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BARTOW, Fla. – Coming off of API’s 73-72 overtime win over Victory Rock Prep at the Mosaic Shootout on Saturday, Billy Preston spoke briefly about his recent unofficial visit to Arizona.
“It was a great visit,” the 6-foot-10 power forward said. “Coach Sean (Miller) and Coach Book (Richardson), they’re great. I know most of the players on the team, so it was good. The campus is beautiful, especially the McKale Center. It’s the best I’ve seen so far.”
Arizona has been a consistent presence in Preston’s recruitment, dating all the way back to the live periods in July.
“After this year, I think a lot of schools will start to press hard,” Preston said in a previous interview with SNY.tv. “Arizona is showing a lot of interest, but besides that, everyone is about the same.”
The No. 6 ranked player in the class of 2017 by 247 Sports, Preston insists that no schools are working the hardest right now and that all schools are on an even playing field.
Still, he will be focusing on cutting his list down relatively soon.
“They’re all the same right now,” Preston said. “I will probably cut my list in the beginning of March. Just go play hard this summer, knock out my senior year and head off to college.”
As for what’s next with Preston, he says he is looking to take visits to the schools that are working hard, with two schools in particular.
“I’m not sure right now,” Preston said. “I want to take an official visit to Kansas. I already went on an unofficial there with Terrance (Ferguson), but I want to go on an official. I want to take an official to Arizona. I just want to take all of my officials to see what it’s like.”
Preston says that playing alongside top 2017 point guard Trevon Duval, Ferguson, the Alabama commit, Baylor signee Mark Vital and Cincinnati signee Nysier Brooks has been a great move in the long run.
“Yeah, I knew that it was going to help my stock rise going into the summer, and that’s really it, I knew that I was coming to a good situation no doubt,” Preston said.
Preston currently holds offers from Arizona, Kansas, Maryland, SMU, UCLA, Arizona State, Baylor, Connecticut, Oregon, Texas, Utah and USC.