By JACK LeGWIN & ADAM ZAGORIA
Huntington (W.V.) Prep point guard Josh Perkins has shifted his college announcement date to Aug. 24 from Aug. 25 and will announce near his home in Colorado, his father told NextCats.com.
“The favorites are still the same,” Randy Perkins told SNY.tv on Monday.
“Its still Gonzaga, UCLA, Minnesota for Josh, and UConn is a favorite as well. We’re just trying to coordinate the visit and all, and it’s just getting really close to crunch time, because Josh is still sticking to his date. If he didn’t have a date, it wouldn’t be such a rush to get this visit in.”
Josh Perkins just recently arrived at Huntington Prep and has yet to visit UConn.
UConn, meantime, has already set up a visit with former Louisville commit Quentin Snider for Sept. 20.
Randy Perkins said UCLA was interested in getting Josh back on campus for another visit.
“UCLA wants us out there again, but it’s really not necessary to go out there again,” Randy Perkins told NextCats. “We knew (Steve Alford) and the coaching staff from New Mexico. There’s nothing more we can really learn, but they want to try and close it.”
Gonzaga and Minnesota, meantime, have worked extremely hard on landing Perkins to run the point.
“Obviously, [Richard] Pitino is putting the fullcourt press on,” Randy told SNY.tv previously.
He added: “Gonzaga has been there from day one. There’s something to be said for being there from day one. When Josh is interviewed the first thing out of his mouth is he wants a coach to be there both on and off the court for him. For that, Gonzaga rates really high.”
Kentucky has yet to offer Perkins and obviously won’t be the choice without one.
“They’re only in the mix if an offer comes,” Randy Perkins told NextCats. “That’s not to put pressure on anybody. But you can’t entertain a school if there’s no offer there. They could call a million times, but if they don’t make an offer… you know.”
Meantime, Perkins will team up at Huntington Prep on a loaded squad that includes Providence commit Jalen Lindsey, Louisville commit JaQuan Lyle and uncommitted forward Angel Delgado.
“That coach [Rob Fulford] is incredible, he really is,” Randy Perkins told SNY.tv. “He has made Josh feel real welcome, and I am completely comfortable with him being under Coach Fulford’s supervision.”
He added: “He wants to get better at the point guard position, and playing with guys who have the same dream, same drive, same mission. It is going to help the team, and make them all better.”
