Oak Hill point guard Quinn Cook will announce this week for either Duke or UCLA, according to Oak Hill head coach Steve Smith.
“He is close to making a commitment and I think he will probably do something middle or the end of the week,” Smith said Monday afternoon by phone.
He added: “I think he’s got his mind made up and he’s just not saying.”
The NCAA early signing period runs Nov. 10-17.
Smith said it would come down to Duke or UCLA and that North Carolina and Villanova were not real options.
“They [Carolina] were supposed to come tomorrow [Tuesday] and he’s made his mind up. He’s trying to keep it quiet,” Smith said. “I’m going to try to stop them from coming.
Smith added that Cook would not visit Carolina this coming weekend and that it was either Duke or UCLA, both of which have appeal.
“He feels he can go to UCLA right away and they basically told him, ‘We’re handing you the starting position,'” Smith said.
Yet Cook is a Maryland native and Duke is much closer to home.
“He’s from D.C.,” Smith said. “It’s a lot closer to his home. He’s really close to [Duke guard] Nolan Smith. They [Duke] have a lot going for them as well.”
Smith said there was still uncertainty about the future of Duke freshman point guard Kyrie Irving because of the potential NBA lockout next summer.
“At Duke he could start and Kyrie Irving could be gone or Kyrie Irving could still be there,” Smith said. “There could be a lockout. There are some variables there [at Duke] that aren’t at UCLA.”
Either way, Smith says it will come down to Duke or UCLA.
“I know it’s UCLA or Duke,” Smith said. “I don’t know which one.”
Follow Adam Zagoria on Twitter
thunderfunk14 / November 1, 2010
UCLA could be an intriguing choice for Quinn Cook. With Josh Smith, Tyler Lamb, Wear twins eligible, and possibly Honeycutt all back next season and Cook manning the point; They could rule Pac-10 once again.
/
Cat in the Desert / November 1, 2010
I hope he does go to UCLA so the conference won’t be as weak as a hole. I do believe if he chooses UCLA that they will rule it. Have you seen Zona’s 11′ recruiting class? With the current talent they have plus that class you can’t take them lightly. It would be great to have those fierce UCLA UA battles for the top spot in the conference again. It would really strenghten the conference if both those power houses were up again.
/
MrDogma / November 1, 2010
this has nothing to do with the PAC 10/12, even less to do with arizona, and everything to do with kabongo.
/
thunderfunk14 / November 1, 2010
So your thinking is Cook’ pick is Duke and deciding soon indicates that he’s trying to sneak it in before the Duke staff can get involved with Kabongo?
/
LS / November 1, 2010
Thundefunk14:
Duke has been involved with Kabongo through back channels for a while, which is why they’ve been putting Cook on hold. Cook wanted to verbal a month ago.
Cook will be committing to UCLA before Kabongo verbals to Duke essentially to save face. The kid was given a harsh dose of recruiting reality, but UCLA as a fallback option is pretty damn good.
/