Udoka Azubuike, a 6-foot-10 center from Jacksonville (FL) Potter’s House Christian, enjoyed his official visit to Kansas this past weekend and also had a home visit Tuesday with Florida coach Mike White.
Azubuike is the No. 3 center in the Class of 2016, according to 247Sports.com.
“[The Kansas visit] actually went well. We definitely enjoyed the visit, we definitely enjoyed the atmosphere their campus provided,” Harry Coxsome, Azubuike’s brother, told SNY.tv. “We definitely felt good about it.”
Kansas obviously has a long tradition of producing NBA-quality big men, and that was the message head coach Bill Self and assistant Norm Roberts conveyed to the family.
“It was pretty much their system, how they would use Udoka, they would get him the ball,” his brother said. “They play an inside/out game and he would be the focal point of their offense.”
Azubuike has no other visits planned but did meet with Florida’s White on Tuesday.
“We just had University of Florida leave, we did a home visit today,” Coxsome said. “We like the intensity that Coach White and his staff brings. They are a new staff at a big school and Udoka would be the first big name that he probably will get if possible. That’s definitely something to look at, too.”
He added: “We’ve taken numerous visits to Florida. We are thinking about taking another one, we just haven’t decided when yet.”
SELF MEETS WITH TRAE YOUNG
In other Kansas news, head coach Bill Self met Tuesday with Trae Young, a 6-foot-1 2017 point guard from Norman (OK) North.
“We liked that he had a plan for Trae if he went there,” Rayford Young, the player’s father, said. “He recognizes TRae’s ability to play on and off the ball with his shooting and passing ability.”
Young will also have in-school visits with Kentucky, Texas, Arizona, TCU, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State in the next two weeks, his dad said.
KEGLER TO VISIT BAYLOR
Mario Kegler, a 6-7 small forward from Oak Hill Academy (VA), will take an official visit to Baylor this weekend following a trip to Arizona State last weekend, his guardian told SNY.tv.
He was initially slated to visit Penn State this weekend but that visit was cancelled after the Lions landed wing Lamar Stevens.
Kegler also has visits planned for Maryland, Indiana and possibly Mississippi State.
NO WORD YET ON PONDS
There are rumblings out of Brooklyn Thomas Jefferson that Shamorie Ponds could make his college announcement on Friday, but his father said Tuesday there was “nothing new” on a decision or announcement.
The 6-foot-1 Ponds cancelled a visit to Minnesota for last weekend and will decide between St. John’s, Providence and Creighton.
Ponds would be the first 2016 pledge for new Red Storm head coach Chris Mullin should he opt to stay home.
“[Ponds] believes in Mullin, and what Mullin can do for him and his career,” Jefferson coach Lawrence Pollard told the New York Post. “They’re both from Brooklyn, both lefty. He looks up to Mullin.”
SYRACUSE OFFERS DIALLO
Syracuse became the latest school to offer 6-4 2017 guard Hamidou Diallo of Putnam Science Academy (CT) on Tuesday. Diallo also holds offers from SMU, Alabama, Kansas, Florida, Villanova, Maryland, Louisville, N.C. State, Indiana, Seton Hall, VCU, Iowa State, Minnesota, Providence and UConn, among others.
FREE THROWS
2016 Motlow State CC (TN) guard Jaylen Barford has committed to Arkansas, according to Brad Winton…N.C. State will have a school visit Wednesday with 7-1 2017 center Zach Brown of Miami Beach High….UNLV assistant Ryan Miller met Monday with Word of God (N.C.) Academy guard Rawle Alkins…Indiana assistant Chuck Martin saw 2017 St. Raymond’s wing Sid Wilson on Monday. On Tuesday, he saw 2017 Putnam Science (CT) guard Hamidou Diallo and Brewster’s Taurean Thompson and Alpha Diallo. On Wednesday, he will see St. Patrick’s 2017 forward Nick Richards…LSU offered 2017 Team Loaded point guard Blake Harris….Minnesota is the latest to offer 6-1 combo guard Jamir Harris of St. Patrick’s. He also holds offers from Seton Hall, Creighton, USC and Alabama.
