Junior Blake Hinson turns full attention to future in basketball

CLASS OF '18 RANKINGS: Rivals150 | Team | Power Forward | Center |
Point guard | Shooting guard | Small forward

CLASS OF '19 RANKINGS: Rivals150 | Power forward | Center | Point Guard |
Shooting guard | Small forward

HAGERSTOWN, Md. – There are plenty of choices to be made by Blake Hinson, as the Rivals150 junior has the chance to reclassify into the 2018 class. He discussed his decision to quit football, chances of playing college ball next season and the programs that could ultimately land his college commitment.

Carrying high-major football offers as a ninth-grader, Hinson has decided he wants to focus on one sport. “It is all basketball now," said Hinson, who plays at Sunrise Christian Academy in Bel Aire, Kansas. "You are probably the first person that I (have told), media-wise, but I am done with football for good. I just have the most passion for basketball and I feel like I can be the greatest player in college and the greatest player in the NBA, so I thought I might as well pursue it. There is definitely a chance that I could go 2018 so I am definitely looking at that.

“For 2018, I can play at a high level of basketball and I like to challenge myself. I love basketball, so playing at a high level, it is just a good experience. People have been telling me that I wouldn’t be prepared for it yet, but a lot of the schools are recruiting me for 2018 and for 2019.”

Hinson, whose brother plays at South Carolina, told Rivals that Washington State, Seton Hall, Vanderbilt, Ole Miss and SMU are the five programs standing out.

Washington State: “I think they were leading in 3-pointers taken or something close to that. I feel like I can really flourish in that type of system.”

Vanderbilt: “They play a really open offense and it is somewhere I can get in the game and make a really good impact. They are just letting me know that if I were to come they would have a top-three recruiting class in the nation and we would have a lot of eyes on us.”

Seton Hall: “They told me that I could come in and fill the spot left by Desi Rodriguez. They want me to work and come in and provide them a lot of offense.”

Ole Miss: “They shoot the ball a lot, and I have bene talking to them for the past two years so I am definitely looking at them and ... how free they let their guys shoot the ball.”

SMU: “It is a school that you obviously have a chance to go to the NCAA Tournament, and they run a good system and offensively, they let their players play their game.”

South Carolina: “They are definitely involved and definitely want me to come. It is just all a process right now and I am not sure where I am going exactly, but they have been on and off with me so I will see if they end up offering me.”

Hinson has yet to take an official visit to a college program. However, he does have an idea of who he would like to see. “I am planning on visiting Washington State, Ole Miss, Vanderbilt, Seton Hall and SMU,” he said.

When might the decision come for Hinson and possibly reclassifying into the 2018 class? It looks as if that might happen some time next month.

“I will probably decide around the week after the season," he said. "I really just want to lock in on the season.”

A 6-foot-7, strong and active forward who can play the three or the four, what Hinson does best is shoot the basketball. However, he has become a better-rounded prospect in recent months. He could make for a monster of small-ball power forward, thanks to his motor, willingness to defend, rebounding and ability to extend the defense with the perimeter jumper.

Reclassifying into the 2018 class looks to be a legitimate option for Hinson, and while there is still some time to go before a college decision is made, it does look as if SMU, Seton Hall, Washington State, Ole Miss and Vanderbilt sit in a prime spot for an official visit and, ultimately, his college commitment.