Bond: Temple it is

When former Plymouth Whitemarsh High School forward Jaylen Bond announced his decision to transfer from Texas last month, it was widely speculated the 6-foot-7 forward would wind up at Temple.

Nearly a month later, that speculation proved to be correct.

Bond broke the news himself on Twitter Friday with a tweet that read, "Temple it is." In a follow-up message, Bond wrote, "Ain't nothing like playing for your city every game. ... Can't wait to put on that TEMPLE uniform …"

Bond, who was not available for comment as of Friday afternoon, averaged 3.4 points and 4.6 rebounds per game at Texas this past season. He was recruited by Temple out of high school before choosing Pitt and then reopening his recruitment. After setting his sights on prep school, Texas had some room on its roster, and Longhorns coach Rick Barnes lured him to Austin.

Bond made a visit to Temple during the weekend of April 20. While sources familiar with Bond's recruitment told OwlScoop.com he was likely to end up on North Broad Street, Bond kept his options open and also made a trip to Penn State following his Temple visit.

How soon can Bond help Temple? If he is granted a hardship waiver by the NCAA, he would be eligible to play this season for a team that could certainly use the frontcourt help. The Owls have advanced to the last six NCAA Tournaments but graduate five players - forwards Scootie Randall, Rahlir Hollis-Jefferson and Jake O'Brien and guards Khalif Wyatt and TJ DiLeo - from a Temple team that fell a game shy of the Sweet Sixteen after losing to top-seeded Indiana in the third round of the tournament.

If Bond is not granted the waiver, he will have to sit out the upcoming 2013-14 campaign per NCAA rules governing transfers.

Bond, who averaged 19 points and 11 rebounds per game as a senior at Plymouth Whitemarsh, is the program's second-leading career scorer with 1,608 points.