Nation’s No. 1 basketball recruit, Derrick Favors, counting down days to sign with Georgia Tech
Derrick Favors will make it official with Georgia Tech on April 15. Favors committed to Tech over UGA, Memphis, and N.C. State. (AJC)
Derrick Favors, who is ranked as the nation’s No. 1 basketball prospect by several recruiting services, said there’s no reason for Georgia Tech fans to worry over the next 10 days. Favors has been committed to the Yellow Jackets since January, and will officially sign the scholarship papers on April 15.
“There’s always rumors going around, but I’m 100-percent committed to Georgia Tech,” Favors told the AJC on Sunday night. “When I made my commitment, that was it. There haven’t been any reasons to change things. Georgia Tech hasn’t had a coaching change, and I’m real cool with the team, so I’m staying with them.”
The rumor mill for college basketball recruiting is at its peak. John Calipari was named Kentucky’s coach, and high-profile prospects committed or signed elswhere may follow him. If you recall, Calipari’s former school, Memphis, was a finalist for Favors, along with UGA and N.C. State. Georgia named Mark Fox as its new coach on Friday.
Both Favors and his high school coach, Michael Reddick, said they have not had any recent contact with UGA or other schools. Basketball recruiting is just like football recruiting. With the elite prospects, coaches from competing schools may call right up until the moment the papers are signed. Favors has yet to write his name anywhere on official documents.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if anyone tried to check into Derrick’s situation, that’s just the way recruiting works,” South Atlanta’s Reddick said. “But so far, nothing. Derrick is pretty much set on Georgia Tech. He wanted to be close to home, and Georgia Tech has been a favorite team of his since he was in the seventh grade. I don’t see anything changing.”
“We’re just about at the end of our long [recruiting] journey. We’re ready to hand over the reigns to Georgia Tech, and hopefully they will be able to push him to another level.”
The 6-foot-9 Favors is one of the most celebrated high school players in state history, and was honored as Parade Magazine’s 2009 National Player of the Year on Sunday. Favors also won MVP honors at last week’s McDonald’s All-America game, which also featured star-studded prospects DeMarcus Cousins and Xavier Henry. Favors said none of his McDonald’s peers really talked to him about recruiting. “They are more worried about which school they are going to go.”
Favors averaged 27.5 points and 13.3 rebounds as a senior, while leading South Atlanta to the Class AAA state championship. “I’ve always known and seen what Derrick can do,” Reddick said. “It’s great to see him get all the postseason recognition. It’s just something else to make you proud about Derrick. Georgia Tech is getting a good one.”
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36 comments Add your comment
Georgia #1
April 5th, 2009
11:13 pm
LET ME GET THIS RIGHT. Mark Fox is named as Georgia’s basketball coach. He has got the No. 1 player in the nation just down the road. We know he’s going to Georgia Tech, but Fox doesn’t even make a courtesy call? WTH? Great hire, Damon Evans.
Bama Dawg
April 5th, 2009
11:32 pm
Georgia #1 and Bob,
Great attitude. How the hell do you know what Fox is doing and/or thinking? Oh, I forgot he has to get your permission to run the program. Maybe we should have just hired you two (probably a lot cheaper), since both of you obviously have more college coaching wins and NCAA tournament appearance.
Why not give the guy a chance before you lead the critisim? Maybe you should start fire mark fax . com right now, since I doubt he will win the national championship next year with the empty cupboard he inherited.
Just go cheer for Tech or someone else if you as so opposed to Fox and Evans.
Think Smarter
April 6th, 2009
12:03 am
Fox is probably focusing on recruits he has a higher chance of getting rather than a firmly committed guy.
John
April 6th, 2009
5:46 am
Bottom line while Tech’s program is in a shambles, UGAg’s is in a far worse shambles. Favors would be wise to stick to his committment.
Even though he is 99% likely to be a one and done player at Tech.
Matt
April 6th, 2009
7:17 am
“Bottom line while Tech’s program is in a shambles, UGAg’s is in a far worse shambles.”
Hey John, Tech’s top five recruiting class called about that whole shambles thing.
Dawgs97
April 6th, 2009
7:56 am
Some Tech fans have at least been honest enough to have admitted that Paul Hewitt has the program running in circles and is on the hot seat. If Hewitt gets to the Sweet 16 next year with Favors leading the way, he’ll secure his job another few years. But there’s pressure on your coach to succeed in a strong way next year with Favors on board.
