Anthony Bennett is one of three star forwards in the Class of 2012 yet to make a decision on their respective college futures.
Photo by Steven Worthy
When top-ranked prospects
Nerlens Noel and
Shabazz Muhammad announced their college destinations within an hour of each other back on April 11, much of the drama surrounding the recruitment of high school basketball's Class of 2012 dissipated.
But three of the nation's Top 25 prospects are still on the board.
Anthony Bennett of
Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.),
Amile Jefferson of
Friends' Central (Wynnewoode, Pa.) and
Devonta Pollard of
Kemper County (DeKalb, Miss.) – all forwards considered five-star talents – are keeping everybody guessing.
Bennett, a 6-foot-7, 235-pounder ranked No. 11 in the MaxPreps Class of 2012 Top 100, may be the furthest away from declaring his intentions.
"It's a big decision and he wants to make sure he makes the right one," Findlay Prep head coach Michael Peck said.
Florida, Kentucky, Oregon and UNLV comprise Bennett's final four, but he hasn't made official visits to any of those schools, according to Peck.
It's possible that his decision could come after college basketball's spring signing period ends May 16. That would mean signing a financial aid agreement as opposed to the more binding letter of intent.
Pollard, Mississippi's Mr. Basketball as a senior after posting 23.8 points and 15.7 rebounds per game, is down to Alabama, Georgetown, Missouri and Texas. He is the No. 19 overall prospect in the 2012 class.
A report by Adam Zagoria of SNY.tv last week indicated the 6-7 wing-forward would make a decision tomorrow (May 4). Calls to Kemper County head coach Kelvin Young went unreturned.
Jefferson, a slender and versatile 6-8 standout, is laboring over Duke, Kentucky, North Carolina State, Ohio State and Villanova.
"It's getting close. I'm really ready to get this over with," Jefferson said –
in January.
Jefferson, rated No. 16 in MaxPreps.com's Class of 2012 Top 100, has pushed his timetable back several times in recent months. Guessing when the Philadelphia-area product will pick a school is probably an exercise in futility.
