Kitchen is open
Since failing to get the scores needed to be admitted to the University of Florida, Derwin Kitchen has decided to open his recruitment.
Kitchen, a 6-foot-4, 180-pound guard, told Rivals.com that he has decided to explore his options outside of the Gators, who will release him from his letter of intent in the near future.
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"I'm wide open," Kitchen said. "It's kind of good to see the recruiting process again. I don't know, maybe it will be easier this time."
"If Florida recruits me again, I'd definitely look at them," Kitchen said.
The Gators will recruit him, according to David Jones, Kitchen's AAU coach and confidant in the recruiting process. So will a number of other schools.
"He's going to go to the right place for him," Jones said. "He'll probably take some visits in March and early April. Hopefully we can knock it down to three or four schools, maybe five. I know he won't be taking any unofficial visits. We don't want to waste anybody's time."
Jones said he's fielded interest from St. John's, Virginia Tech, South Carolina, Illinois, Miami and Jacksonville since Kitchen decided to re-open his recruitment.
Kitchen is one of the better players now open in the class of 2006. He was the No. 68 rated player in the class of 2005 by Rivals.com after a strong career at Jacksonville Raines High School.
The four-star prospect said he would like to find the right fit no matter where the school is located.
"I want to find a place where I can fit in and has an opportunity for me to play," Kitchen said. "I don't have to play right away but if that happens, it happens. I just want to play."
Kitchen has made the transition to the point guard position this year at Florida Prep, averaging a modest 10 points and six assists.
"We've been playing a lot of JUCO teams this year. It's been some good competition. I've been running the point guard," Kitchen said.
"I think I can (play the point) at the next level. I've been able to do it so far at Florida Prep against some good players and done pretty good."
Those could be the magic words for a number of programs still looking for an immediate help in the backcourt.