Young breaks down top six

Perhaps no guard caught fire in July on a national perspective quite like Georgia guard Andre Young did. The 5-foot-9 prospect from Albany (Ga.) Deerfield-Windsor was the name on the tip of the tongue of a number of coaches from across the country this summer. Now Young has trimmed his list down to a more manageable number.

Young told Rivals.com exclusively that Butler, Clemson, College of Charleston, Maryland, Purdue and Wichita State round out his top six. Trimming his list down was a necessity, he said, as recruiting just seemed to take off with no end in sight.

"It got real crazy. There were 10 calls a night," Young said. "It was real crazy."

The craziness is a little more subdued and controlled these days but finding the best one now is just another step in the process. Young said the half dozen schools all have something he likes.

"All of them have pretty good basketball programs and most of those programs are going to the NCAA tournament every year. I want a good shot at winning a National Championship. That's one big factor right there," Young said. "Location; I don't want to go too far. I don't want to go to California or nothing. So location will have a factor."

Young said he likes the pitch that he has heard from Maryland.

"They really just started looking at me in Orlando. Michael Adams, their top assistant coach, played in the NBA and he saw me play and told my dad that they really like me and offered me right there," Young said. "He saw me play against the Westchester Hawks, where I had 35 that game."

Purdue jumped into the picture after seeing him at the Nike Peach Jam, where Young helped his Georgia Blazers team reach the finals of the tournament.

"I've been talking to them for a little while. I've been getting letters from them for a little while. They just recently offered me," the Rivals150 guard said. "I heard they have one of the top recruiting classes coming in so there is a chance that I could be playing with a bunch of really good guys down the road. Me and my family are really liking them right now."

The new Wichita State staff is keeping its Southern connections strong and stayed in the mix with Young.

"I really like what they are talking about. I've been hearing from them for a while and have had some good conversations with (Gregg Marshall)," Young said. "They are in Kansas but I just really like what I've heard from them. He is saying how he likes my game and how I could have a good chance to play coming in. He just seemed like a good guy.

"Butler and Clemson just came in at the end of the AAU Nationals. I like (Butler) because they always make it deep into the NCAA tournament. My high school coach really likes (Butler), too. We plan on giving them a hard look. Clemson is pretty much the same thing. I like what they have to offer."

Rounding out the group is College of Charleston.

"I've been getting interest from them for a while. I've talked to Bobby Cremins and he's a big name coach. Of course, he knows what he's doing," Young said. "He's coached Stephon Marbury and all of those great guards. He knows what he's talking about."

Young said he has yet to visit any of the schools on his list. Young said he could potentially take an unofficial visit to Clemson since it is the closest school to his home on his list. The other five are likely to receive an official visit in the fall, with a decision soon to follow.

"The visits will be very important. I want to see the environment I'll be in and what kind of environment I'll be learning in," Young said. "I want to get to see facilities and all of that because I'll be living there for four years. I need to make sure I know what's going on."