AAU: My Site News: Hoop Planet Allstars' Cashmere Wright picks University of Cincinnati over Tennessee
Monday, August 27Hoop Planet Allstars' Cashmere Wright picks University of Cincinnati over Tennessee
Rising senior, Cashmere Wright of Urban Christian picks University of Cincinnati Bearcats over Tennessee
Cashmere Wright says he has it right this time. After reneging from a rushed initial decision, the 6-foot-1, 165-pound point guard from Savannah's Urban Christian Academy said he verbally committed to play basketball at the University of Cincinnati on Thursday afternoon.
"I think I made the decision to play at Clemson too early," said Wright, who can sign with the Bearcats on Nov. 14. "What I liked the most about Cincinnati were the people around me." His uncle, Derrick Miller, who starred at Kentucky and lives 30 minutes from the Bearcats' campus, will be among those people close to Wright now.
Nearly 50 Division I schools expressed an interest in Wright, who is ranked the 11th-best high school point guard in the nation by Internet recruiting site Rivals.com and 75th-best prep senior overall. His quickness and jumping ability make him an excellent open-court player. He's also an adept shooter from 3-point range. Kansas State, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Auburn were among the Division I schools sending representatives to Savannah.
But Wright's basketball stock took off in summer-league play. He played for the Hoop Planet All-Stars with Swainsboro's Tony Mitchell and Beach's James Fields and competed in tournaments in Orlando, Fla., Cincinnati, Los Angeles, Virginia, North Carolina, Las Vegas and Mississippi.
"During the last three years, Cashmere has been an outstanding leader as an athlete and an outstanding leader as a student, as well," Urban Christian basketball coach and athletics director Charles Gordon said. "I'm pleased he chose Cincinnati as a place to further his education and athletics."
Cincinnati struggled to an 11-19 record last season under first-year coach Mick Cronin. The Bearcats were only 2-14 in Big East Conference play. Under coach Bob Huggins, UC was among the nation's top basketball programs for 16 years. Huggins took the Bearcats to 14 straight NCAA tournaments and one Final Four appearance before leaving for Kansas State last season. Huggins returned to his alma mater, West Virginia, in April.
Wright said he will take sports management classes at Cincinnati. In accordance with NCAA rules, collegiate coaches are not allowed to comment on their verbal commitments. Wright is the second player to commit to Cincinnati for 2008.
"In the hands of Coach Cronin at Cincinnati, I'm sure he'll will be drafted in the NBA," Urban Christian Principal Sandra Gordon said. "I plan on sitting back and watching the tour."
THE WRIGHT FILE
School: Urban Christian
Year: Senior
Specs: 6-foot-1, 165 pounds
Scoring average: 36 points per game last season
College choice: Cincinnati
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