NATIONAL EARLY SIGNING PERIOD

Ready rings in big day, sticks with a Flanigan

Little Rock Parkview’s I.J. Ready (center) rings a cowbell Wednesday after he and classmate Roshunda Johnson (right) signed to play NCAA Division I basketball on the first day of the early signing period. Ready, seated next to his sister, Natalia, will be attending Mississippi State next season while Johnson is headed to Oklahoma State.
Little Rock Parkview’s I.J. Ready (center) rings a cowbell Wednesday after he and classmate Roshunda Johnson (right) signed to play NCAA Division I basketball on the first day of the early signing period. Ready, seated next to his sister, Natalia, will be attending Mississippi State next season while Johnson is headed to Oklahoma State.

— I.J. Ready is going from one Flanigan to another and he could not be happier.

Ready, who has one more basketball season with Little Rock Parkview Coach Al Flanigan, signed a letter of intent Wednesday to play for the Mississippi State Bulldogs, who have former Parkview standout Wes Flanigan on their coaching staff.

Wes Flanigan was on Nebraska’s coaching staff when Ready, at first, committed to the Cornhuskers. Ready withdrew his committment after Nebraska fired its coaching staff after last season.

Wes Flanigan landed in Starkville, Miss. on head Coach Rick Ray’s staff; Ready found his way there shortly thereafter.

Ready said Wes Flanigan’s presence at Mississippi State played a big role in his decision.

“But he wasn’t the only reason,” Ready said. “... There were other factors. There’s the academics, and Coach Ray and I have the same background. But [Wes] Flanigan played a role. He was a point guard here at Parkview and in college.”

Ready, a 5-11 point guard referred to by Al Flanigan as his “Little General” for the past two years, has led the Patriots to back-to-back Class 6A state championships.

“When I.J. first got over here and I saw him play, I got on Wes right away and told him to go ahead and offer [Ready a scholarship],” Al Flanigan said. “A lot of people missed out on him because they thought he was too little. But hey, Mississippi State’s got a gem. He’s going to get faster. He’s going to get stronger. He’s going to get better.”

Ready averaged 20.1 points and 5.2 assists a game as a junior.

“They really need him now,” Al Flanigan said. “He could probably go down there and start right now.”

Ready also said he can’t wait to start his college career and enjoy Mississippi State’s tradition of ringing the cowbells.

“I’ve been waiting on this day since I was 4 years old when I first started playing basketball,” Ready said, cowbell in hand. “I guess I better get used to all of those cowbells they ring down there. I’m looking forward to it.”

Sports, Pages 19 on 11/15/2012

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