Dillon Lee, one of the state's most heavily recruited college football prospects for 2012, on Monday committed to Alabama, picking the Crimson Tide over Florida State.
The 6-foot-4, 210-pound linebacker from Buford High School also considered Georgia and USC.
"I have a good relationship with Coach [Nick Saban], and I felt more comfortable there when I was on my visits," Lee said.
Lee made numerous recruiting trips to FSU and Alabama; he didn't visit USC. Georgia was the last of nearly 20 scholarship offers.
He turned down the Bulldogs, even though his older brother, Dallas Lee, plays offensive line for them. Georgia linebackers coach Kirk Olivadotti, newly hired, called Lee with an offer on May 2.
"I was very serious about Georgia," Lee said. "My brother plays there. … But they just came in late [in the recruiting process]."
Lee's brother never tried to influence the decision. Said Dallas Lee, "A lot of Georgia folks wanted him to come there when he got that offer. But really that was up to Dillon. I didn't pressure him about it.
"It would be cool if he would've come to Georgia. We'd get to play together in college. He didn't feel like Georgia was the best place for him -- so ‘Bama it is."
Lee has started both ways, playing tight end for Buford, which has won four consecutive Class AA state championships.
LB picks Vanderbilt
Tucker High School linebacker Jacob Sealand committed to Vanderbilt over Virginia Tech, Wake Forest, Purdue and North Carolina on Sunday.
“It was the best overall choice anyone could make, especially for myself,” Sealand said. “I’ve always put education first. I feel like with Vandy I don’t have to settle for a sub-par education just to join a winning program.
“I feel like I can go to Vanderbilt, help turn the program around, and be a part of a winning team that will compete for SEC championships, along with getting a world-class education.”
Basketball recruiting
Virginia Commonwealth was the uplifting story of March Madness, and beat out much bigger schools again last weekend -- this time for one of Georgia's top 2012 college basketball prospects. Lovejoy High School's 6-foot-8 forward Justin Tuoyo committed to VCU over Virginia Tech and Memphis, among others. A lot of it had to do with the star power of the team's coach, Shaka Smart. "We had a great relationship once we started talking," Tuoyo said. "My mom liked him. We have a good relationship with the entire coaching staff. They are really good and they really wanted me. They recruited me harder than anybody, so that's why I picked them over the other schools." ... Former Pebblebook High standout Damien Wilson said he was about to commit to Memphis on Twitter on Saturday, which was before he informed the coaching staff. The 6-4 shooting guard plays at Virginia's Oak Hill prep school. ... Union Grove point guard Charles Mann and North Clayton shooting guard Marcus Hunt both had unofficial visits with Georgia coach Mark Fox on Sunday
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