High rising prospect Jerome Habel from Silver Spring, Maryland has declared a leader out of his list of six schools.

“My favorite would be Florida,” said Habel, the No. 9 center in the Rivals150. “I want to be a marine biologist, and I have heard they have a strong program.”

The 6-foot-9, 196-pound Habel is also considering Arizona, Houston, Florida State, Cincinnati, and Marshall. Everyone in his top six have offered scholarships.

Tomorrow Florida State and Marshall are making in-school visits. Houston has already made an in-school visit, and St. John’s, though not in his top six, is coming for an in-home visit on Sept. 29. His leader Florida is in the process of talking to Habel’s coach about scheduling a visit.

Habel is no longer at Walt Whitman High School, but will play for Coach Lonnie Brooks at Marriott Hospitality Public Charter High School. Marriot will play a difficult schedule against some of the top private schools and prep schools on the east coast.

Habel is waiting to take the SAT on Oct. 11 before scheduling any official visits. The wait may force him to sign late.

“I’ll probably end up signing late because of waiting for the test,” he explained. “I don’t think the test will be a problem. I want to find a school I am comfortable with. Just because they have a big name does not mean I am going to go there.”

So will Florida have a scholarship for Habel if he does decide to wait and sign late?

“I do believe they will have one and Houston would too,” he said. “Most of the other schools want me to sign early.”

Habel is the No. 51 player in the Rivals150.