Myles Turner is one of just two uncommitted players in the Class of 2014 named to the McDonald’s All-American Game.
Findlay Prep shooting guard Rashad Vaughn is the other.
Between that event set for April 2 and the Nike Hoop Summit set for April 12 in Portland, Ore., the 6-foot-11 Turner will get an opportunity to team with several players who are already committed to schools he’s considering.
David Turner, Myles’ father, said his son will use the games to determine “how much camaraderie and chemistry there is” with the other players.
“It is an excellent opportunity for Myles to judge for himself where he is,” David told SNY.tv.
In the McDonald’s game, for example, Turner will play on the East team that also features the Duke-bound duo of Tyus Jones and Justise Winslow.
That team also features Ohio State-bound guard D’Angelo Russell, Kansas pledge Cliff Alexander and Kentucky signee Karl Towns — all schools he is considering.
Antonio Russell, D’Angelo’s father, said he stays in touch with David Turner and D’Angelo and Myles are in contact.
“Ohio State needs Myles Turner,” Antonio told SNY.tv. “The rest of the schools just want him.”
In the Nike Hoop Summit, Turner will get a chance to play alongside three Duke commits in Jones, Winslow and big man Jahlil Okafor, as well as Kansas pledges Alexander and Kelly Oubre.
“I’m giving [Kansas] a really hard look,” Turner said Thursday in a USA Today online chat, adding that he hadn’t set a visit date yet. “I like the fact that they signed two heavy hitters in Kelly Oubre and Cliff Alexander. I’m interested to see what’ it’s gonna be like teaming up with them at the Nike Hoop Summit!”
Kansas could lose Joel Embiid and Andrew Wiggins as the 1-2 picks in the Draft, and Turner called that possibility “very enticing” in his USA Today chat.
Still, if Embiid, the projected No. 1 pick in the Draft opts to stay, Kansas would be out for Turner.
“Coach [Bill] Self told me himself that Embid stays it’s not worth my time,” Turner said.
Meantime, you can bet the Duke guys will be working hard to convince Turner he can coexist with Okafor.
“I really like Coach K and the history Duke has with producing NBA talent,” Turner said in the USA Today chat. “I could definitely play alongside another big man. In college and the next level that’s what I’ll have to do.”
Turner hasn’t set a visit for Duke yet but said he plans to visit.
“I definitely want him at Duke with me,” Okafor, who will be playing the McDonald’s Game in his hometown of Chicago, told Jason Jordan of USA Today. “I want to win a title and I want to play with the best.”
Kentucky also remains in the mix.
“Absolutely! I like what they have to offer,” he said in the USA Today chat.
He added: “Stands out how many guys Coach Cal sends to the league every year.”
Turner said in the USA Today chat that his current list includes Arizona, Duke, Kansas, Kentucky, Ohio State, Oklahoma State and Texas.
Turner visits Oklahoma State this weekend and confirmed to the Fort-Worth Star-Telegram that he is targeting an April decision.
“I don’t look at it as pressure at all,“ Turner said. “As far as what I end up doing, where I go, I’m an open book and I’m going to let the chips fall where they may. I really like the idea of playing four years and getting my degree is what I would do. But if the opportunity presented itself and I develop like I think I can, I could see being one and done also.”
DraftExpress.com has Turner projected as the No. 2 pick in the 2015 Draft behind Okafor and ahead of Alexander.
Photo: Star-Telegram
