Meet the newest member of the Class of 2006.
Regardless of what happens in the next few weeks with his test score, Armon Bassett is prep school bound. The 6-foot-1 point guard told Scout.com Friday afternoon that he’s headed to Hargrave Military for a 5th year of extended duty.
In a few weeks, Bassett will learn whether or not he scored high enough on the standardized test to be eligible to play college ball next season. It doesn’t matter, his mind is made up and he’s got reasons for taking the extra year.
“I think I’m ready [to play in college] but I have to take the extra year to polish up my game,” Bassett said. As it stands right now, if he wanted to pick a school for next fall, Xavier, Arkansas, Southern Illinois, Nebraska and New Mexico have offered and would oblige him.
“[The extra year] will give me a chance to get recruited like I know I deserve,” Bassett said. Don’t think he hasn’t thought of a few programs he’d like to see become interested in him. “”[Ohio State’s] at the top of the list,” Bassett said. “I want Illinois to start recruiting me too.”
Purdue, Auburn, Missouri and Seton Hall are all going to recruit him as a member of the Class of 2006.
Bassett admitted that he was a mid-major prospect coming out of last summer, but he worked on his game, averaged 23 points a night for Terre Haute South and took a page from a prep to pro phenom.
“I worked on my vertical,” Bassett said. “I’m Sebastian Telfair’s biggest fan. I know he runs steps every morning and that’s what I did at 5:30 a.m. My mom thought it was crazy. I did it in the rain.”
Apparently Bassett kept running right through the winter until the snow iced his plans.
Confident of his abilities, but not cocky, Bassett is excited about proving his worth as a high-major point man and making his mark.
“It’ll give me a chance to get recruited like I know I deserve.”
This weekend in Arkansas begins the process. A strong showing in front of a throng of college recruiters can go a long way toward getting the process rolling.