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Five-star Quentin Grimes talks final four schools

Quentin Grimes
Quentin Grimes (Matt Moreno/GOAZCATS.com)

One of the elite players in the class of 2018, five-star guard Quentin Grimes is down to a final four of Kansas, Kentucky, Marquette and Texas. After hosting all of them for in-home visits earlier in the week, Grimes broke down his recruitment.

The 6-foot-5 senior from Houston first said that it was the communication and effort that allowed him to settle in on the Jayhawks, Wildcats, Golden Eagles and Longhorns as his final four.

"I feel like those four are the best schools for me to put me in the right position moving forward," Grimes told Rivals.com. "They have been the most in contact with me and have done the best job of recruiting me so they are the best for me right now.”

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Grimes and his family spent the weekend and Monday hosting each of his four finalists for an in-home visit. The high-scoring guard who can make plays for other broke down each of the visits and what stands out to him about each program in detail.

Kansas: “The in-home went really well. Coach (Bill) Self and coach (Jerrance) Howard came in and they were real straight-up and straightforward with me that I’m the best guard in the country. They basically told me that I have to sign with them. They have time available and really think that I would be a good complement with Charlie Moore next year. They said they have to get me, they were very clear on that. I feel that they have been straightforward from the beginning. They have been contacting me almost every day and that they think I’m the best guard in the country has really stood out to me.”

Kentucky: “Coach (John) Calipari feels he can help me reach my dreams and he feels that I’m definitely one of the best guards in the country. He thinks that I could come in there with the other players and that he can help me get better. Their practices stand out because of all the other five-star players you go against and that you have to get better because of the competition. They can help me reach my goals. I think how strong they have come on is unique. Coach (Kenny) Paine and Coach Cal have been really turning it up and that’s stood out to me. They’ve turned it up over the last month for sure.”

Marquette: “I felt like it was a really good in-home visit. During the previous visit in April they were consistent with the message that I’m the only guard they are recruiting and they showed that. They can see me and Markus Howard fitting together really well because he’s a great shooter and I can do a lot of things. They feel like I’m the missing piece to them making the next step and making a Final Four. I think the relationship I’ve built with coach (Steve) Wojciechowski over the last year stands out. He played guard too and he has a great understanding of the game. He coached USA Basketball too and coached guys like Kobe (Bryant) and LeBron (James) so being able to pick his brain about what it takes to make it is great.”

Texas: “Coach (Shaka) Smart wants to keep the best player in the state at home and he feels like me and Matt Coleman could play well together. I know Matt previously and we have a great relationship. He’s more of a passer and I’m more of a scorer so we would fit well. They also have players from Houston that I’m comfortable with and know well so with that and coach Smart I could be a great fit. I think the freedom that they would let me have stands out. The uniqueness of knowing Matt Coleman and what he does and having a good relationship with him. He would be a sophomore and I would be a freshman and knowing him and that system could be an edge to set them apart.”

The next step for Grimes is to take official visits to each of his four finalists. He is in the process of finalizing the dates but they should be finished by the end of October or soon after.

Grimes doesn't plan to take a bunch of time with his decision, but he's not going to rush either and he is certain of what will be most important when he does decide.

“I’m not rusing to make any decision. Whenever the timing is right I will do it," said Grimes. “Waiting is an option. If I go take my visits and feel like I need to take unofficials and see them again I could do that. I’m not in a rush.

“Definitely the relationship with the coaches, I feel like that’s the most important thing. I'm going to have to be the coach on the court so I have to have a relationship with him because he’s expecting a lot and you have to be on the same page."

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