NEW YORK – Some potentially good news for N.C. State hoops fans from the Boost Mobile Elite 24 event at Harlem’s Rucker Park.
April Ross, the mother of top five 2011 prospect LaQuinton Ross, wore a bright red N.C. State shirt to the scrimmage on Thursday.
When I asked the 6-foot-8, 195-pound Ross if N.C. State was a school he’s be interested in, he said, “Yes, it is.”
“I’m considering N.C. State, Texas, Florida, Baylor, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Southern Miss and a few more, like Syracuse,” he added.”
Ross recently took an unofficial to N.C. State but doesn’t know much about the school.
“I’ve been there one time this summer and went down there for a little bit,” said Ross, who turns 17 in Nov. “I just like the atmosphere, the campus and all the students. It was good.”
N.C. State head coach Sidney Lowe and assistant Larry Harris followed Ross in Las Vegas in July, and offered him and travel teammate Rodney Hood scholarships.
N.C. State, Georgia Tech, Maryland and basically the whole SEC have already offered Ross, who ranks with shooting guard Tony Wroten of Washington and small forward Michael Gilchrist of St. Patrick of Elizabeth as the consensus top three players in the Class of 2011.
Recruiting analyst Jerry Meyer of Rivals.com has said that Ross shows flashes of NBA greats Tracy McGrady, Kobe Bryant and Kevin Durant. It’s why he’ll be a top target for so many colleges, but a decision could take some time.
“I’m probably going to wait until like the last minute [to decide],” Ross told me.
Ross already has made one important decision, where he’ll be going to high school. He was rumored to be attending Raleigh Word of God, and there has also been talk about Montrose Christian in Rockville, Md., and Oak Hill Academy in Mouth of Wilson, Va.
Instead, Ross will be transferring from Jackson Calloway to famed Jackson Murrah High. He hopes to reach the heights of past Murrah stars Maurice Williams, Lindsey Hunter, James “Hollywood” Robinson, Ronnie Henderson, Jesse Pate and Othella Harrington.
(Jacey Zembal contributed to this post)