I talked with Malik on Sunday and the tone wasn't quite the same. It hurts the Gophers' chances that McHale left. Plus, his official visit is just becoming longer and longer ago, so the awe and wonder from the visit I'm sure is wearing off. Minnesota has no momentum right now. Pitino has not visited in two weeks. That being said, if he had to commit today, I still think it would be to Minnesota.
That could change this weekend. Frank Martin visited him last week, and set up a South Carolina official visit for this weekend, starting Friday. The Gamecocks have been working hard on Ellison recently. An East Coast 247 guy I've been talking to thinks that he'll go to South Carolina. He thinks shoe brand could be at play, but I'm not so sure. Malik has an odd affinity for Maryland (always lists them as one of the schools recruiting him the hardest and they haven't contacted him in four months), an Under Armour school, and his AAU team was Under Armour. South Carolina is obviously an Under Armour school as well. I just don't think Malik is a high-end enough recruit to be impacted by shoe brand and I think his circle is far too tight and smart to let that happen. I thought I'd lay out the other opinions, though. Regardless of shoe brand, South Carolina is very much in the hunt for Ellison and I would not be surprised at all if they're his favorite after the weekend.
Next is Rutgers. His dad likes Rutgers. Malik has taken a visit there and may do so again. I'd consider South Carolina and Rutgers competition 1A and 1B.
Third is Wake Forest. They had assistants visit him last week, and he might take an official visit there in two weeks. Danny Manning hasn't visited Ellison, so I don't think they're after him quite as hard as South Carolina or Rutgers.
I'd be surprised if he chose anyone else. He plans to commit this month but said he won't be committing at the start of the Signing Period on Wednesday.
The article is linked below. Comment away and let me know if there are questions.
Malik Ellison talks Gophers in detail
That could change this weekend. Frank Martin visited him last week, and set up a South Carolina official visit for this weekend, starting Friday. The Gamecocks have been working hard on Ellison recently. An East Coast 247 guy I've been talking to thinks that he'll go to South Carolina. He thinks shoe brand could be at play, but I'm not so sure. Malik has an odd affinity for Maryland (always lists them as one of the schools recruiting him the hardest and they haven't contacted him in four months), an Under Armour school, and his AAU team was Under Armour. South Carolina is obviously an Under Armour school as well. I just don't think Malik is a high-end enough recruit to be impacted by shoe brand and I think his circle is far too tight and smart to let that happen. I thought I'd lay out the other opinions, though. Regardless of shoe brand, South Carolina is very much in the hunt for Ellison and I would not be surprised at all if they're his favorite after the weekend.
Next is Rutgers. His dad likes Rutgers. Malik has taken a visit there and may do so again. I'd consider South Carolina and Rutgers competition 1A and 1B.
Third is Wake Forest. They had assistants visit him last week, and he might take an official visit there in two weeks. Danny Manning hasn't visited Ellison, so I don't think they're after him quite as hard as South Carolina or Rutgers.
I'd be surprised if he chose anyone else. He plans to commit this month but said he won't be committing at the start of the Signing Period on Wednesday.
The article is linked below. Comment away and let me know if there are questions.
Malik Ellison talks Gophers in detail
