GALLOWAY, N.J. — Among the coaches on hand Friday to watch the Team Takeover 16s win the “Live in AC” event were West Virginia’s Bob Huggins, Providence’s Ed Cooley and Maryland’s Mark Turgeon, as well as assistants from Villanova, Pittsburgh, Temple, Rutgers, Penn State and others.
The Takeover 16s are loaded with talent, including 6-foot-3 Baltimore Mount St. Joseph shooting guard Phil Booth.
“I definitely see them in the gym, it’s a big thing [when] big-time coaches like that come to see us play so that means a lot to us,” Booth told SNY.tv.
Booth said he hasn’t narrowed down a list but he holds offers from Indiana, Georgetown, Maryland, Villanova, St. Joe’s, South Florida, Seton Hall, Xavier and Rutgers.
He has specific ties to at least three schools — Indiana, Villanova and SMU.
Asked about upcoming visits, he said, “Oh yeah, I’m going to take some soon. Indiana probably in August or October coming up real soon.”
As noted in this earlier story, Indiana assistant Kenny Johnson is a former Takeover coach who is now drawing talent to the Hoosiers, including incoming freshman Stanford Robinson.
“Coach Johnson just got the job there,” Booth said. “He’s a former Takeover [coach] so that kind of caught my attention. He’s a good guy so Indiana is like a target for us.”
Booth said his Takeover teammate, 6-4 shooting guard Dion Wiley, is also considering Indiana.
“Indiana is probably going to be a good look for him,” he said.
Of course, with Takeover 16s coach Doug Martin headed to Villanova, that is also an appealing option for both players.
“Coach Martin’s move to Villanova will impact my recruitment considering he has coached me these past two years and knowing he is a Takeover guy, that means something,” Booth told Alex Kline of Rivals.com.
Booth also mentioned a tie to SMU head coach Larry Brown.
“Probably so,” he told Kline, “considering my dad is from Philly and we are big fans of Larry Brown.”
