The summer ahead promises to be a big one for Markis McDuffie.
A 6-foot-7, 186-pound small forward from St. Anthony and the Sports U AAU program, McDuffie is poised to pick up more offers in the coming weeks and months. He recently added offers from Penn State and Duquesne to go with Seton Hall, Boston College, Fordham, Buffalo and Quinnipiac.
SMU, VCU, Creighton, Florida, Florida State, St. Joe’s, Stanford and Princeton are just some of the programs currently reaching out to McDuffie, who will be at the Providence Jam Fest this weekend with Sports U.
“I want to show people I can handle the ball more,” he said. “I can dribble, I can get other guys shots. I can score, not just shoot. And most important, I can play defense.”
SMU coach Larry Brown is making recruiting forays into New Jersey and is recruiting McDuffie, along with 2016 guard Tyus Battle of Gill St. Bernard’s and 2015 forward Chris Silva of Roselle Catholic.
“I’m hearing from SMU a lot, Larry Brown” McDuffie told SNY.tv. “He tells me he really likes Coach [Bob] Hurley and he told me he needed a wing forward in the Class of 2015 and he thinks I’m the person to be a part of his program.
“They’re showing interest right now, he said he can’t wait to see me play in July, though. That’s really great. He calls and texts me now and then.”
McDuffie said he’s also developing a relationship with VCU head coach Shaka Smart and Creighton assistant Pat Sellers. He said he’s also waiting to hear from St. Joe’s coach Phil Martelli.
Derek McDuffie, Markis’ father, says he also hears from Seton Hall associate head coach Shaheen Holloway.
Photo: Tug Haines, COBL.com
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