By SAM LANCE
NORTH AUGUSTA, S.C. — Top-30 prospect Jerry Easter has several official visits planned this fall. The 6-foot-5, 185-pound guard from Link Academy and the Team Final AAU program will be going to see programs like Miami, SMU and Baylor. He’s also been in talks with Ohio State, Michigan, Florida State and USC for official visits.
Easter holds offers from 40+ Division I programs and has already taken official visits to Michigan State and Georgia Tech in September of 2023, as well as Oregon. When asked which schools have been on him the most lately, Easter named Baylor, Cincinnati, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Harvard, Maryland, Miami, Michigan State, Mississippi State, Ohio State, Oregon, SMU and USC.
He broke down several of those programs:
Baylor: “I think they want me to do that [visit] soon, like in August. Something like that in August, like before school starts. Because we don’t start school at Link until September 9th. I’m pretty sure I’m still going to that one, I don’t know. I don’t know if I might go with Koa [Peat] but, that’s how I was trying to have it planned. But if not I’m definitely still going there. I like that school. I just like how [Scott Drew] just coaches his point guards. I mean, he developed all of them. Especially, like, I’ve been tuning in for them. I wasn’t really tuning in when I was younger, but since they won that national championship, I’ve liked them ever since. He had his guards compete, and they played hard. And that’s how I want to be coached. Play hard. Get other guys around me to pick up full court. Because they were picking up full when they won the natty, so, I like that type of school. And plus, RayJ Dennis, he played at the University of Toledo. So when he transferred there [Baylor], he told me he liked the school. And he said that would be a good fit for me if I went there. Because he said they treated him with love, and he said that was the best choice he ever made, him transferring there.”
Florida State: “I mean, I know they came to my games. Like, they came to both of my games the first day. But I’ve been talking to them though. They still talk to me well, like how I played, even though we lost the second game. But they said like keep my head up. I just like how they just contact me even after a loss. Because I didn’t really play too well, so. But yeah, I just like how they just communicate with me and my parents. And they like how I play. They said that if I just play hard, I’m like the best player on the floor and stuff like that. So they just like how I play, and I have a high motor.”
Georgia Tech: “My first official visit was Georgia Tech. That went good with coach [Damon] Stoudamire. I seen he was here too. That was a good visit. Also a new coach. And obviously he came from the NBA, so he develops his point guards. I like that and I feel like he would develop me if I went there.”
Miami: “I know they had one of their guards [Kyshawn George] who went to the league this year. I just like how he [Jim Larranaga] was coaching him. He let him control the game. He was like the leader on the floor, control the offense. And that’s how I want to be set there as well. And plus, obviously, I talked a little bit to ask about Jalil [Bethea]. I think I’m probably going to — he’s probably going to be my chaperone when I visit there. So they told me that he really loved it. It was like a family. And I talked to him about it. He said that’s why he chose the school, because it’s like a big community, big family. So, I do want to be in that type of environment, a second home. And somewhere I do have another family, just like how he said. So yeah that’s why I like that school.”
Michigan State: “It’s close to home. So I got family out there from my mom’s side. Michigan State is only like 45 minutes from where I’m from. So I mean, I just like the school as well. There’s not really much to do than to get better and work on your game, so that’s what I like. And plus, [Tom] Izzo, he’s a legendary coach. So I don’t know if he’s going to retire or not. But, I mean, he told me that he wasn’t. We asked the question, and he said not any time soon, I don’t know, that could change. But yeah, he’s a legendary coach. He coaches his players hard. Definitely AJ Hoggard, and the other guard they had this year. And I’m definitely excited to see how they play this year with [Jeremy] Fears, and all the other guys that’s there, like [Jason] Richardson’s son [Jase Richardson]. So I mean, it’s going to be exciting. I’m really pumped to go watch the games.”
Oregon: “What I like about Oregon is they just talk to me a lot. They’ve been coming to like all my games, watching me and stuff like that. I like the coaching staff and [Dana] Altman. And of course I got to meet the players and stuff like that on my official visit. So there’s just so many good things about the school and the coaches. I watched them in March Madness and they did pretty good. They had a good run, won the Pac 12 before they go to the Big 10. But I was there before they had to win every game. So I was just there, seeing them get prepared for it. I just like the campus, and obviously the facilities as well. They have all the best stuff and stuff like that. I just like how coach Altman coaches his players and I like how coach Fish spends the time to check on me. I really appreciate that from them.”
SMU: “I’m taking an official visit there too, in September. Yeah September. Like around when school starts. I’m taking an official visit with Jermaine O’Neal Jr. there. And I think Jaden Toombs as well. So yeah, I’m taking a visit to SMU.”
USC: “They’re trying to schedule a right date for me so I can take a visit. Official visit.”
Hearing from Kentucky?: ““I did. I heard from them in Indiana. I know they talked to my parents. They said they like me, but I mean, they still haven’t offered me yet. But shoot, who knows. I mean they could watch me during my senior season. So I’m just going to wait on it I guess. I’m not cutting my list no time soon so.”
All of these head coaches were in at some point during Peach Jam to watch Easter play.
John Calipari at Arkansas has not re-offered Easter. The guard also said he “might go” to Michigan and Ohio State for officials, but he is for sure taking Baylor, Miami and SMU.
At Peach Jam, Easter is the fourth leading scoring of the PIT, averaging 20.3 points per game. His team, Team Final, was knocked out of the Peach Jam play-in by the Alabama Fusion.
Some big news for Easter recently was the move to transfer to Link Academy.
“It was like a family decision,” Easter said. “I think it was just better overall, just like the experience and to develop my game. I just like how the coaches are talking to me. I just like how they talk to me and I feel like it’s a good fit for me. We’re building a whole new team. It’s going to be all — our whole roster gonna be new. So I’m just excited to play with them, play with high level guys.”
Easter gave some comments on the players joining him at Link Academy like Davion Hannah and Chris Cenac.
On Hannah: “We both got a chip on our shoulders. So we just want to go at whoever, you feel me. I mean, shoot, I don’t think anybody can like beat us if we play at our best. I watch his games. I see him on Instagram. He be chilling. And then if I’m in the backcourt right with him we’re going to be good. We’re going to kill whoever and just try to compete, and just try to win the Chipotle nationals.”
On Cenac: “We’ve been chopping it up for a while. I mean, he was like, ‘Come to Link.’ So I was just like me and my parents thinking about it. And then when I made the announcement, it was exciting because we were at USA when I made the announcement. So when I told him he was like, ‘Let’s do it.’ So I’m excited to play with him. What is he like, No. 6? Like the number one big in the country? I mean, he’s nice. I can’t wait to play with him. He can do it all. He can shoot the three. Finish at the rim. He’s athletic. I don’t know who going to stop us because everybody on our team can shoot. We’re going to be able to space the floor and its gonna be easy.”
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