By ADAM ZAGORIA
GLEN HEAD, N.Y. — A slew of college coaches came out to Long Island Lutheran on Tuesday afternoon to watch 2020 power forward Zed Key and 2020 point guard Andre Curbelo.
Marquette’s entire staff including head coach Steve Wojciechowski met with Key Tuesday, as did Florida coach Mike White and his staff. Illinois head coach Brad Underwood and two assistants were on hand. St. John’s head coach Mike Anderson and assistant Van Macon and Rutgers assistant Steve Hayn were also at the open gym.
“It’s just a blessing to see just them watching me and Andre and a couple other kids on the team,” the 6-foot-8, 215-pound Key said. “Just to see where all the hard work we put in starts paying off now. High D-1 coaches are in attendance at every open gym.”
2020 @ZedBasketball14 of @LuHiBasketball
— Adam Zagoria (@AdamZagoria) September 10, 2019
will take officials to Marquette 9/21 And Florida 9/28. Just visited Ohio State and has 2 more. Story coming. pic.twitter.com/HqFwyUmmoS
Key, who helped lead Long Island Lutheran to a New York State Federation Class AA title last season, is narrowing down his list of schools and closing in on a decision this fall.
Key took an official visit to Ohio State this past weekend and will take officials to Marquette (Sept. 21) and Florida (Sept. 28). He will have two officials remaining and may take some unofficials as well.
As for the Ohio State visit, he said, “It was a really good visit. When I think about Ohio State, I think about a huge spread-out campus, it’s not like that. Everything’s right in the center of campus that you need. All the classes are right there. It’s a really nice campus.
“[Their message] was that nothing’s promised and just to work. Me playing the four spot, they’re expecting a couple people at my position to go to the NBA. So just come in, work hard and be ready to play.” Junior forward Kaleb Wesson could go pro after next season.
2020 @ZedBasketball14 of @LuHiBasketball
— Adam Zagoria (@AdamZagoria) September 10, 2019
will take officials to Marquette 9/21 And Florida 9/28. Just visited Ohio State and has 2 more. Story coming. pic.twitter.com/HqFwyUmmoS
Key met Tuesday with the whole Marquette staff.
“They were just talking about the campus and how would I fit in as a player,” he said. “They were talking about my character and how it would fit in right with the team. They talked about the basketball resources of the program. “
Key speaks regularly with Marquette assistant Dwayne Killings.
“Yes, we talk about the campus, we’re just building a relationship,” he said.
Marquette is also among the final four for Archbishop Stepinac point guard R.J. Davis, who had a home visit with the staff Tuesday night. Key and Davis are friendly.
“Yes, that’s my bro,” Key said. “We haven’t talked about [playing together], we just talk about basketball.”
Key also met Tuesday with Florida’s White and the staff ahead of his official there.
“We were talking about the same thing, character and how my character would fit into the team,” he said. “Just talked about my visit and what they have to offer me academically as well.”
Illinois is also strongly in play for both Key and Curbelo, but Key has yet to set up an official there.
“I got three
Key has also visited St. John’s unofficially.
“They’re going to have a really good team this year,” he said. “And they like the way I play as a post-presence and to be able to shoot the mid-range and the three-pointer. So just be who I am and I’ll fit in with the team really well.”
Rutgers, St. John’s, Providence and Illinois remain in the mix for the other two official visits, although he could take
“I just got to sit down with my family and see which one I really want to visit,” he said.
As for Rutgers, Key is impressed with the new RWJBarnabas Health Athletic Performance Center which houses a practice court and the new basketball facilities.
“They have no fours in my class, they just had somebody commit who’s like a five [Dean Reiber] but everyone’s leaving, everyone’s a senior, so I’ll come in and play right away,” he said. “And then also the coaching staff, the new practice gym, it’s exclusive.”
Key models himself after a mix of Tobias Harris and Joel Embiid “just to be able to handle the ball, and pick-and-pop
“He’s just worked so hard on his body this offseason,” LuHi coach John Buck said. “He’s come such a long way in six months that if he keeps working at it, there’s a reason why so many high-major kids are now on him after this summer. I think he can play with anyone in the country if he continues to work.”
Key hopes to decide by this fall.
“Yes, yes, I’ll sit down with my parents, see what they have to say and figure out which college fits me the best,” he said.
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