North Carolina will host some pretty heavy hitters beginning today (Friday) when Andrew Wiggins and Rashad Vaughn arrive for Saturday’s nationally televised game with arch-rival Duke.
“I’m definitely looking forward to visiting that weekend,” the 6-foot-8 Wiggins told SNY.tv exclusively recently. “It’s a great rivalry and two great schools.”
This will be the last official visit for Wiggins, the No. 1 prospect in the Class of 2013 and projected No. 1 pick in the 2014 NBA Draft.
He and his parents, former NBA player Mitchell Wiggins and former Canadian Olympic track star Marita Payne-Wiggins, have already taken officials to Florida State, Kentucky and Kansas, and is expected to decide at some point after the Carolina visit.
“I haven’t found it yet, so I am just waiting for that moment that will convince me it’s the right place,” Wiggins told SNY.tv.
Following the Carolina visit, Wiggins and his Huntington Prep teammates may or may not be invited to the ESPN National High School Invitational set for early April at Georgetown Prep.
Other than that, he will play in the McDonald’s All-American Game April 3 at Chicago’s United Center and in the Jordan Brand Classic April 13 at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center.
Huntington coach Rob Fulford told SNY.tv the McDonald’s folks have inquired about having Wiggins announce at the game, but no commitment was made.
It’s entirely possible the low-key Wiggins will just Tweet out his commitment when he’s ready to avoid the fanfare.
“I’m looking forward to it no doubt,” Wiggins said of making a decision. “A lot of pressure will be lifted off of my shoulders.”
As for the 6-5 Vaughn, the 2014 Robbinsdale (MN) Cooper shooting guard received an offer last month from North Carolina head man Roy Williams.
“We’re just going down there to watch the game, look at the campus and get to know some of the coaches,” Pete Kaffey, Vaughn’s assistant coach, told SNY.tv Friday.
Kaffey said Vaughn and Wiggins know one another from the AAU circuit but aren’t especially close.
“He knows Andrew,” he said. “I don’t know if they’re going to hang out.”
Vaughn has a slew of high-major offers, including Kansas, Kentucky, Florida, Louisville, Syracuse, Connecticut, Texas, Georgetown, Minnesota, Iowa State, Baylor, Tennessee and others.
Minnesota head coach Tubby Smith and Kansas assistant Joe Dooley were among those on hand Thursday to watch Vaughn go for 28 points and 12 rebounds in a 78-67 win over Maple Grove in the Minnesota Class 4A, Section 5 quarterfinals.
Vaughn and his team next play Tuesday in the sectional semifinals, and no other visits are currently planned.
“I don’t think so,” Kaffey said. “We gotta focus because we have a good chance of winning the states.”
North Carolina 2013 commits Nate Britt, Isaiah Hicks and Kennedy Meeks, 2014 commit Justin Jackson and uncommitted 2014 wing Theo Pinson are also expected to visit, according to Scout.com.
**For more stories on Andrew Wiggins, click here.
Photo: Toronto Sun
