By JACOB POLACHECK
After a standout performance at the Nike EYBL Session in Kansas City, four-star forward TJ Power has become one of the biggest names in the recruiting world and is getting closer to taking visits.
Power, the 6-foot-8, 210-pound power forward from Worcester (MA) Academy and the Team BABC AAU Program, averaged 23.7 points and 8.0 rebounds per game on 42.2 percent shooting during the Nike EYBL IV Session in Kansas City, earning offensive MVP honors.
“Luckily, my shots were falling, so I ended up with some good performances,” he said. “I just want to build off of that as the summer comes to an end and finish strong down there. I think it’s just a testament to how hard I’ve been working this summer, so it feels good to see that play out in the session.”
Since that performance, Power has picked up offers from Kansas, UCLA, North Carolina and Duke. He broke down each program for ZAGSBLOG:
Kansas: “Obviously, they’re the defending national champions. Coach (Bill) Self has really carried that program to the height of college basketball as far as winning, going deep in the tournament and producing pros. That’s everything that a college basketball player wants and he provides it. It’s still early on in our relationship, but from our talks, I already like where things are headed. The play style fits. They had guys like Christian Braun who played with a lot of energy, can score at a high rate and he had a lot of success there. I think there’s a mold there that I could fit into.”
UCLA: “They have a beautiful campus in a beautiful area. It’s the same thing. With Coach (Mick) Cronin, the team makes runs every year. The way they play really fits me. They play with four guards and one big. Everyone can do a lot of different things on the floor and are interchangeable. It makes it fun to play that way. I’ve really liked our conversations so far. They really stress player development a lot and have sent me a lot of stuff on how they get better out there. It’s going to be one that I look hard into.”
North Carolina: “That was a really exciting offer for me and my family. I have a lot of UNC fans in my extended family. I have family who lives down there in North Carolina. My talk with Coach (Hubert) Davis was great. He was really easy to talk to and for a first-year coach to make it to the NCAA Championship is something that’s really intriguing for a young recruit. They’ve had wings who can really score like Brady Manek, even though we’re a little bit different. It’s really the freedom that the players play with and how fast they play that I think would fit me really well.”
Duke: “Coach (Jon) Scheyer is really young and relatable. I’ve enjoyed our talks so far. The thing that he’s stressed for me is being a core player who can win a lot of games at Duke and be interchangeable at any lineup there. Obviously, they’re going to have a lot of recruits coming in, so there’s going to be an opportunity to win a national championship there. To be a part of the brotherhood there would be really cool and something special.”
Outside of his four recent offers, Power said he continues to be recruited by Virginia, Notre Dame, Iowa and Providence. He broke down each school:
Virginia: “Coach (Tony) Bennett and I have a great relationship. They play really disciplined and win a lot of games. The biggest thing for me when I took a visit there was the player development that they have. They’re super detailed and they get a lot better. That is something that is really important to me. For me to step in there and improve over my years there, that would be a good place for me too.”
Notre Dame: “They play with a lot of freedom. Offensively, they’re pretty vibrant in what they do as far as using different players and setting people up and putting them in good spots. I visited out there and really liked it. All the schools I’m looking at are great academic schools, so I want to be able to set myself up for after basketball. Notre Dame does that as well as anyone. Coach (Mike) Brey and I have talked a lot and have a good relationship.”
Iowa: “Coach Fran McCaffery has probably been recruiting me the longest out of any coach, so we have an unbelievable relationship. They’ve produced a lot of pros in the last couple years. He’s stressed that I could be the next in line. The way they play really fits me as far as scoring wings who have the ball in their hands a lot and can do a lot of things on the floor. That’s definitely what I’m going to look at.”
Providence: “Coach (Ed) Cooley is a super cool dude. I’m enjoying my time going down there and watching their practices. They’re coming off a great year last year in the Big East. They have a loaded team this year, so that school is going in a good direction. It would be cool to stay close to home and ball out down there.”
Power took an official visit to Iowa last fall and has taken official visits to Virginia and Notre Dame this summer.
As far as a timetable, Power said he’s looking to plan more visits after Peach Jam and wants to make a decision in the fall before the start of the high school season, aiming for late-September or early-October.
“The main thing for me is academics. That’s on the school side,” he said. “On the basketball side, there are a few things. I would say my relationship with the coach, being able to have trust and play with confidence because of our relationship.
“Then, I would say play style and being able to be in a position to score, be versatile and make plays. Player development is a big thing for me. Who am I going to be in the gym with every day and what’s their philosophy with that? I want a place that wins. I want to play on the biggest stage, so that will be something that guides me in this decision.”
Power, a two-sport athlete, is also considering playing both basketball and baseball at the college level.
“Basketball is going to drive the bus for wherever I go, but I have the ability to play baseball at the college level,” he said. “Wherever I end up, I think it’ll be cool to try baseball, at least have the opportunity to try it. If it’s too time consuming, I can always stick with basketball. Most schools I talk to have said I can play baseball as well, at least the schools I’ve talked to for a while. With the newer schools, we haven’t really gone into detail about things yet.
“For the baseball team, at least, it’s kind of like getting a free pitcher in the sense that it’s a basketball scholarship. I think most schools would be open to the possibility of giving me the opportunity to be on a roster.”
Ranked by 247Sports Composite as the No. 13 power forward and No. 65 overall prospect in the class of 2023, Power describes himself as a “versatile wing who can shoot, pass and dribble.”
“I bring a lot to the table offensively as far as making plays for others,” he said. “I think passing is honestly the best part of my game, but my shot is coming along as well. I’m someone who can really distribute and make shots. Mentally, my motor is another big characteristic. I play really hard and I don’t come out of these games. Once that ball tips, I’m all go for the entirety of the game.”
Photo: DFritz Photos
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