Palacios Preparing For Two More Visits

The recruiting process for Juan Diego ‘Tello’ Palacios is the most active it’s been since he came to the United States nearly three years ago. The 6-foot-8, 255 pound forward from Our Savior New American (NY) has taken two official trips and has two on the horizon. We caught up with the No. 23 player on the Rivals150 at the NACA national tournament in Dayton, Tennessee and got the latest.

The Columbia native made the trip to Baylor University last week for his second official visit as he took in the sights and sounds of d visited the Waco, Texas. After dealing with Coach Scott Drew and his staff over the phone for the last year, Palacios said the trip was a nice change of pace.

“It was nice. i got to meet all the coaches that you deal with over the phone and talk to. You get an idea of who they are when you talk but when you get there, it’s a little different. I liked what I saw,” Palacios said.

For Baylor (8-23, 3-13 in the Big 12), getting a recruit with Palacios’ reputation speaks volumes for the change of direction of the struggling program. One of their selling points is immediate playing time in a premiere conference. For Palacios, that’s nice but it isn’t as big of deal as some would believe.

“For each player it’s different and each coach is different. Some people think that (Baylor) gives starting jobs away but you still have to earn it and the coach has to still decide if you start,” Palacios said. “I wouldn’t want it any other way.”

Two weeks ago, Palacios also visited Florida State.

“That was nice, too. I liked the campus a lot and their coaches were good. I got along with them good,” Palacios said. “Everything about the campus was great. Very professional.”

He and his Our Savior New American team is in the midst of the NACA national championship tournament in rural Dayton, Tennessee. On Wednesday night, they beat Community Christian School from Georgia. Palacios is slowed down by an injured right wrist, forcing him to shoot with his left hand. He finished the game with 13 points in the 41-32 victory. After the tournament, it’s back to the visits.

“After we finish here on Friday, I’m going to go to Louisville and the team will go back home,” Palacios said. “I’m going to go to Indiana but I’m just not sure when…They got involved like two months ago and I want to know a little bit more about them.”

“I’m still looking at what each school has and listening to what the coaches are saying,” he said. “Right now, everything is equal. When I finish visiting, I’ll think about the final answer…There are three or four other schools that are looking at me and I’m holding that last one until I figure out what school I want to visit.”

The whispers of the NBA still following the forward and like every preps-to-the-pros candidate, Palacios remains uncommitted to the idea right now.

“For every person it is different. If they feel like it is the right time for them, then they go,” Palacios said. “For me, I still don’t know.”

He will be playing in the in the EA Sports Roundball Classic and the adidas All-American game in Knoxville, TN and knows that the scouts will be in attendance to watch him and the rest of the field.

Don’t expect an immediate announcement from him and his future. When news does break, be sure to click onto RivalsHoops for the update.