Turner has plenty of options
July is the most important month of the year for top basketball recruits trying to earn as many scholarship offers as they can. College coaches follow them all over the country as they evaluate prospects.
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For New Hampton (N.H.) Prep guard A.J. Turner, he's going to have to show college coaches what he's made of during September. An ankle injury suffered just days before he was set to compete at the LeBron James camp kept him out all of July. That being said, he still has plenty of options to pick from even if no new offers come his way.
"I've been talking to Wake Forest, Indiana, Michigan, Virginia, Boston College, Stanford, Harvard and West Virginia," said Turner, who is taking an official visit to Wake Forest on Sept. 27 after already taking one to Stanford. "I'm keeping the rest of (my visits) open because I didn't get to play in July and don't know what is going to happen."
First-year head coach Danny Mannings's background as a player and coach intrigues Turner, as well as the opportunity to play in the ACC.
"They have a really good program. Coach Manning is a very respected guy. He played in the NBA and played a lot of basketball, so he knows a lot about the game. To play for a coach like him would be a great honor. I could learn a lot from him. I have a great relationship with him. Also, I think the ACC is the best conference in the country."
Turner's official visit to Stanford left a strong impression.
"The campus is beautiful. Coach (Johnny) Dawkins is a great coach. I'm really good friends with his son because he went to New Hampton with me last year. I really liked the visit. They called me after they got their commitments and told my dad they are still very interested in me and it doesn't affect how they are going to recruit me because I'm so high on their board. Between Stanford's academics and playing in the Pac-12, I think it would be a great situation."
Boston College started recruiting Turner under the last coaching staff, but Jim Christian's staff has picked up right where they left off.
"I visited Boston College before the new coaching staff, but it was cool. They showed me all the facilities. I went there when the football team played Florida State and once when the basketball team played against Notre Dame. I liked it. I got a feel for the fan base. Right now, I really like Boston College. I have a really strong relationship with Coach Murphy. He was recruiting me at Rhode Island and now he's recruiting me even harder at Boston College."
Harvard's academic reputation along with their recent success on the basketball court has caught Turner's attention.
"Obviously, their academics are great. I'm really big on academics and Harvard is the cream of the crop, as is Stanford. They are in the Ivy League and they make the tournament every year. I had a good time on my unofficial. Coach (Tommy) Amaker stresses to me all the time how he needs me. I think it would be a great situation for me too. Not too many people can say they have a degree from Harvard."
Turner has certainly taken notice of Michigan's development of guards under John Beilein.
"Obviously it's the in-state school and they have a great program. Coach Beilein is a great coach. I grew up out here so I know a lot about the school and I think I would fit into their playing style. All the guards there seem to make big steps forward as their careers go on. I think it would be a great situation."
Since he didn't get a chance to play during July, Turner's timeline for taking visits and making a decision are still up in the air. That picture will become clearer within the next couple months.
"With me not playing all July, I don't know when I'm going to set up more officials. I'm definitely going to wait and play in the open gyms at New Hampton for a month or so and take it from there. We'll look at where the schools are and what my list looks like. I could possibly make my decision this fall, but I'm not sure yet."
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