By ALEX SCHIFFER
Special to ZAGSBLOG
It’s been a busy week for Wade Baldwin.
After guiding Sports U to the semifinals of the Philly Jam Fest last Sunday, the 2014 St. Joe’s-Metuchen guard spent the next few days adding to his growing list of potential suitors.
The 6-foot-3 Baldwin landed an offer from Virginia Tech on Monday followed by one from Penn State on Wednesday. On Thursday Rutgers coach Eddie Jordan called Baldwin to give him his third offer of the week. And on Saturday Minnesota coach Richard Pitino offered.While Baldwin is just starting to know the coaching staff he hinted that he is “eager to see Rutgers turn things around.”
Baldwin is coming off his best season in high school yet as he averaged 17.2 point and eight assists per game while helping St. Joe’s reach the Tournament of Champions final for the first time in school history.
Baldwin actually got the chance to play on the Scarlet Knights home floor this season when the Falcons played East Brunswick in the GMC Finals. Baldwin’s late game heroics helped give St. Joe’s their fourth straight title.
Rutgers’ offer couldn’t have come sooner as in-state rival Seton Hall has already made great strides in Baldwin’s recruitment. The Pirates offered him last year, and recently boosted their chances when they added Fred Hill to their staff.
Hill recruited the Montgomery native when he was at Northwestern. Baldwin has certainly acknowledged the Pirates’ effort.
“Fred Hill and Shaheen Holloway are probably the two coaches that have recruited me the hardest during this live period and throughout my high school career and I definitely want to honor them,” he said. “Seton Hall is definitely a place I’ll keep on my top list.”
The two New Jersey schools aren’t the only ones after Baldwin’s services as Tech’s offer has its own advantage. Baldwin hails from Virginia and had visited Blacksburg long before the Hokies offered. With VCU and Richmond also among Baldwin’s other offers, the lure of playing college basketball in his home state has already crossed through his mind.
“I’m actually moving back to Virginia after I graduate so my residence will be there,” he said. “It’s definitely something I’ve thought about but it won’t be something I base my whole decision off of.”
While Baldwin plans on visiting Penn State and Virginia Tech soon, it’s safe to say his recruitment is far from over.
Photo: Marlo Williamson
