Blackwell weighs many options
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Nashville (TN) CPA small forward Braxton Blackwell has been a hot commodity in recruiting circles for a couple years now. He's reeled in offers from schools all over the country and is currently rated as the 34th best prospect in the Class of 2016.
With his junior year now behind him, the four-star prospect is starting to dive a little deeper into the recruiting process. One school that has been there from the beginning in his recruitment is Vanderbilt.
"I really like their program a lot," Blackwell said. "Coach [Kevin] Stallings, he's a great 'x and o' coach. He demands a lot out of his players and he's really hard on his guys and I think that's a great coaching method because that's how you get a lot out of guys."
Blackwell's high school coach Drew Maddux was a popular player for the Commodores in the 1990s and Vanderbilt is located approximately 10 minutes from Blackwell's home. For some, that might be a positive, but some kids like to get away. How could that impact Blackwell's recruitment?
"I haven't really thought about it. Obviously there are a lot of pros to staying close to home. That would be cool playing right in your backyard, but I haven't really thought about it a ton yet."
After being let go at Texas, Rick Barnes wasn't out of work long as Tennessee quickly made him their new basketball coach. His track record impresses Blackwell.
"Coach Barnes is a great coach. He knows how to win and I think he'll do a great job at Tennessee. His staff is also really nice and really cool."
Ohio State head coach Thad Matta has one goal in mind and thinks Blackwell can help get there.
"They are a great program as well. Coach Matta, he's been to multiple Final Fours, so he's proven himself. The last time I talked to him, he was saying how he really wants to win a national championship and he thinks I could be a big piece to helping him reach that goal."
Before Billy Donovan departed Florida for the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Gators were in deep with Blackwell. Contact with Florida has died down, but Blackwell will listen to new coach Mike White's pitch.
"I've talked to them a little bit. They have called, but it's not like it has been all the time. I'm still interested in Florida."
Kansas is a school Blackwell hopes to get a closer look at in the near future.
"Kansas is recruiting me pretty hard. I want to get up there soon and look at their campus. That's a really great place to go if you're a wing. They have put a lot of guys into the NBA. Coach (Bill) Self knows how to win, and that's what I'm all about. I really want to win a national championship in college."
Blackwell believes Mark Fox and his staff have turned the corner as a program.
"Georgia is recruiting me hard. Coach Fox did a great job this year. He turned a lot of people's heads and I think they have a lot of talent coming back next year and have some great recruits to do even better than they did this past year. I grew up rooting for Georgia in football. I've always had a soft spot for Georgia, so that helps a little bit."
Shaka Smart wasted no time in getting on Blackwell when he arrived in Austin earlier this year as the new coach at Texas.
"Oh yeah, Texas is on me hard. Coach Smart, he's awesome. They had an in-home visit here in the spring and he was just talking about how excited he is to be at Texas and how it is a new opportunity for him. He believes they can win a national championship there. He thought he could at VCU too, but he said Texas just has a better feel."
The best part about Blackwell's game is his versatility at 6-foot-7. He's capable of playing a few different positions offensively and can defend multiple spots on the other end. How he fits in at a school will play a big part in his decision.
"Different schools say different things. Some schools say more on the wing as a '2' or a '3' and sometimes at the '4' in a mismatch situation. It just depends on the school really. I haven't put too much thought into it, but I feel like I could be successful in any system."
Blackwell's plan for how he'll finish up the recruiting process is pretty simple.
"At the end of the summer after Adidas Nations and before school starts, I'd like to have a list trimmed down to about seven or eight. Then I'll take my visits and commit whenever I feel ready. Ideally, I'd like to do it before the season starts, but if I have to wait, I'll take my time."