InsideMDSports: Carter readying for trips
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The recruitment of prized power forward Robert Carter of Shiloh High in Snellville, Ga. – one of the top prospects on Maryland's recruiting board – is about to hit the homestretch.
Carter, a 6-foot-9, 240-pound power forward ranked No. 30 in the Class of 2012, is about to embark upon a series of official visits that will go a long way in determining his college destination. Carter will visit Georgia this weekend, and will set up a visit to Maryland in the next day or two, said Winfred Jordan, director of the Atlanta Xpress basketball program for which Carter plays.
“I think he’s going to talk to the Maryland coaches [this week about a visit date],” Jordan said. “They were here last week, or it may have been the week before.”
Terps assistant Bino Ranson has been the point man in Maryland’s recruitment of Carter, an exceptionally skilled big man who has a top five of Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Georgia Tech and Maryland.
“I’ve talked to [Maryland’s coaches about Carter]. We’ve talked about [how] he’s probably the most skilled four-man in the country," Jordan said. "They talked all about Maryland’s history, which, being a basketball guy, was exciting for us. They showed us video of some of the players who’ve gone on to the NBA and talked about the national championship. They’ve been one of the top 10 basketball programs in the history of the NCAA. Not everybody can say that. Maryland has great tradition."
Carter, Jordan said, is an analytical young man who’s spent a lot of time evaluating each of the programs he’s considering. Armed with that knowledge, he’ll visit all five schools in order to get a feel for the intangibles.
“He wants to get a feel for the coaches, the campuses and the teammates," Jordan said. "He wants to put himself in the right situation. He’s a very patient young man and he’s looking at it as a once-in-a-lifetime decision."
There’s been talk that Carter will be difficult to lure from the South, which is true to some extent, according to Jordan.
“He’s extremely close to his parents. He’s the youngest child of, I think, nine children and there’s a big gap; I think the next-youngest is 30,” he said. “I think that is a factor, but the kid is very mature and knows he may have to sacrifice if there’s a better situation for him.”
Carter will take his official visits in short order and make a November decision, Jordan said. Stay tuned …
-- Story by Jeff Ermann
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Comments
So what do you think our chances really are. He would make this class one to remember but do we have realistic shot?
Posted by: Bruce | October 12, 2011 3:26 PM
Matt
Thanks for update - Carter would be a terrific 'Get'. Often wonder about recruiting logistics. For example, do U think there have been some 'accepts' from recruits but we hold off for higher rated player?? For Carter or another recruit, is there a chance 1 of his preferred schools could accept another recruit & thus fill up. Any chance we'd fill up before a Carter, Jefferson etc commits??
An article on HOW recruiting works would I expect be of interest to your readers.
Any event, great job & thanks!
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Don I: It's definitely a delicate process in prioritizing recruits. Many offers go out, but there's often a question of whether or not an offer is "committable." Mitch McGary, for example, could commit whenever he wanted. But that might not be the case for every big guy who has been offered. But I think Carter is definitely a guy they really want. He'd be a really good get. And I don't think Maryland is in danger of filling up at this point. They've got a few spots to work with. -- Matt
Posted by: Don I | October 12, 2011 6:41 PM
Thanks Matt, nice work.
Posted by: OrioleFan | October 15, 2011 2:56 PM