Visitors of the Weekend: Clemson, Georgia State & Eastern Kentucky try to keep in-state prospects home
This weekend, our list focuses on a handful of college programs that are fighting to keep some of the best in-state talent within the schools’ respective borders.
CHRISTIAN BROWN TO CLEMSON
The 2019 class in South Carolina is one of the best classes in recent memory, and, as expected, both Clemson and South Carolina are trying to keep the in-state talent at home. The Tigers have the first shot with Christian Brown this weekend, as the No. 39 overall prospect will make the short trip to campus for his first official visit.
Clemson head coach Brad Brownell and his staff have prioritized Brown up until this point and find themselves right in the mix. The Columbia (SC) Lower Richland wing man has become notorious for his motor and matchup problems on the floor. At 6-foot-6, he brings intensity and a well-rounded game that makes an impact each time out.
Following a Sweet Sixteen appearance last season and already having a commitment from 2019 guard Chase Hunter, Clemson is on a roll. A productive visit and potential commitment from Brown would be the latest taste of success for the Tigers.
LUKE ANDERSON TO IOWA STATE
Iowa State was the first high-major program to start recruiting 2019 Lakeland (FL) forward Luke Anderson following the Nike Elite 100 camp last summer and it looks like the persistency has paid off to this point for the Cyclones. They get first dibs this weekend with Anderson on campus.
Anderson, a skilled 6-foot-7 combo forward, has also scheduled official visits to Georgia and Minnesota, but it sounds like Steve Prohm and his staff have done a nice job and have put themselves in the forefront heading into official visit season. It’s also good news for the Cyclones, as they are in need of a shot-making forward. The Florida native definitely fits the bill, and, with some family already residing in the state of Iowa, it seems like an intriguing option from the outside looking in.
DEVIN BUTTS TO GEORGIA STATE
It’s no secret about Devin Butts’ success this spring in summer, especially at our HoopSeen events. The 6-foot-5 guard shot himself into many scholarship opportunities this season and was even one of Tai Young’s top five stock risers from the travel season.
From practically zero offers to high-major opportunities, one school has been a constant throughout the recruiting process: Georgia State.
Head coach Ron Hunter followed him closely during April at the Atlanta Jam, and then he was present at one of the final games at this year’s Best of the South. That game included Team Georgia Magic and Butts, of course.
Butts, a standout from Macon (GA) Stratford Academy, is just the latest in-state prospect that Hunter and his staff have zeroed in on. The Panthers have had overwhelming success with Georgia kids in recent years, most notably D’Marcus Simmonds, who is expected to be one of the favorites to contend for Sun Belt Player of the Year and then be drafted in the 2019 NBA Draft.
Things won’t be easy for Georgia State, though. Butts has a budding recruitment that has the Panthers up against a handful of high-major programs. The sharpshooter has plans to also see Mississippi State, South Florida, and Wichita State, but Georgia State is hoping to land an early commitment this weekend.
MICHAEL MORENO TO EASTERN KENTUCKY
First-year head coach A.W. Hamilton hasn’t had a chance to make an impact on the floor for Eastern Kentucky quite yet, but that doesn’t mean the budding star hasn’t been working to put the Colonels on the map. Hamilton and his staff have done a good job to this point and have made some leaps in the state of Kentucky, but this weekend could potentially set the program up for success for the next four or five years.
The Colonels will host 2019 Georgetown (KY) Scott County forward Michael Moreno for an official visit this weekend. The skilled, 6-foot-6 forward is one of the top priorities for Hamilton, who also was a standout at Scott County High School in the late 90’s.
Moreno has led Scott County throughout his high school career and will go down as one of the best players to emerge from the Bluegrass. With eye-popping high school stats centered around points and rebounds, Hamilton and his staff see Moreno as an instant-impact guy in the Ohio Valley Conference. Moreover, Moreno could ultimately develop into an all-league type guy at that level.
Can the Colonels land him? It will be tough, as Moreno is entertaining a variety of schools that span from Richmond to Winthrop.
