Summer star Jasper looking at five visits

College coaches are always looking for point guards that win big games, have good size and make their teammates better. Derrick Jasper encompasses all three traits. The 6-foot-5, 200-pound floor general from Paso Robles (Calif.) High School helped his loaded EBO squad dominate the summer circuit and now he's ready for the next step in recruiting with some official visits.

Jasper, the No. 35 ranked player in the class of 2006, was the anchor for the loaded EBO squad that won the adidas Showtime Nationals in Atlanta, the adidas Super 64 in Las Vegas and the Las Vegas Prep Basketball Showcase against Friends of Hoop-Seattle on a Fox Sports nationally-televised game.

Jasper grabbed 11 rebounds and always seem to find the hot hand in the adidas Super 64 game in Las Vegas. Jasper and his EBO squad was also the heavy favorite to win The Best of Summer tournament in Los Angeles until the event was tragically cancelled due to the death of Miguel Repress out of New York.

With Jasper, the No. 5 ranked point guard in the nation, at the helm, EBO is no stranger to winning. They claimed the adidas 64 in 2004. With back-to-back championships, Jasper said this year was a little sweeter.

"I think we were more prepared this summer," Jasper said. "Last year we would have big leads and then let people come back but this year we really figured out who to put people away."

One of the reasons teams were put away was the confidence and floor management from Jasper. He says it was his best summer yet.

"I think I did pretty good this summer. I was working on passing the ball and trying to get my team involved," Jasper said. "Plus, I think I handled the ball a little better and had less turnovers."

What else would you want from your point guard?

With the dominating Lopez twins on the blocks, TreVon Willis pouring in the points from deep and Quincy Pondexter using his athleticism all tournament long, it was Jasper who was named tournament MVP in Sin City. Somebody had to glue all of that high-major talent together.

Now that he's done all he can do on the hardwood, what is next? His answer is simple.

"I want to take my visits and then decide before my basketball season starts," Jasper said.

Jasper said he'd like to officially visit Washington, Connecticut, Illinois, Kentucky and Memphis with his five trips. All five have offered, he said.

"I like the coaching staffs at all of those schools. Their style of play is the kind I want to play in when I get to college," Jasper said. "I want to contribute as a freshman. I want to help right away."

The Huskies - both Washington and Connecticut - have climbed to the top of his list. Both programs were hard at work in the summer, making as many appearances to see Jasper in action.

Location won't be a factor, he said. "I figure when I go to college, I won't be at home much anyways so why should it matter where I'm at," he said.

Now it's a matter of where to visit. School starts on Aug. 24 at Paso Robles and Jasper said he'll sit down with his family and coaches and determine when and where he'll go for visits.