2018 Warner Robins (GA) wing Nelson Phillips was the most impressive player we saw at our HoopSeen events this travel season. Throughout the live periods, one school stayed constant in their pursuit of the top-150 prospect: Georgia State.

Friday morning, Phillips turned down scholarship offers from Iowa State, Mississippi State, and UAB to remain in-state, as he made his pledge to Ron Hunter and the Georgia State program.

"I chose Georgia State because I really felt like they were family," Phillips told HoopSeen.com. "I'm trying to make it out of my area and do something big. You don't have to go real far away or to a big school to make it like that. If you have the talent and work ethic, then you can make it wherever you go."

Throughout the live periods, Hunter and assistant coach Sharman White followed Phillips and the Warner Robins All-Stars closely. The Atlanta Jam? White was there early and often to see his top target. Best of the South? Hunter brought his entire staff to see the in-state priority.

In the end, Georgia State's persistence and early relationships paid off and allowed the Panthers to beat out a couple of high-major programs.

Phillips, a 6-foot-4 wing man, is one of the most competitive players in the country - period. He showed that throughout the travel season, and, in turn, made a national name for himself. Phillips takes pride in individual matchups on the floor and does a little bit of everything on the floor. Scoring, rebounding, defending, passing - he does it all. And that's why he's going to be so valuable for Georgia State.

Georgia State is getting an alpha dog mentality in Phillips. They've also made a point on the recruiting trail over the last few weeks. A few years ago, Hunter and his staff made their mark by landing key high-major transfers and winning with them at the mid-major level. Now, the Panthers are beating out high-major programs for high school kids. That's not a good sign for mid-major programs in the South, in particular those in the Sun Belt. 

Phillips joins fellow Georgia native Kavonte Ivery in the Panthers' 2018 recruiting cycle. Georgia State remains in the hunt for top-100 wing Landers Nolley, too, and they are in better position than many think.