Shooting guard Elias Harden (Mableton, Ga./Pebblebrook) continues to be one of the most highly recruited wings in the southeast in the 2017 class. The 6-foot-5 sharp-shooting wing says Xavier, Georgia, West Virginia, Virginia Tech, Auburn, Florida, Memphis and Ole Miss have been most involved with him lately, but other schools are still in the picture.
Harden visited Cincinnati, Georgia and Xavier last month.
IN HIS OWN WORDS:
Xavier: “The Xavier visit was really good. I toured the campus and talked with (assistant) Coach (Mike) Pegues and Coach (Chris) Mack. They also talked really highly of me and said I could be a big factor my freshman year there as well.”
Georgia: “It was really good. I talked with Coach (Mark) Fox and (assistant) Coach (Jonas) Hayes, and just had some good conversation. I met some of the guys on the team. They had workouts, so I watched them do that.”
West Virginia: “They saw me in Atlanta and from there they started talking to me. I talked to Coach (Bob) Huggins and they ended up offering me recently. I like them.”
Florida: “I like Florida as well. They just got a commitment from my good friend DeAundre Ballard. I’ve been talking to (assistant) Coach (Jordan) Mincy and Coach (Mike) White. I plan on visiting there soon. I’m not sure when.”
Ole Miss: “I like them. They have had a lot of shooters. He said they love guards. (Assistant) Coach (Tony) Matlock has been talking to me a lot since they saw me in Dallas. They just ended up offering me recently.”
WHAT’S NEXT?:
Harden said he’ll figure out which schools he wants to visit after the July recruiting periods come to an end. Three visits he said he’ll likely take are Florida, Georgia and Xavier. Look for a decision closer to November.
RIVALS’ REACTION:
Right now, Xavier and Georgia seem to be the two schools sitting in the best position for the four-star prospect. Both schools had him on campus in June, and he speaks really highly of both. Florida just recently offered him, but he’s visited Gainesville before and has a good friend in DeAundre Ballard already committed to play for the Gators.
