By JACOB POLACHECK
After cutting his list to seven earlier this month, class of 2023 four-star guard Carl Cherenfant says that a new school is entering the mix.
The 6-foot-4, 190-pound shooting guard from Calvary Christian Academy (FL) and the Atlanta Xpress AAU program, said in an interview with ZAGSBLOG that Alabama is the latest school to start recruiting him.
“I have a Zoom meeting with them in the next couple of days,” Cherenfant said by phone. “They play fast and they’ve had good, talented, athletic guards recently. They play in the SEC where the competition is fierce. Just hearing from them is a big thing. I want to hear them out, what they have to say and hear their plans on everything.”
Alabama joins Cherenfant’s recently released top seven, which include LSU, Memphis, Mississippi State, South Carolina, St. John’s, UCF and USF.
“When it comes down to it, I’m going to pick the best program that has my best interest at heart,” Cherenfant said. “I need both of our goals to line up. Those seven right now, in my eyes, give me the best possibility to do those things.”
He broke down each program:
LSU: “They’ve been on me for a while. Obviously, Matt McMahon coached Ja Morant and other big time guards at Murray State. This is going to be his first year at LSU. They let their guards play. They play up and down. That’s the type of player I am – getting up and down, playing in transition and playing fast. He lets his guards make plays.”
Memphis: “Obviously, they’ve got Penny Hardaway at the helm. What his brand is as a person brings a huge intriguing factor with Memphis. They love my versatility and what I can do on the floor at all times, whether it’s defensively or offensively. Their pitch has been strong. They want to put the basketball in my hands and let me take over Memphis.”
Mississippi State: “They recently got on me after the live period ended. They like my guard play and what I can bring right away to the school. They let their guards play and that’s what they were telling me they would allow me to do over there.”
South Carolina: “They just got a new coaching staff over there. Obviously, they have a good, winning tradition with everything they’re building with that coaching staff. They love my defense ability and offensively, how I’m active, athletic and how I can make plays.”
St. John’s: “Defensively, they press, they play fast, get up and down the court, let their guards play and that’s the way I want to play at the end of the day. I want to play fast, get in transition, score a lot of baskets. They just want to put the ball in my hands. They think I’m special with the ball in their hands and I can play in their system too.”
UCF: “Obviously, it’s in-state. Every kid thinks about how they can stay close to home in some type of way. Johnny Dawkins and their staff love everything that I do on the floor, defensively and offensively. I could contribute in many ways. They think my game is mature and I could have a huge factor right away as they join the Big 12.”
USF: “Their pitch has been that they want to throw the ball in my hands. They think I’m special with the ball in my hands and a natural leader and big time guard. Their pitch has been my versatility and that they can put the basketball in my hands to let me make decisions on the floor.”
Cherenfant has already taken official visits to Memphis and St. John’s. He is next set to visit UCF from September 1-3.
“That’s the only visit right now that’s dated,” he said. “I’m planning on setting dates with a couple other schools.”
Cherenfant, who is targeting a commitment before November, listed a number of factors involved in his decision.
“I think the biggest things are obviously culture, a family environment, the coaching staff, teammates that are going to be there, how our goals align to have one big common goal, which is to win, and also help me be able to get to the next level after college,” he said.
Ranked by 247Sports Composite as the No. 13 shooting guard and No. 91 overall prospect in the class of 2023, Cherenfant centers his game around his versatility.
“I’m a two-way guard, big wing, versatile and can guard multiple positions,” he said. “Offensively, I can do many things on the floor, put pressure on the rim, make shots and make plays for others. My game is centered around versatility.”
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