Baldwin stock rising
Advertisement
It happens every travel season. Prospects show up at an event playing in front of media, scouts, and college coaches with no high-major offers and leave the weekend with their phone ringing off the hook. Winder (Ga.) Apalachee guard Kamar Baldwin is a candidate to have that happen when coaches can hit the road in April.
As a junior, he's currently averaging 27.8 points, 10 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game. Matched up with four-star shooting guard and Mississippi State commit D'Marcus Simonds last Friday, Baldwin pumped in 37 points, including 23 in the fourth quarter, to lead his time to a big win. He followed it up the next night by going for 46 points in a tough loss to undefeated Gainesville-Johnson.
Baldwin says he's been hearing from Clemson, South Alabama, Georgia, Stanford, Tennessee, Georgia Tech, Florida State and Alabama in recent months and holds offers from Richmond, George Mason, Furman, Chattanooga, Charlotte and Middle Tennessee. During football season, he took unofficial visits to Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee and Clemson.
Right now, Baldwin lists a top five of Clemson, Georgia, Richmond, South Alabama and Stanford.
Baldwin has been keeping an eye on the progress Brad Brownell's Clemson program has made throughout the season.
"I like them a lot," Baldwin said. "They got a good win against Syracuse last week. They played really good against Louisville and lost by four. I think I could really help them if I go there. Their campus is nice up there. It's big, but it's not too big."
Georgia, located roughly 20 minutes from Baldwin's home, is the school the underrated guard grew up rooting for.
"I like Georgia. They are having a really good season so far. It's close to home too, so they would be at the top of the list as far as choosing a college."
Stanford signed Marcus Sheffield out of Georgia in the class of 2015, and might be trying to come back for another Peach State native in the class of 2016. Baldwin speaks highly of the Cardinal program.
"They are in the Pac-12. They have good teams in their conference. They have great academics, and that's the main reason for my interest."
Richmond has a history of signing underrated prospects out of Georgia going back to Kevin Anderson in the class of 2007, and they hope they can do the same with Baldwin.
"I've met their head coach, Coach (Chris) Mooney, and the assistant coach and they are really good guys. They have told me a lot about their offense and how I would fit in. One of their players, Alonzo Nelson-Ododa, is from where I'm from and I play with him when he comes home. We're good friends."
South Alabama head coach Matthew Graves and assistant coach Russ Willemsen stopped by Baldwin's school last week and are hoping Baldwin will return the favor soon.
"They are recruiting me hard. Their head coach and assistant coach just came up here to see me. They are trying to get me down to their campus to see if I like it."
Look for Baldwin to make a decision at some point during his senior year.
"I'm going to get all my official visits in before I decide. I'm not sure when it will be. It might be before next season."
Click Here to view this Link.