Georgia So. adds to 2009 haul
Georgia Southern locked up the top incoming power forward in the Southern Conference during the early signing. Now the Eagles can claim the top small forward coming into the league next year.
Emarri Bailey, a 6-foot-7 wing from Jacksonville (Fla.) Arlington Country Day, committed to the program last week. He joins fellow Sunshine State prospect Torelyn Fitzpatrick in the 2009 recruiting haul for Georgia Southern.
Advertisement
Bailey said it was Fitzpatrick that helped play a major part in his decision.
"As I started narrowing my schools down, they started really coming at me pretty hard," Bailey said. "When they signed my friend Torelyn, I knew I was going [to Georgia Southern]. We played together on the Miami Tropics over the summer.
"He called me about a week ago and told me that he was going to sign with Georgia Southern and that I need to come with him. He was asking me what I was thinking about it and I told him that I was thinking about going to Georgia Southern with him."
The next week Bailey signed his National Letter of Intent and sent it to the Southern Conference school. Bailey, a streaky scorer with size on the wing, said he likes what head coach Jeff Price has in store for him down the road.
"He told me that he wanted to see me play with Willie Powers (a Florida native). I've played with him before in AAU. I talk [Powers] on a regular basis and coach wanted me to come there and help them win some more games. I told him that I was going to do my best," Bailey said.
Bailey said he also considered Central Florida, South Florida, Fordham and George Washington.