As for our new coach, Mark Fox, we’ll just have to wait n see. Sepculation is pointless when the guy hasn’t coached a game yet. Do I think Fox was Evans’ 1st choice? No way, but he’s our coach, he is excited about the opportunity that exists in Athens and Tubby Smith proved you can come in right away and win.
I’d rather be in Georgia’s spot longer term because I think our coach looks like an up and comer with massive success in his previous stop and a fantastic recruiting reputation. Hewitt is hanging by a thread and some Tech fans I’ve talked with wish he was already gone.
That being said, Tech will unquestionably be better next year that we will, but that’s next year. What happens after that now that Georgia, UK, and Bama have all improved themselves signifigantly with new hires competing with Tech for the south’s top players. And Favors, if as good as advertised, is likely a one-and-done.
As for Mark Fox calling him? No, he’s 100% committed to Tech at this point and he should go after the best recruits he can that are available and uncomitted. Had favors made any statements that he was intrigued by the new hires at UK and UGA, that’s when Calipari and Fox make those calls.
Wondering
April 6th, 2009
8:02 am
It doesn’t matter much where these super talents end up. It’s just a one-year commitment because the rules dictate it. Favors will play one year at Tech and go pro.
jw
April 6th, 2009
8:24 am
With our current coach why would he want to stay more than one year. We have more talent than than most ACC teams but look at our record. At least GA has tried to fix their problem, when will we face the facts and fix ours.
Richie
April 6th, 2009
8:25 am
Favors would be crazy to go to UGA with all the problems they have. He will most likely be a one and done player but I think Fox should at least try to make contact with him. Everybody is fair game until they sign. It will be interesting to see what Fox can do in the next few weeks.
Dawg1
April 6th, 2009
8:25 am
Favors is a ‘one and done’ guy. He has all but said that. He’s a better fit for Tech. They have a very strong recruiting class coming in where the rest of the guys seem more committed to go to school at least for two or three years.
This kid isn’t going anywhere that ties playing time to classroom attendance. He’s there to play baskeball.
Personally believe that Fox is a great hire. But I am concerned with folks like “Georgia #1″.
Let’s deal with the truth.
* CDF rebuilt the basketball program and made it a ’student first’ and athlete second program. This was job one when he came in. UGA basketball trailed only Vandy in APR in 2008.
* CDF lost a lot of talent from the state for that very reason and to be fair, because he has a reputaiton of being very tough.
* The result of that has meant a talent drain.
So CMF has to find a way of balancing a rigid academic policy, while bringing talent to UGA. It is known to be a very hard worker and a solid recruiter. He was given a six year contract for a reason folks. This is going to take time.
Name (required)
April 6th, 2009
8:39 am
Wow. UGA doesn’t care about basketball do they?
Kentucky is about to rule SEC basketball with an iron fist for the next 20 years or so.
Sunshine
April 6th, 2009
8:57 am
Even with GA Tech basketball at this low, why would he even consider transfering from a National stage team, to a team that will never ever be on TV? He is going to Tech to raise his draft status, not for a UGA feel good story.
CPFly
April 6th, 2009
9:51 am
UGA basketball.
lol.
outhoused
April 6th, 2009
10:16 am
Derrick Favors is a “rent a player”, now you see him now he’s gone.
Supersize that order, mutt
April 6th, 2009
10:39 am
Do they still have a basketball team at UGAG? Does anybody really care?
chuck
April 6th, 2009
10:41 am
Tech had a top 15/20 recruiting class without Favors.
BravesFan79
April 6th, 2009
11:17 am
GT will be a Elite 8 caliber team next year… just wait!!
Dawg1
April 6th, 2009
11:51 am
Let’s be fair about this.
The kid made the right decision. The SEC is down and right now, Tech has the better program. He will play better competition and have more television exposure. This kid is one and done.
We need to be patient and pull together. This will take time. And ignore fast food connoisseurs, who get their digs in before heading off to either work or eat at their local McDonalds. In either case, he has loser written all over him. This state is loaded with talent, which takes someone who knows basketball, knows how to recruit and is willing to work his behind off. CMF fits those exact parameters.
LOL
Paul
April 6th, 2009
12:19 pm
As to the simpleton complaining about the lack of contact by Mark Fox and UGA, it’s still a dead period in recruiting. He can’t legally contact anyone till after the 9th.
Michael Carvell
April 6th, 2009
1:05 pm
There never really is a “dead period” in recruiting. All a college coach has to do is call or email the high school coach to get the prospect on the phone.
TONY SHUMPERT
April 6th, 2009
1:08 pm
I cannot wait ’till we get this super-stud on campus. Ever since he committed to us I’ve just felt like dancin’!
