Shaddix {l Wrote}:31southst {l Wrote}:Shaddix {l Wrote}:BC really doesn't face any competition for him. Seton Hall hasn't offered. Seton and Miami are trailing him as of now
We face the competition of a prep year and we just might lose.
He's leaning towards BC, but yes that is our strongest competition. Actually I'm sorry... Seton Hall HAS offered and Miami hasn't. Heard something about Utah recruiting him as well
Shaddix {l Wrote}:Kanter and Reynolds will both decide in April btw. My big men rankings are probably 1. Reynolds 2. Kelly 3. Kanter
I just found something rather intriguing -- a recent feature article/interview about Kelly in a hometown paper. According to Kelly, he nearly gave a verbal commitment when he visited BC, but held back because he wants to be sure that he's thoroughly considered his options -- and that's fine by me, because it shows that the kid has his head screwed on the right way. He also repeated something
very interesting that the BC coaches told him during his visit: that they're recruiting Owens and him because they want to change the team mentality, specifically that they want them to bring in greater mental toughness and a harder-nosed approach to the game. Telling this to a public journal will not win Kelly any points for discretion or tact, but it certainly is informative. (It's worth pointing out that Reynolds, who plays with the same blue-collar attitude, will fit into this plan just as easily.)
There was also information about Utah's pursuit of Kelly. He said that Utah has been working on him very hard for an official visit, and indicated that he would probably make one. It's easy to see why they haven't offered yet; they want to know he's interested enough to make a visit, and then they can package the offer with the visit. All this suggests that we might yet have more competition than expected, although, unless you're crazy about mountain and desert landscapes, or else a ski nut (which he wouldn't have time for, anyway), Chestnut Hill
has to look better than Provo.
The article also mentioned that Kelly is still 17 (or maybe just turned 18 by now), and has been regularly going up against players 2 and even 3 years older. On the one hand, this shows that he's well prepared; on the other, it gives him another possible reason to prep for another year. This has a special wrinkle to it because Kelly stated that a few programs (Georgia and South Carolina were among the names mentioned) have given him verbal assurance that they'll offer him for 2014 if he stays in prep school. Kelly's recruitment seems to have all kinds of possible twists and turns.
Of course, there's still the alternative possibility of Reynolds, who has the basic essentials -- rebounding and defense -- and might very well be the better choice, seeing that he's already a PG.