Okafor wants to choose before season
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This summer, the class of 2014's top-ranked player, Jahlil Okafor, has been through it all. He's played grassroots ball with the Mac Irvin Fire, he won a gold medal with USA Basketball, and he's finishing at Adidas Nations.
While some participants look to be dragging a bit from an effort standpoint, Okafor has been dominant through the first two rounds of play. The product of Chicago (Ill.) Whitney Young says the chance to play with players he doesn't usually get to compete with makes it easy for him to find energy.
"It's not really hard to have energy," Okafor told Rivals.com. "I love Adidas Nations and it's one of my favorite camps to go to and they take good care of us.
"This is my first time ever playing with a guy like Kevon Looney and my first time with Stanley Johnson this summer, so being able to do that makes it a lot of fun."
As the nation's top player, the skilled center is subject to plenty of opinions. Good or bad, Okafor tries not to worry about them. However, when he speaks to former NBA players who tell him he has loads of potential, it is tough to ignore.
"I'm not really worried about it. I try not to worry about that too much," Okafor said. "Like here I've got Ralph Sampson to work with and guys like that telling me I have a chance to be great. When hall of fame guys like that, or talking to CP3 (Chris Paul) or Carmelo (Anthony) last week, talking to those guys and hearing what they think kind of opens your eyes."
Okafor is down to a final eight of Arizona, Baylor, Duke, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan State and Ohio State. He's set a visit only to Baylor for the final weekend of August.
According to Okafor, the nation's No. 2 player, Tyus Jones, will be on the Baylor visit with him. He said he wouldn't be surprised if he and Jones -- who have long been discussed as a package deal -- take visits to different schools.
Most important, Okafor has to decide on his final four visits so that he can get a decision out of the way.
"It has to be soon," Okafor said. "I'm trying to go ahead and get this commitment done before my senior season starts.
"That's what all the guys here have been saying. They are all like they want to commit, and I don't want to drag it out either."
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