Each week, Rivals national recruiting analyst Rob Cassidy asks a handful of elite basketball prospects a survey question and compiles the answers in this space.
*****
MORE SURVEY: Remembering awkward interactions with coaches
MORE CASSIDY: Florida Man thoughts
2021 Rankings: Rivals150 | Team | Position
2022 Rankings: Rivals150 | Team
*****
What coach on the recruiting trail has been easiest to talk to?
THE ANSWER: Georgia head coach Tom Crean, Georgia assistant Chad Dollar, Indiana assistant Mike Roberts, Purdue head coach Matt Painter and Purdue assistant Micah Shrewsberry.
THE EXPLANATION: “It’s really hard to say, to be honest. I can’t pick one. It’s probably a tie between all the ones I mentioned. I like all those guys equally. They’re all easy to talk to.”
*****
THE ANSWER: Iowa State assistant coach James Kane.
THE EXPLANATION: “James Kane from Iowa State. I've known him in the past, so I have a longtime connection with him. I can talk to him like I know him.”
*****
THE ANSWER: Memphis head coach Anfernee Hardaway
THE EXPLANATION: “My relationship with him was different than it was with other coaches. He was just real with me. He never really told me I could come in and start right away or anything like that. He gave it to me real and told me what I could accomplish if I put in the work.”
*****
THE ANSWER: Florida assistant Jordan Mincy
THE EXPLANATION: “There are a few, but it’s probably Coach Mincy from Florida. He relates to me real well. We have great conversations. It just flows with him. That’s pretty much it.”
*****
THE ANSWER: Kentucky assistant Jai Lucas and Texas head coach Shaka Smart
THE EXPLANATION: “The original coach that was recruiting me at Texas, Jai Lucas. He’s really cool. He’s at Kentucky now, but he was the one originally talking to me. I liked the way we talked. Shaka [Smart] handled a lot of my recruitment, though, so I’d say him, too.”