McDonalds recruitment hits another gear

The Memphis Briarcrest High School gym has had some traffic and Coach John Harrington has had some phone calls. The recruitment of five-star 2009 prospect Leslie McDonald has shifted into another gear.

On Wednesday, assistant coaches from Duke and Ohio State along with Ole Miss head coach Andy Kennedy watched the 6-foot-4, 190-pound combo guard play in an open gym. Vanderbilt was on campus last week.

Since the Boo Williams event, Kansas, North Carolina, Georgetown and Florida State called. Georgetown and Florida State have set up on campus visits for next week.

"Leslie must have played well at Boo Williams," said Coach Harrington. "He has moved from a regional recruit to a national recruit after Boo Williams.

With young prospects it can be difficult keeping up with who really has officially offered, but Coach Harrington had this assessment of McDonald's offers.

"All the regional schools have offered," he said. "I don't want to say that Duke and Ohio State offered, but I can tell you that they left the gym very impressed. I wouldn't be surprised if they offer him soon."

The No. 11 ranked prospect in the class of 2009, McDonald is running with the Memphis YOMCA this spring and summer. He will play in Dallas the last weekend in April along with the NIKE Memorial Day Classic and the Peach Jam. He will also attend the NIKE Steve Nash Point Guard Camp and the NIKE Lebron James Top 100 Camp.

Leslie McDonald scouting report:

A solid athlete with a smooth shooting stroke, McDonald is in the process of extending his range and improving his consistency from deep. He has the potential to be a great shooter. When crowded he loves to take the ball left and shoot either a pull up or floater. Has a good feel for moving without the ball and is capable of playing some point guard. He also has the length and quickness to be a lockdown defender.