Owens getting closer to a decision

With his final visit ahead of him this weekend, Josh Owens could be the next Rivals150 player off the class of 2007 recruiting board.

The 6-foot-8, 190-pound forward from Exeter Academy in Plymouth, N.H. will make his final official visit this weekend to Penn. The Marietta, Ga., native has already visited Notre Dame, Stanford and Vanderbilt. Tilton said Owens eliminated Notre Dame shortly after visiting South Bend.

"Anyone that is involved with his recruitment will be happy when it all comes to a close," Exeter head coach Jay Tilton said. "It's a long process and he has some tough choices ahead of him. Trying to take all of the visits with the academic demands that he has is asking a lot out of a 17-year-old kid."

Owens isn't a normal 17-year-old kid though. Outside of attending one of the best academic prep schools in the nation, Owens is the No. 143 ranked basketball player in the class of 2007. According to Tilton, he's an accomplished writer and graphic artist.

Now he is soon to be a committed student athlete. Tilton said he anticipates Owens making a decision shortly after his trip to the Ivy League school.

"I don't know if he needs two more weeks," Tilton said. "The one thing about Josh is that he is a thorough kid. He's done his homework and doing everything he can to prepare for a decision. All of the schools on his list have been recruiting him since last year and Josh has had the opportunity to really evaluate each school, each staff and, more importantly, each academic situation. I think it should just take him a few days to decide (after his Penn visit)."

The process of picking a school is a matter of picking a place that has a balance of academics and ability to play a big role with his future team, says Tilton.

"No question academics are important to him. He doesn't want to go to a situation where he can't be counted on but he also expects to pay his dues with the team. He doesn't want to go to a school and be a project."