UCLA eyeing 2013 Kentucky point guard
Larry Drew II is set to graduate, and there's no guarantee Kyle Anderson makes it back to Westwood for his sophomore year, so UCLA assistant coach Korey McCray hit the road this week searching for a viable 2013 point guard.
On his stop in Hazard, Ky., this week, he may very well have found one.
Advertisement
McCray spent some time at Cordia High School in Kentucky to check in on 2013 point guard Emmanuel Owootoah, and the Bruins could be close to offering after the visit.
McCray sat in on the 5-foot-10, 155-pound PG's game Tuesday night, and while he only played one half because of a sore ankle and an inferior opponent, he recorded a double-double with points and assists in just two quarters, his coaches said.
"He could have scored 50 points," Cordia coach and former NBA player Rodrick Rhodes said.
McCray left at halftime, and gave a thumbs up on the way out, Rhodes said.
Now all Owootoah can do is wait to see what UCLA decides to do.
The Bruins are supposed to drop in on 2013 Dallas (Texas) God's Academy point guard Trey Dickerson this month, and if things fall through with five-star PG Rysheed Jordan, it looks like the Bruins PG recruiting efforts could come down to Owootoah and Dickerson.
If Rhodes had things his way, Owootoah would certainly be the right pick.
"I think Emmanuel is the perfect fit for UCLA," Rhodes said. "I think whatever program is fortunate enough to get this kid, he's going to instantly make them a better team.
"I think he has unbelievable court vision; his handle, he has the ball on a string, and I think he's the ultimate point guard. He's a throwback. He wants to pass first and he wants to shoot second."
Owootoah said he's close to setting up an official visit to Westwood sometime soon, and if a committable offer did come, he'd take it.
"UCLA is No. 1 right now," said Owootoah, who has heard from Providence, Arizona, UCLA, Tennessee, Fresno State, and UConn, among others, this recruiting cycle.
"If UCLA gets this kid," Rhodes added, "I think it makes them a very special team with some of the players they have (coming) back … If they stay with Emmanuel, he'll make all those guys lives a lot easier and I believe that."