Stephenson taking game to UNC-Wilmington
College coaches could begin in-home visits on Sunday night and UNC-Wilmington went to its top target's house and walked away with a verbal commitment. Jerel Stephenson, a 6-foot-4, 205-pound shooting guard from Augusta's Glenn Hills High School, pledged his services to the Colonial Athletic school.
According to Stephenson's AAU coach Curtis Wheeler, the three-star prospect liked all of the facets that UNC-Wilmington offered.
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"Playing time, playing style (and his) relationship with the coaching staff were major factors in the decision," Wheeler said.
"I think playing style was it. They offer him a chance to play right away from the start and he'll be able to do what he likes to do on the court."
Southern Illinois was also in the mix for the Southern star.
"(UNC-Wilmington) recruited him the hardest," Wheeler said. "They just didn't miss a game. They came to a high school game of his and didn't miss any of his games (on the AAU circuit.) Benny Moss saw him as a tenth grader when he was at Charlotte and stayed on him."
Two of his other high school teammates are Division I bound. Point guard Reggie Middleton gave a verbal to Winthrop and Chris Reynolds pledged to Campbell.