There may not be a more discussed name of late than that of Joseph Girard III. The Rivals150 junior recently broke the state of New York’s scoring record, held by Lance Stephenson, while also seeing his name heat up within recruiting circles, pulling in offers from some of college basketball’s elite.

“It has been a crazy past few weeks with all of the accolades and all of the college attention. Going from Michigan, to getting my 3,000th point, and after setting the state record, to Oklahoma, Syracuse, Rutgers, and now Duke and Ohio State,” he said. “There are just no other words to describe it than just that the hard work has been paying off. I have been staying the course, and trusting the process.”

Within the past month alone, Girard has reeled in offers following his visits to Michigan, Ohio State and Duke, while Oklahoma and Syracuse have also joined the mix with an offer of their own.

RANKINGS: 2018 Rivals150 | 2019 Rivals150 | 2020 Rivals150 | 2018 Team | 2018 Position

Ohio State: “It was a great visit. They have some of the best facilities in the world. Coach (Chris) Holtmann is doing a really good job there. It is only his first year there and he doesn’t have any of his recruits yet, but he has brought the team to a nationally ranking and is going to make the tournament so that just shows how great of a coaching staff they have, how they trust their players and can get their team to play how they want. They have a really good system there, good facilities and a really nice place. They have really great people and they win a lot of games, which makes it even better.”

Michigan: “It was really amazing to get that offer. My dad was really excited about it having played for coach (John) Beilein and he knows exactly what he is like and what you have to do to play for him. That is a big one and it is very systematic there; you have to be able to fit in to coach Beilein’s system and trust his process, as well, because he does it by the book as he won’t even offer you until June 15. He is one of those that is a really great coach that does it the right way and makes sure all of his players are really good kids and someone that you want to be around in the locker room. I think that is one that got it all really started for me and he is a permanent coach that everyone else trusts which is why everyone else followed after. I had all these guys on me waiting around to see their 2018 rosters but coach Beilein is the one that led it all off and is someone that I have gotten to know a little bit, and I am just looking forward to keeping my relationship with them.”

Syracuse: “Having the in-state school offer you is something that you always work for and always kind of want. When that one came, it was big. They have two guys on the staff that are kind of just like me with G-Mac (Gerry McNamara) and Eric Devendorf. They are just tough and want to win. Coach (Jim) Boeheim has been doing a really good job of making sure that they have a winning tradition there. I was really excited when I got that one just to know that the home state school was going to give me the option to play there, which everyone in New York wants to see.”

Oklahoma: “It is another guard-oriented school. They had Buddy Hield before and now they have Trae Young; two guys that are scoring guards that can lead the team as well to get some wins. Oklahoma plays in the Big 12 which is one of the best conferences, if not the best, this year, and it offers great competition with really great people around it. Coach (Carlin) Hartman and my dad actually played in a few camps back in the day so my dad actually knew him a little bit and he came up to see me recently. He is a really great guy and coach (Lon) Kruger has done a really good job of reaching out every now and again and making sure that I am staying up with Oklahoma and they are staying up with me. I really like Oklahoma and what they have to offer and it is just a really great school that has had guards like me and know how to play.”

Rutgers: “Coach (Steve) Pikiell is just trying to get it done and turned around, which has basically been the pitch with me – to be different and do something that no one else has done before and lead them to a Big Ten championship and to the NCAA Tournament. He is just telling me to be different and to turn the program around which is definitely intriguing to be new and not follow everyone else’s lead. He is just doing a really good job of making sure that they are up and coming.”

Duke: “I had a really great time there. It is Duke, so there isn’t much else to say other than they have great tradition and one of the greatest coaches, if not the greatest coach, of all time. To win as many games as they do and to offer the academics and basketball is pretty incredible and is definitely something that I am going to remember and will be in the back of my head throughout the rest of this recruiting process. I could go there and Coach K believes in me. He needs players that bring leadership and toughness, obviously along with the one-and-dones that he has been getting, but he has been saying that he needs to get the leadership and toughness, and that I am probably the best shooter in the country right now. It is just great to know that he believes in me and that the program believes in me and they have also had guys like me with Greg Paulus and coach (Bobby) Hurley, so they have just been doing a really good job recently of picking up the heat with me and recruiting me really hard right now. I am getting closer with Duke and really like what they have to offer as well.”

It has been a busy few weeks for Girard, both on the hardwood and on the recruiting trail, though no visits are scheduled.

“I don’t have anything else planned for now,” he said. “We have the playoffs and then AAU will be starting but for now, nothing is planned.”

While many believed that a commitment would take place following his offer from Michigan and then Duke, Girard remains open to the process.

“Right now, I am just trying to get to know everybody and see what they have and what they want. They are beginning to get close with me and my family and I really like that,” he said. “The plan is to have it done before my senior basketball season, whether that comes this week, next week, or in the fall, I don’t know but when I feel like it is the right time and my family has talked it over, along with coach (Jim) Hart and my other coaches, then I will make my decision. But it will definitely be done before my senior basketball season.”

Girard, who attends the same high school as former BYU star Jimmer Fredette, was a top perimeter shooter playing up a year on the Nike EYBL circuit last summer with the Albany City Rocks program and continues to cement his standing as one of the most prolific scorers in recent memory.

Girard’s recruitment has gone from local, to regional, to now a blueblood affair with Duke involved with an offer. The Blue Devils, Michigan, Ohio State, Syracuse, Oklahoma, Rutgers and a number of others are expected to remain heavily involved until he does decide to call off his recruitment.