Taelyr Gatlin Prospect Update (2018)
Two big stops await Brighton starting point guard Taelyr Gatlin in the coming weeks.
Gatlin will camp with the new staff at Missouri August 27th.
“We are scheduling an official visit with Tennessee Tech,” said father Stan Gatlin. “Trying to figure out which is the best day with a football day on the weekend.”
The Gatlins would like to get the full college experience. The Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles host home games August 31st, September 30th, October 28th, November 4th, and November 18th.
Taelyr and his father Stan have already seen TTU once.
“They are amazing,” said Mr. Gatlin when prompted. “Out of the visits they have the best facilities. We went on an unofficial visit back in the spring when they offered (late March).”
Blessed to receive my 1st offer from TTU‼️ 🙌🏾🏀💛💜 pic.twitter.com/La9uWILhvn
— Tae (@TaelyrGatlin) March 26, 2017
Two aspects of Tennessee Tech energize recruits and fans alike. The Eblen Center added sparkling new spotlights to the rafters last winter and the player introduction splashes onto the gorgeous floorboards in an elaborate video display.
“They showed it to us.”
In the last half-year there have been recruiting contacts by: Campbell, West Virginia, Mississippi State.
But when a player reaches his senior year he and his family covet clarity from recruiters. Interest stops being intriguing and offers and invited visits become imperative.
Point Guard with Point to Prove
Every year a few top players escape the broad interest of regional powers despite constant production. In the 2018 class Taeylr Gatlin earns the double-edged honorific of “Mr. Overlooked.”
A full qualifier, Gatlin sit comfortably with a 3.4 GPA.
“You would think 17-18 ppg he would be somebody that is highly recruited,” said Brighton High School Head Coach Stan Gatlin. “He is not. We had the best season in school history. We basically only had five players…won 20 games.”
The Brighton Cardinals finished 20-13, 5-1 in District Play, including nice wins over Bolton, Bartlett, Overton, and Bolivar Central.
“We made it to Sub-State,” reminds Taelyr’s father Coach Gatlin.
Coach Gatlin is deservedly proud of his team’s playoff skirmish against Memphis East. Facing a Monstars-strong East team, Coach Gatlin’s young men clawed to within two points midway through. East advanced to state, winning 73-54.
For a relatively unknown prospect big matchups carry extra weight. In the moments he needed to play well, Gatlin did. Matched against Alex Lomax he managed 21 points, four assists, two rebounds, and two steals.
“He won five different MVP honors this past season,” said Coach Gatlin. “That is including showcase games.”
Brighton HS played in Larry Ransom Holiday Classic at Fayette Ware, Hotbed Classic (MS), Briarcrest Christmas Classic, Renee Scales Lupus Foundation Classic, and the MLK Tournament at LeMoyne Owen College.
Again in July Gatlin showed and proved. He played with Carlos Sandifer (Houston HS) on the Jackson Tigers (MS).
“They had some nice success,” said Coach Gatlin. “They played together in the first and second live periods of July. They did really well in the first live period. They played like 14 games in the first eight days.”
The Tigers and Gatlin advanced to the Peach State Championship Game (Gold Division).
“He was starting and doing well,” said Coach Gatlin. “It is all about watching him play at the right team at the right team. It is just about getting the right school to watch him play at the right time.”
Taelyr Gatlin did not play the third LIVE period of July. His father and coach believed the body’s burden in the first two sessions was significant and it wasn’t worth battering Taelyr one more week of games.
Considering the cross section of offers with the amount of talent and skill Taelyr Gatlin has he probably will play out his senior season before signing. Coach Gatlin intends to guide his son on some upcoming visits, but the recruiting results just don’t match the on-court success yet.
Official visits are generally very impressionable. Beyond that forthcoming Tennessee Tech visit there is not anything definitive planned.
To follow Taelyr Gatlin’s college recruitment keep up with @PrepHoopsTN.