Dawg44
April 6th, 2009
3:37 pm
Too many folks have already spent the $$$ they got for Favors to go anywhere else now.
Dawgtime
April 6th, 2009
5:21 pm
I have no doubt that the Favors kid will sign with GT. In terms of criticizing UGA’s new coach, some UGA fans need to get a clue. The man just took the job of a program with a lot of problems. People recruiting takes time. I fully support the new coach. Give the man a chance.
UGAissolastyear
April 6th, 2009
6:06 pm
Fans shouldn’t worry? Are you kidding me? What fans? I could care less where he goes and he should take Hewitt with him. What…we are all supposed to be SOOO excited about basketball at Tech now? What short memories. We have been pathetic for the last 4 years. We had our worst conf record in over 20 years and you think we are all so worried that he might not sign?! How funny. Get real.
Vince
April 6th, 2009
7:08 pm
Let’s face it! Coach Felton accomplished 50% of the goal when he came in. He inherited J. Harrick’s dung pile and he cleaned it up. Thankyou coach Felton. But steady winning was never achieved. That wasn’t entirely his fault but it cost him his job. Now we get Coach Fox, an up and comer, a proven recruiter and producer of wins. Let’s get behind him and support the program. He deserves the chance! He could become the next Rick Pittino. Let’s hope if he does that he stays at UGA. I do have one suggestion for Coach Fox since he is not from the south and the state is a hotbed for talent. Check it out and see if there are any Atlanta area high school coaches who aspire to get into the college coaching ranks. It would have to be someone who is 1)Honest 2)Popular with the state players and AAU coaches, and of course 3)Interested in going from being the boss to climbing the ladder in the college ranks. In other words before you recruit the players go out and recruit a coach who can help reach and sign some of the second tier talent in the state. I say second tier because the superstars are “one and out.” If you get the second tier of great Georgia players you are more likely to get team players that will stick around for 3 or 4 years. That’s my ramble. What do yaall think?
DeanDome Dan
April 7th, 2009
12:08 am
HEY DERRICK:
Welcome to the ACC basement. Wonderful program you’ve attached yourself to. But hey, your “homies” can watch you play next season.
Not Disappointed
April 7th, 2009
10:18 am
DeanDome Dan, there’s no need to bash this young man. **He may indeed be one in done!** Nevertheless any improvement for the Tech nation would be better than last year. We lost so many close and overtime games last year.
Now on to Coach Fox, you guys do need to give him a chance. I’ve seen what he can do with decent players. There is no reason why he want be able to recruit in the southeast.
Noneya
April 7th, 2009
12:49 pm
I have seen the term “proven recruiter” thrown around this board in reference to Mark Fox. Is that just a cool thing to say? What kind of recruiting was he doing at Nevada? What makes him a “proven recruiter”? And does being a “proven recruiter” in the WAC translate to the SEC and the South? Enquiring minds want to know…..
Considering
April 7th, 2009
3:53 pm
If you think about it, Mark Fox owes his new job to Derrick Favors. If Favors had committed to UGA do you think Felton would have been fired? They would have stuck with him to keep from messing up Favors backing out before signing day (apr 15th). Notice the timing, it was about a week after Favors announced that Felton was let go.
CJ_4_Prez
April 7th, 2009
11:23 pm
I dont care if Favors is one and done. As long as his addition means Hewitt will play 3 forwards and 2 guards I’ll be happy because I’d see less of Mo Miller. He’ll see nothing but the bench with D’andre Bell and Iman Shumpert on the floor. What a waste of a roster spot he is.
Bo Williams
April 8th, 2009
7:44 am
Tenn. is only SEC ranked in top 25 for Basketball for upcoming season. Should the SEC be given an automatic tourney bid?
BravesFan79
April 8th, 2009
1:41 pm
DeanDome Dan: Funny…. watch as GT goes further in the tourney next year than UNC!
gt fan
April 9th, 2009
12:22 am
hey uga fans i have deal for you that i suspect that MOST gt fans would go for.
we will trade you derrick favors and throw in paul hewitt. in exchange we get mark fox as our new coach and you assume phew’s contract.
sounds fair to me.
ACC Football=SEC Basketball
April 9th, 2009
2:25 pm
Dean Dome Dan: Congrats on your Tar Heels winning the NC. At least Roy can win 2 titles like a man instead of backing in 2 like the overrated Dean Smith did.
Willy
April 9th, 2009
10:22 pm
LOL I wouldn’t trade toilet paper for Mark Fox.
jacketbacker
April 10th, 2009
5:06 pm
ugag has a basketball team?????