Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson couldn’t resist the urge this week to watch video of the most heralded member of his recruiting class, quarterback Vad Lee of Durham, N.C.
There are high expectations for Lee, who will appear at Tech’s T-Day today. The 6-foot-2, 195-pounder will attend the annual spring scrimmage with many of his fellow recruits.
“I’m excited about my first time going to T-Day and hanging out with the rest of our recruiting class,” Lee said. “It will be good to see everybody again.”
Lee said he will ride to the game with another signee, linebacker Tremayne McNair of Jacksonville, N.C.
“I’ve called and texted just about everybody, and as far I know they are all going to be there on Saturday,” Lee said.
Lee will report to Tech this summer and compete immediately for playing time. “That’s what the coaches have told me all along,” Lee said.
Alabama leads for DB
St. Pius defensive back Geno Smith, who is a candidate to be the state’s No. 1 football prospect for 2012, confirmed that his leader is Alabama, with Tennessee and Florida State rounding out his top three.
Smith, who holds nearly 30 scholarship offers, will make a recruiting trip to FSU this weekend.
What about Tech and Georgia? “[Both] are still in the mix,” Smith said.
The 6-foot, 170-pound Smith is expected to make his decision after his senior season.
Tech, UGA cross paths
New Georgia Tech basketball coach Brian Gregory and Georgia’s Mark Fox made appearances at the same place Wednesday — Miller Grove High School.
The coaching rivals were observing teammates Tony Parker and Brandon Morris, two of the nation’s top basketball prospects for 2012.
Parker is a 6-foot-9, 270-pound power forward who has around 40 offers, including ones from North Carolina, Duke, Georgia Tech and Georgia. Morris is a 6-7, 200-pound wing with around 15 offers, including from Florida, Auburn, Georgia and Clemson.
Tech may be next for Morris. “The previous staff at Georgia Tech didn’t really recruit Brandon that hard, but the new guys have a vested interest,” Miller Grove coach Sharman White said. “They are giving him a good look.”
Bolden reneges
Miami’s search for a basketball coach took too long for Chris Bolden to remain committed to the Hurricanes.
The 6-foot-3 combo guard from Norcross reneged on Miami. On April 4, Frank Haith resigned to take the Missouri job. On Friday, the Hurricanes hired Jim Larranaga from George Mason.
“I talked to some of the assistants at Miami, and they said they are looking for other jobs,” Bolden said. “I just thought it would be fair to myself to open it back up and start the recruiting process over again.”
Bolden is considered one of the nation’s top pure shooters in the 2012 recruiting class. He committed to Miami before the start of his junior season.
Virginia Tech made an offer to Bolden on Thursday, while Georgia Tech and South Carolina are showing interest. Bolden said the feelings are mutual with the Jackets.
“That would be good if I had the chance to go to [there]. It’s in the ACC, and it’s close to home,” Bolden said. “I don’t necessarily have to stay close to home, but Georgia Tech would be a place that I’m familiar with.”
Georgian is Vandy’s first
Vanderbilt’s first commitment for its 2012 football class is North Cobb’s Tre Griffin. The 6-foot-1, 235-pound defensive end had only one scholarship offer, and it was from Vanderbilt. He decided to commit rather than wait.
Griffin attended Tech’s Junior Day last weekend. He said he had interest from the Yellow Jackets, South Carolina, Purdue and Georgia Southern.
