Durham is taking off
Juwan Durham has become a hotly pursued national prospect over the last
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two years. With the 2016 Rivals150 power forward beginning his junior season, he
has the attention of several high-major programs.
Rivals.com caught up with Durham following his season opener for Tampa (Florida)
Tampa Prep in which he had 25 points, 10 rebounds, six blocks, three assists and
two steals.
"I think I played pretty good," Durham said. "I'm impressed with my steals I
didn't know I had that many steals. I'm just happy I was able to help my team
win tonight."
The 6-foot-9, 200-pound prospect has had an audience of coaches from prominent
programs this fall, and he's stayed in regular contact with several of them
since the summer.
"Lately everything is pretty even," said Durham. "I've heard from
Louisville head coach Rick Pitino and assistant coach Mike Balado
were in Tampa earlier this month and spoke with Durham's mother while watching
the team practice. The coaches showed Durham a video so that he could see how he
would fit into the Cardinals' system.
"Yes, he came probably a week or two ago," Durham said before adding that Pitino
told him that he'd "be good playing at their school and I'd look good in their
colors."
Florida assistant coach John Pelphrey recently was in to see Durham and
brought with him a different approach to the recruiting process.
"He tries not to focus too much on the recruitment and just try to talk to me as
a person, as a young man and see where my head is basically."
The five-star prospect has not taken many unofficial visits and is not overly
focused on his recruitment, preferring instead to enjoy his high school career
and become an even better player. He has, however, made the trip upstate to
Florida State and across town to South Florida.
I went to FSU, it went pretty well," said Durham. "They're basically saying
everything all the other schools say. They think I'll do good at their school
and they want to help me develop as a young man. I went over to USF for an
exhibition game but that's it for right now. I haven't been over there lately.
I've been in the gym working out and things like that."
Durham does feel that USF has made him a priority.
"Yes sir," he said. "I feel that because I'm a junior right now, not all of the
schools are making me a priority but they're all showing a lot of strong
interest right now. Villanova, I know that they have one spot open in my class
so I know that it's kind of a make or break deal with them."
Durham told us that one big change in his recruitment is the importance of a
school's geographic location -- it is no longer a factor.
"It was at first but now, not really," he said. "At first I wanted to leave
Florida but now I'm not really sure what I want to do. I just want to be
wherever I feel comfortable. Somewhere that I feel like I'm at home, a place
that I feel my family would like as well. And somewhere I can see myself playing
and living for four years."
Durham's game, as well as his recruitment, have really taken off since the
spring. He runs the floor better, has added strength and seldom takes a bad
shot. He has range to the three point line but is most comfortable out to about
15 feet. He has a good feel for the game and is an underrated passer. Durham has
a great motor but he doesn't rush things on the court or with the recruiting
process.
"I'm just taking my time with my recruitment."
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