Arizona big man sets five visit dates

There was never any doubt in Michael Humphrey's mind that he could get a basketball scholarship. Then again, the big man from the Phoenix area didn't expect it to go down like this.

The 6-foot-10 power forward at Phoenix (Ariz.) Sunnyslope has gone from pretty much unknown to one of the most highly recruited big men in the span of just four months.

Part of it was developing as a player, but a big part of things for Humphrey was getting out and playing summer ball with the Arizona Magic.

"Probably a little bit of both," Humphrey told Rivals.com whether it was improvement or exposure that allowed his recruitment to take off. "I continued all spring and summer to workout every day. Definitely getting used to the style of play and going to all of the events and playing against top players helped me grow as a player."

Humphrey is actually a dual sport athlete who plays quarterback in football. Instead of ditching the gridiron, he's playing one last year.

"I'm still going to play this year," said Humphrey. "I really feel like it helps with the basketball. It translates over to basketball and each day I can get in the gym and shoot baskets so it's not like I'm completely leaving basketball."

Athletic, fluid and skilled, Humphrey is a bouncy big man with touch to the three point line. He's currently an unranked thre-star prospect but should debut in four-star territory when the Rivals150 gets updated next week.

Humphrey recently cut down his list of schools to five and will start his visit tour at Vanderbilt the first weekend of September. Before the month is over he will hit Stanford and Notre Dame before seeing UCLA and Arizona in October.

Humphrey took time to break down what he likes about each program and they all made his final list for pretty similar reasons.

Arizona- "Obviously being in Arizona I know that it is a great place. The basketball program has great tradition and I feel like I have a strong relationship with the coaches."

Notre Dame- "I've never been there before but I've heard great things about it. Academically it is strong and with the basketball team moving to the ACC I think it is a unique experience."

Stanford- "It seems like a great school and obviously the academics are like the best of the world. The athletics seem like they are on the rise and I feel like I have a great relationship with the coaches and that the basketball team is on the way up."

UCLA- "Once again it seems like a great place and they have great academics. They have great traditions basketball wise and being in California it seems like it is great setup wise."

Vanderbilt- "I've never traveled back over there but I have heard great things about their coach. I have great relationships with their coaches and playing in the SEC, that is a good conference."

With his visits set Humphrey says that there is a possibility he could stop taking visits if the feeling is right. But, more than likely he'll be taking all of his visits before an early signing period decision.

"I do have all five visits set and I plan om taking them all. They all seem like great places and I want to see all five and what they have to offer. After I see all five schools I'll known and be able to come to a decision pretty quick."

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