I agree with the columnist. I don't think that the killings at Virginia Tech had a thing to do with this guy trying to pull out of his letter of intent. It was simply a convenient way to duck out of his commitment. The recruiting wars, with all of their shady characters acting in the background, have disgraced the game of basketball. Is it any wonder that virtually no respect is given to these fifth year seniors, shoe salesmen, personal trainers, and the like?

I think Gilchrist's decision says a lot about his character. He says he is not mentally prepared to go to school there. Just for the record, I don't buy his excuse. He doesn't want to play basketball at VT and using the deaths of 32 people as a shield is pretty cowardice. His parents need to tell their son that he needs to be a man and honor his commitment. I don't expect that to happen though, because the acorn usually doesn't fall far from the tree.

He is neither a saint nor a coward as jaso nmaddox has made him to be. No one can put himself in his shoes, and determine his state of mind. He seems uncomfortable with VT campus. The rest is pure speculation, and even if his motives are crass, why would you want him to enroll at VT. If you seek to shame him, then say it. However, I do not believe he can be shamed into honoring his LOI.

I don't think that it is fair to attack this kid without knowing him or even being around him to judge his state of mind or intent. I don't hear anyone attacking the non-athletic students who are backing out of their intentions to attend the school as there were many high school seniors on the news stating not going for the same reasons. It is very easy for these sports writers (many who have never played a sport) to sit back and attack athletes merely out of jealousy because themselves or there children are not in the same postion as these athletes they write about. True the recruiting game is shady but this is nothing new. Instead of attacking this kid maybe these writers should be attacking these institutions and their recruiting process to make them clean up their act or is that too much like right. Oh, I forgot they don't won't attack their friends (coaches, and inside help they have getting the scoop on these stories).

you have GOT to be kidding me!!!
If he doesn't want to come to Tech...Fine. If he doesn't want to be a HOKIE...fine.
HE DOESN'T DESERVE TO BE A HOKIE, TO WEAR OUR SCHOOL COLORS, AND HAVE THE SUPPORT AND PRIDE OF OUR UNIVERSITY.

WHOEVER ELSE CAN HAVE THIS COWARD. WE DON'T WANT HIM.

WE ARE THE HOKIES. WE WILL PREVAIL.

I dont think is fair to judge this kid maybe there is more to this story, like his parent's fear for their only kids life will be in danger.they will try to prevent anything from happening to him if they could. there's more to the story at tech then the public really knows. there have been too many frightening thing going on at tech like bomb threat, other shooting, who knows what else.