Weekend Visitation: Two top-100 prospects set to decide
CBSSports.com
Eye on College Basketball
The season of commitments and campus visits got off to a hot start last weekend, as top-50 prospects Leron Black (Illinois) and Trevon Bluiett (UCLA) both pledged on their official visits. They weren't the only two players to make commitments either, as a host of targets made their decisions. This weekend is guaranteed to see at least two top-100 prospects announce their choice, while there are also some key visits taking place.
Abdul Malik Abu and Jared Terrell set to announce
This isn't a storyline about official visits, but it's the biggest talking point in the recruiting world heading into the weekend. AAU teammates Abdul Malik Abu and Jared Terrell have a press conference set for Saturday, in which they will announce their college destination. Abu is down to Florida, North Carolina State, Providence and Connecticut, while Terrell has Oklahoma State, Providence, Cincinnati and Rhode Island on his list. Abu took a couple of under-the-radar unofficial visits this week, to Florida on Tuesday and NC State on Thursday. Meanwhile, Terrell took an official visit to Rhode Island this week.
My 247Sports Crystal Ball pegged Abu for Florida back in July, while I have Rhode Island as the destination for Terrell. This one is going down to the wire. Florida and NC State are battling hard for Abu, and the Wolfpack might be the favorites heading into Saturday. For Terrell, Oklahoma State had the momentum before his Rhode Island visit.
Kevon Looney continues official visits with Duke
This could be the big weekend for Kevon Looney. Long thought to be a Duke lean, the top-10 prospect will take his official trip to Durham. He went to Florida last weekend, and the Gators might have made up some ground in Looney's recruitment. With that said, the Blue Devils are still out in front – for now. They offered Reid Travis earlier this week, and it remains to be seen if that's the plan B for Mike Krzyzewski. If Looney gets past this weekend without committing to the Blue Devils, expect Tennessee to make a big push. Michigan State and Wisconsin aren't going anywhere, either.
Ulis, Booker head to Michigan State and Kentucky
Michigan State has its alumni weekend this weekend, while Kentucky has its alumni game on Monday. Tyler Ulis and Devin Booker will be in attendance at each spot. Ulis visited Iowa last weekend, and the Spartans and Wildcats are the only other schools on his list. A decision is likely coming in the next couple of weeks -- and this weekend's trips could be major factors. Kentucky is gaining serious momentum since offering. As for Booker, he still has visits to Florida, Michigan and Missouri after these two. The Wildcats could be in the driver's seat for this one, too. One interesting thing to keep an eye on is family ties: Ulis' cousin, Travis Walton, played at Michigan State, while Booker's father played at Missouri.
USC looking to make move on McLaughlin
There aren't too many high-level point guards left on the board in the class of 2014, but one of them starts his visits this weekend. Jordan McLaughlin, out of Etiwanda (Calif.), will trip to in-state USC. The Trojans are one of his final four schools, along with Kansas, UCLA and Indiana. McLaughlin has plans to visit Kansas and UCLA in October, while he has not lined up a date for his Bloomington trip yet. If McLaughlin does stay on the West coast for school, USC could have the edge.
Okafor set for Kentucky -- without Jones
Jahlil Okafor and Tyus Jones have been discussed as a package deal for a very long time, but they will separate this weekend as Okafor is planning to attend Kentucky's alumni game on Monday. Jones will trip to Lexington at a separate time due to a scheduling conflict. If the two stick together, Duke is still likely the favorite. If they go their separate ways, though, anything can happen. Kentucky could try to crack some holes in the package deal while Okafor is on campus.
Notes:
-- After visiting UCLA last weekend, Quentin Snider is now headed to Illinois. The Fighting Illini made his final list, and are riding high after Leron Black's commitment last week.
-- Paul White will be on Miami's campus this weekend, as the Hurricanes begin their quest for a frontcourt prospect.
-- Namon Wright has been mostly off the radar since July, but he is heading to UTEP this weekend. The Miners have been working as hard as anyone.
-- After checking out Vanderbilt, Trey Kell is back on the West coast and will visit Gonzaga this weekend. Meanwhile, Vandy will host Riley LaChance and Michael Humphrey.
-- Other visitors: Elbert Robinson (Nebraska), Donte Grantham (Michigan), Michael Gilmore (Kansas State), Ben Lammers (Georgia Tech), Matthew Fisher-Davis (Georgia).
-- No. 1 junior Malik Newman will be on Mississippi State's campus this weekend for an unofficial, along with four-star junior Kevaughn Allen and commits Demetrius Houston and Joe Strugg.
-- Five-star juniors Charles Matthews and Derrick Jones are expected to join the aforementioned players at Kentucky's alumni game.
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