By hiring Rusty LaRue, Wake Forest might have moved to the top of the unusual recruiting chase for Forsyth Country Day School point guard Tyler Lewis.
Lewis might be the top Class of 2012 prospect in North Carolina. On Wednesday, Wake Forest announced that LaRue - one of the greatest three-sport athletes in ACC and Deacons history – was leaving Forsyth Country Day of Lewisville to join coach Dino Gaudio’s staff.
Lewis now has scholarship offers from the Charlotte 49ers, Auburn and Virginia Tech, plus a former high school coach on Wake Forest’s staff.
“I wouldn’t say that this makes it a slam dunk for Tyler to attend Wake if offered, but it does have a big impact,” Rick Lewis, Tyler’s father, wrote in an e-mail. “As I told Rusty many times, we basically selected FCDS because of him.”
Wake Forest hasn’t offered a scholarship yet but has recruited Lewis heavily. And the Deacons’ failure to offer might just be a reflection of Gaudio’s stated reluctance to offer a scholarship to a freshman.
Lewis will start his sophomore season in the fall. He is an unusual prospect because he is just 5-foot-11 and 150 pounds, but possesses exceptional vision, court sense and passing ability. He averaged 12.8 points and 5.3 assists per game last season as a freshman.
The Lewises admire LaRue and Wake Forest, but also are fond of the coaches at Virginia Tech, Auburn and Charlotte.
“Virginia Tech was the first school to offer Tyler and that means a lot,” Rick Lewis wrote. “While many schools questioned his size, etc., Virginia Tech stepped up to the plate and offered as did Auburn and Charlotte.”
LaRue has told the Lewises that Wake Forest still will be recruiting Tyler. That could help the Deacons land him – if they decide to offer a scholarship. If not, Lewis has other attractive options.
“I had and still have tremendous respect and admiration for Coach LaRue,” Rick Lewis wrote. “Wake is an ACC school and is only 45 minutes away, plus the academics are great. While Wake has questioned his size, other schools that have offered don’t think his size is going to be a problem.” - Ken Tysiac
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Hiring LaRue could help Deacs recruit Lewis
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3 comments:
This is the sort of thing where recruiting gets really shady... Since there aren't rules against it, I suppose I couldn't argue if the Wolfpack took the same route, but the NCAA needs to look at this - 100% this is a move to get Lewis. No disrespect to LaRue, but he wouldn't be brought it if it wasn't for this kid, and that's wrong.
Jay is correct on this. Look at the OJ Mayo situation.
Jay Kohler, how can you say he wouldnt be brought in if it werent for this? Larue one of the best athletes Wake has ever had (hard to believe I know but look it up) and has stayed in the community since playing in the pros.
He also has Head coaching experience at the college level as well (Greensboro College I believe). So to say he wouldnt be brought in if not for this is just stupid to say.
And no...I am in no way or fashion a Wake fan, but I am not stupid enough to blame them for cheating.
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