Three schools in final hour with Appleton

With three high-major schools on his list, Tyrone Appleton is in the process of trying to figure out where he will play his college basketball. The Gary, Ind., native says he intends on signing early but not on Nov. 9 like so many other seniors. Who is the 6-foot-3, 190-pound guard form Harmony Community School looking at?

"My recruitment is basically down to three schools," Appleton said. "Virginia Tech, Washington and Missouri are the ones I'm looking at. I feel like I'd fit in with their programs. They play my style and I feel like I could bring some leadership to the team. I like the way they all are fast break teams that like to get up and down the floor."

Appleton knows that he's on the clock, especially during this week where seniors ink their futures.

"I want to sign early but it won't be on the first day," Appleton said.

One of the reasons why is his interest in the Washington Huskies. Appleton does not have an offer from the Pac-10 school but says he'd like to have one and make a trip to Seattle.

"I've been watching Washington for a while," Appleton said. "I like their program but I was really surprised when they called. I wasn't expecting it."

Appleton has visited both Missouri and Virginia Tech and both were worth the time spent, he says.

"It was pretty cool," Appleton said of his trip to Missouri. "The basketball players are all cool people. They all made me feel really welcomed. That's how it was at Virginia Tech, too."

A decision is coming, Appleton says, and after he signs with a school, the three-star guard is looking forward to focusing all of his efforts to the hardwood with his loaded Harmony team.

"I like the way this team works hard. We are getting it all down," Appleton said. "This team reminds me a lot of my team last year at Bridgton just because we knew how bad we had to work to win and compete. We all want it here. I know I need to be a leader. I want to help all of these guys."