By Julie Ann Grosshans

Without question, Tony Brown will be missed.

A rebuilding process is necessary, though and the Utah State University men's basketball team jumped off to an early start signing Evanston High School top-scoring standout Jaycee Carroll.

Leading the Red Devils to a fifth-place finish at the 4A boys state tournament in Wyoming last season, Carroll averaged 39.4 points, 9.1 rebounds and 3.6 steals, according to ESPN.com.

Carroll is a two-time Gatorade player of the year in Wyoming and said he expects to play shooting guard.

As many as 60 schools recruited Carroll from the NAIA to NCAA Division I but had narrowed his choices to Utah State, Wyoming, BYU, Utah and Idaho State.

One can only assume USU Head Coach Stew Morrill is pleased with what he has seen from Carroll.

According to the ESPN.com Web site, Carroll agreed to sign with Utah State in return for a verbal agreement from the Aggies to leave a scholarship open for him when he return from a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

"They've dealt with missionaries before so they know how it works," Carroll said.

He expects to be called for his mission in July or August and said he would like to serve abroad.

The Aggies are willing to wait.

Luckily for Utah State, their reported interest in the player paid off.

Carroll's high school coach Bubba O'Neill said the Aggies showed more interest in him than the University of Wyoming, making Carroll"s choice and easy one.

"He really felt like he was their [the Aggies] No. 1 guy," O'Neill said. "He may not have been, but they treated him like he was."

Said Carroll: "Playing at Wyoming -- that was never really my goal. [Utah State] showed a lot of interest to begin with. They took care of me, watched me and it's a really good program."

Wyoming Head Coach Steve McClain isn't too disappointed.

McClain did not recruit Carroll because the high school star showed outward interest in other schools.

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