Look out for Kadeem Jack.
A 6-foot-9, 210-pound senior big man from Manhattan Rice High School, Jack will visit Arizona Wednesday night and return Friday in time for the SNY Invitational beginning Friday at Long Island University in Brooklyn.
“I’m going to get back on Friday morning,” Jack said by phone.
Jack plays on a loaded Rice team that includes Kansas-State bound guard Shane Southwell and star junior Jermaine Sanders, who is being recruited by numerous Big East programs.
Jack only began playing hoops in the summer before ninth grade, yet he has quickly blossomed into one of the most exciting and accomplished big men in the nation.
He recently dropped 24 points and 20 boards on Villanova-bound forward JayVaughn Pinkston and Bishop Loughlin.
Jack said Providence, Miami, Florida, Seton Hall, St. John’s, UConn, Arkansas and Georgia were among the other schools recruiting him.
Asked if certain schools were showing the most love, Jack said: “I wouldn’t say it’s one school. All of them showed me love. Each school has a different way to recruit players.”
As for his visit schedule, the remaining visits will have to wait until after Rice’s season ends.
“I’m taking this visit and the rest after the season’s over,” said Jack, who will have four officials remaining after the Arizona trip.
Arizona assistant Book Richardson helped bring New Yorkers Lamont “Momo” Jones and Kevin Parrom to the desert, and now he’s targeting fellow New Yorkers Jack and 6-4 guard Doron Lamb of Oak Hill (Va.) Academy. Richardson coached with the New York Gauchos before leaving for college and Jack plays for the Gauchos now.
“I don’t know him that well at all,” Jack said of Richardson. “I just started speaking to him. A lot of people have told me he’s a great guy.”
He also said he likes coach Sean Miller’s style of play.
“They play the same offense that I like to run. the open floor. Everybody’s running. I like that about Sean Miller,” he said.
Ultimately, Jack said he wants to play both forward spots wherever he lands.
“I’m looking for a school that I can play the four/three and a school that’s looking to develop me and I can play right away, not 2 -3 minutes a game,” Jack said.
Considering he’s only been playing ball for four years, Jack said it’s still surprising to him how highly he’s being recruited.
“Yeah, it feels kind of strange where I was before,” he said. “Everything is just hitting me now.”
(Photo courtesy Daily News).
Follow Adam Zagoria on Twitter
