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Former SMU Junior Guard Keith Frazier is all but signed, sealed, and delivered to be playing with the North Texas Men’s Basketball program starting as early as the spring of 2017. Frazier left SMU during the winter break citing frustration with his current situation within the basketball program.
Keith Frazier was a member of the 2013 Recruiting Class. His hometown is Dallas, TX where he went to school at the local basketball power Dallas Kimball High School. He was ranked at #49 in the ESPN 100; 11th in his position (Shooting Guard); 8th in the region (East); and 6th in the State (Texas).
Troubled Past
In January 2015, Frazier was ruled academically ineligible for the remainder of the 2014-2015 season. At the time SMU was making a case for possible (and eventual) berth into the NCAA Tournament (6th Seed in the South Bracket). In the summer of 2015, SMU became the target of a NCAA investigation surrounding Frazier and some of his coursework which resulted in SMU receiving a post-season ban for the current 2015-2016 season and Head Coach Larry Brown suspended for the first nine games.
New Future at North Texas?
Keith Frazier could join Jeremy Combs, Deckie Johnson, and J-Mychal Reese as early as the end of the 2016 Fall semester. Frazier would have to sit out at a minimum the 2016 Spring semester and 2016 Fall semester due to NCAA transfer rules. It is not exactly clear whether he would have 1.5 season left to play after sitting out.
Frazier could bring a much needed injection of offense to the Mean Green. Currently North Texas only has three players managing double digits in points production. Frazier also is a decent defensive player and could help improve a struggling
Stats Breakdown
2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 GP-GS 36-0 17-16 10-7 Min-Avg/Gm 534-14.8 473-27.8 288-28.8 FG-FGA-FG% 69-169-40.8% 51-136-44.9% 44-98-44.9% 3FG-3FGA-3FG% 41-103-39.8% 23-69-33.3% 15-41-36.6% FT-FTA-FT% 16-22-72.7% 34-42-81.0% 16-20-80.0% Points-Avg/Gm 195-5.4 179-10.5 119-11.9 Rebs-Off-Def-Avg/Gm 66-14-52-1.8 68-10-58-4.0 44-7-37-4.4 Per. Fouls 38 26 20 Assists 31 23 19 Turnovers 35 21 16 Blocks 11 6 5 Steals 17 14 9
Hot Sports Opinion
Despite the checkered past of Keith Frazier, I hope Mean Green fans give him a chance. It’s not every day a recruit of this caliber lands at North Texas and he has a chance, much like Tony Mitchell did in 2011-12 through 2012-13, to make a big contribution to a squad that is currently struggling to find wins since Johnny Jones left to coach at LSU in 2012.