Small town prospect catching on
Hailing from Waldo, Ark., a one stop-sign town, it isn't a big surprise that a lot of people haven't heard about Eric McKinney. The 6-foot-7 forward is spending a year at Genesis One in Mendenhall, Miss., and catching the eyes of recruiters this season.
McKinney originally committed to Jackson State in the summer but decided to pull out of his verbal commitment to the SWAC school. Since then, the Arkansas native said he's seen his recruitment take on a new form.
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McKinney said his list now comprises of Western Illinois, Alabama, Tennessee, Arkansas-Little Rock and a handful of junior colleges.
"I'm wide open right now, just looking for a good school to go to," McKinney said. "I want to find that place that will take care of me. I want a place with a good coach. A good coach means everything to me. I know I need to just keep going out and playing hard and everything will take care of itself."
Playing alongside guys like Michael Washington, Gary Flowers and Verice Cloyd, McKinney said he's understanding what it takes to sign at the highest level.
"I love playing with these guys," he said. "I grew up in Waldo, Arkansas. No one knows where that is. I just try to learn as much as I can now that I'm (at Genesis One)."
McKinney is a physical specimen that loves to play above the rim and abuse the rim with his dunks. He fit's the mold of blue collar and relies on his athleticism and Genesis One's transition offense to shine on the floor. He's a solid mid-major target for the spring period.