach Johnny Jones has always liked Woodfox as a player.