By Sam Hosey Jr.
Friday, February 26, 2010
Jonathon Horford is ready. Grand Ledge's 6-foot-9 senior big man is ready to end his recruitment and move on to the next phase of his life. Problem is, he's not sure where it will be. But he does have a pretty good idea.
"Right now I'm talking mostly to my Top 3 -- Michigan, Providence and Cal," Horford said Monday night after leading his Grand Ledge team to an 85-63 blowout win over Eastern. "Those are the schools I have the most interest in.
"Unless something came in somehow, I don't see where anything's going to come in, it's probably going to come down to one of those three schools."
Horford is pretty frank and blunt in how he handles life. If he has an opinion, he shares it. If he doesn't, he keeps quiet. His recruitment has been similar and Horford knows what he wants.
"I'm just looking for somewhere I can go in and develop as a player and win games," he said. "I mean, I love to win. I hate losing. So going to a program that wins a lot of games, that means a lot to me. Going somewhere where I can contribute to us winning games means a lot to me. So that's the main thing I'm looking for."
Most basketball fans are somewhat familiar with Horford's family with father Tito and brother Al making headlines over the years. But the younger Horford has made his own mark. Prep Spotlight Magazine ranks him the No. 4 senior in Michigan and the top-ranked power forward.
Even still, the comparisons with Al are there, and they'll likely remain and Horford knows it.
"There's always a little bit of pressure there, but nothing wrong with a little bit of pressure," said Horford, who still talks to Al three or four times a week. "I mean, we've been competing for years. We compete in everything, it doesn't matter. So I just take it as another challenge and it's time for me to step up and work hard. And if I work hard then I know I'll be successful."
Of his Top 3 schools, Horford says that only Providence has offered a scholarship, but the staff at California will offer him when he takes his official visit there in April. Horford says an offer hasn't come from Michigan, but he still has them high on his list and holds John Beilein in high regard.
"About Michigan, you can't beat (being) close to home," Horford said. "You can't beat their style of play. The big man gets to shoot from the outside. And I really think Coach Beilein could help develop my outside game to make me into a much better player."
In a down year for the PAC 10, the Bears are still having a solid season. While their courtship of Horford has been brief, he's taken note of this year's success.
"Cal, they just came into the picture recently but obviously they win a lot of games, they're ahead of the PAC 10 right now," Horford said. "I mean, that's the place you want to go if you want to win a lot of games."
Providence has had an offer on the table for some time and Horford isn't opposed to the idea of going out East.
"Providence just has a great coaching staff," he said. "They're in a great basketball conference the Big East. They have a lot of young talent and I think I can go in there and contribute probably next year."
Horford says he will make a decision some time in April.
Next up, however, will be districts as Grand Ledge faces the winner of Mason and Battle Creek-Lakeview on Wednesday, March 10. From there it's probable that the Comets would face Class A No. 13-ranked Holt on Friday for the Holt District title.
