AUSTIN, Texas - Kevin McReynolds – the last remaining uncommitted USA Under-19 team player at Westlake High School - said it's going to be a long 50-plus hours.
McReynolds is tough to move.
Photo by Jim Redman
The 6-foot-2, 281-pound senior from St. John's (Washington, D.C.), ranked the
No. 5 defensive tackle in the country, said Sunday that he hasn't narrowed his four choices down by even a sliver.
It's Kansas State, Mississippi State, Syracuse or UCLA. Not necessarily in that order. He said he'll call every one of the coaches from those schools Tuesday night, talk it over with his family, and then Wednesday morning – like the other 44 USA players – make his announcement at Signing Day ceremony at the Marriot South hotel in Austin.
"It's going to be a very busy Tuesday night," McReynolds said.
McReynolds, who Sunday was icing a sore ankle sprain that kept him out of five games this season, isn't complaining. He's one of 45 USA Under-19 team members who will take on The World team Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. (CT) at Westlake High School in the second annual event.
"I just feel blessed to be in this position," he said. "I'd rather be in this spot than on the outside looking in."
That said, he's not looking forward to telling three coaches the bad news.
Kevin McReynolds
Photo by Jim Redman
"I don't like letting people down," McReynolds said. "I have strong relationships with all four coaches. We've talked for almost two years. That's the tough part of it. But ultimately I need to evaluate what's best for me."
McReynolds looks well beyond himself when considering the context of playing for Team USA.
"It's a great experience to have the opportunity to represent your country – however small it is," he said. "I have such great respect for the men and women who do the true battling for our rights."
McReynolds said he has a cousin who recently returned from two rotations in the Middle East and has now joined the reserves.
NOTES: When the weekend started, there were four players uncommitted but the three others - Columbia (Lake City, Fla.) defensive tackle
Tim Jernigan, Pearl-Cohn (Nashville, Tenn.) offensive lineman Antonio Richardson and DeMatha Catholic (Beltsville, Md.) offensive lineman
Cyrus Kouandjio – all didn't join the team and were replaced by Texas players. … Team USA officials offered no explanations why the three couldn't meet the commitment. … McReynolds, who shares the same namesake with a recent major league baseball All-Star, said it's often the first thing people ask him about. Then again, the football McReynolds is African American. The baseball McReynolds is Caucasian. "It didn't matter because when I went down to Arkansas (where the baseball McReynolds grew up and attended high school), they still told me I could be the next
