Negedu ends the process
Decision day has come for Emmanuel Negedu. The recruiting process is finally over for the four-star forward from Nigeria.
After committing to Arizona, asking for a release from his Letter of Intent from the Wildcats in late May and narrowing down his list to four finalists – Indiana, Georgia Tech, Memphis and Tennessee, Negedu knows where he'll be going to college in the fall.
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"It's Tennessee," said Jason Smith, Negedu's head coach at Brewster Academy (N.H.). "I think it was mainly because he was familiar with them prior to him committing to Arizona. They recruited him pretty hard before. I think he was just familiar with them more.
Negedu went on a 10-day, four-school tour this month and visited each of his finalists. Smith said when the 6-foot-6 forward went on his visit to Tennessee, there was an immediate connection to Bruce Pearl and the Vol program and players.
"They made me feel like I was already going to school there," Negedu said. "They made me feel like I had already been a part of their team and everyone there, the students, the people, everyone, made me feel like I was at home."
"I think that is what put them over the top," Smith said. "When he was there on their campus, everyone but maybe Renaldo [Woolridge] was on campus. Emmanuel said he liked their family atmosphere and felt really comfortable there campus and their style. I think he felt like it was really attractive."
Negedu, the No. 40 ranked player in the class of 2008, gives the Volunteers another major addition to the class of 2008. Pearl and company signed the nation's No. 10 overall recruiting class so far. The class includes Scotty Hopson, Renaldo Woolridge, Philip Jurick, Bobby Maze and Daniel West.
"It's a great school and they have a great coach," Negedu said. "It felt like home there. I like the way that they play. I felt like it is a perfect for me.
"Their style fits my style probably the best. It was tough calling the other schools but I knew I could only go to one school."
Negedu decided the one school was Tennessee on Tuesday.