Okafor, Jones Set Visits; Okafor's Father Upset With Duke Rumors | Zagsblog
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Adam Zagoria covers basketball at all levels. He is the author of two books and an award-winning journalist whose articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Sports Illustrated, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide.
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Saturday / November 23.

Okafor, Jones Set Visits; Okafor’s Father Upset With Duke Rumors

Jahlil Okafor has slated five official visits, his father told ESPNChicago.com.

Some will occur with Tyus Jones, and some won’t.

According to the report, Okafor and Jones will trip to Baylor on Aug. 30, Kansas on Oct. 18 and Duke on Oct. 25.

The 6-foot-10 Okafor will go by himself to Kentucky on Sept. 9 [for the UK Alumni Game] and Arizona on Oct. 11.

He will make unofficial visits to Illinois, Michigan State and Ohio State.

Okafor and Jones have said they plan to play together in college, but Okafor’s father is upset with the widespread perception that they will land at Duke.

“It’s disappointing. It’s taking the fun out of the process for the two boys,” Okafor’s father, Chukwudi Okafor, told ESPNChicago.com. “That’s a shame. Let the kids go through the process. I just want them to enjoy it, not the media, not Twitter, not the coaches, not the AAU coaches. Those kids are highly intelligent. They know what to do. Let it play out, and I think the world is in for something special.”

“They’re going to make their decision. Everybody is saying they say this and they say that. It’s not fair to them. It’s not fair to the other schools. It’s not fair to Duke. They might want to go to Duke, but decide not to go there because everyone is saying that’s where they’re going. I’d hate for that to happen.”

Okafor could decide by November.

“If he’s comfortable with the decision and school, he’ll say it,” Chukwudi told the site. “He wants to know the school where he’s going as bad as everyone wants it. I want him to enjoy his senior year and move on to the next chapter.”

“Jahlil, he’s handled [the recruiting process] greatly. I think at this point he hasn’t learned to say no yet to calls from the media and coaches. That will come in time. As far as just the fact he has the stress of everyone wanting to guess where he’s going. It takes away from the process they’re going through. He hasn’t made a decision. He isn’t even close. There’s no way he’s close. He’s developing relationships with the coaches. He hasn’t been to a majority of the schools. Those things will play a large factor.”

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