Elite programs all over Aminu

Al-Farouq Aminu is playing awfully loud these days for Norcross (Ga.) High School. His recruitment is getting awfully noisy these days, too, and the forward has emerged as one of the most heated in the country.

The 6-foot-9 forward was sensational at the Prime Time Shootout at Norcross on Saturday against Florida power Arlington Country Day. The five-star junior scored 23 points and grabbed 21 rebounds, a new event record.

On Tuesday, Aminu scored 21 points and secured 11 rebounds in a win over cross-town rival and the state's second ranked team. Earlier in the month, Aminu scored 26 points (including four three-pointers) in an event in Kentucky.

Things are rolling right along for the young junior.

Coaches from Cincinnati, Georgia, LSU, North Carolina and Texas were on hand to see the Norcross-Peachtree Ridge tilt on Tuesday and most likely to lock eyes on Aminu for 32 minutes. Georgia Tech, Florida, Connecticut, Georgia, Wake Forest and Kentucky also have the star junior high on the priority list.

Aminu admitted he realizes his recruitment is scalding hot right now.

"It's not just any assistant coach coming out it might be the head assistant coach. Or now it's the head coach coming out to come out and talk to me now," Aminu said.

Count Roy Williams, Paul Hewitt, Billy Donovan, Tubby Smith, Skip Prosser and Dennis Felton amongst the head coaches that made some face time this season. Aminu said the Tar Heels are coming on like gang busters.

"The most aggressive is probably North Carolina. They've been out to see some of my games in Kentucky and they've been consistent," Aminu said. "Of course, Florida. They came out to a couple of games already. Connecticut came out to a fall practice. Teams like that."

Aminu hears the question all the time: Is it safe to say you are going to Georgia Tech because your brother, Alade, plays there? Aminu said don't assume anything.

"It's not that I don't want to go to Georgia Tech. I just have to look at them like any other college," Aminu said. "It might be a think where I don't want to go where my brother went to school. I might be cool if I play with him. It's hard to answer."

Aminu has visited Florida for Midnight Madness already. When Norcross played at the Hoophall Classic, he and an assistant coach slid down to Connecticut to get a quick peek of Storrs. Aminu is, of course, a regular at Georgia Tech games this season. Aminu said he is trying to get to Florida for a game before the season is over.

"I might try to narrow it down before AAU so I can get focused again," Aminu said. "Just finding a good system, a good coach and a campus. I'm looking at how the players interact with the coaches."

These days, a lot of coaches are wondering just how well Aminu would interact with the players and program, too. Aminu is certainly playing a like a guy that can have his pick.