Jacobi Wood Recruiting Buzz
Recruiting buzz persists from Cleveland High as point guard Jacobi Wood attracts more an more buzzing bees to the honeycomb.
Coming off a wonderful WHBH 16u AAU summer, Jacobi Wood became a noteworthy name for Tennessee-area college recruiters.
September was a nice month of evaluations. October now represents a nice stairstep up the flight. Multiple Division I coaches are reaching out and visiting Jacobi at Cleveland High.
Swarm Week
This second week of October in particular Jacobi and team hosted both Chattanooga and Denver.
“University of Denver coaching staff was at Raider Arena today to watch and visit 2019 CG Dionte Ware and 2020 PG Jacobi Wood,” said Cleveland Assistant Coach Reggie Tucker.
Denver dipped into Tennessee to sign 2018 point guard Taelyr Gatlin (Brighton).
Denver University Assistant Basketball Coach Ricardo Patton has some yesteryear links to the state of Tennessee.
Before heading to Boulder, Patton served two seasons (1991-93) as an assistant to Frankie Allen at Tennessee State, where he was instrumental in recruiting future star, Carlos Rogers, the No. 10 pick in the 1994 NBA Draft. Prior to that, Patton was an assistant at Arkansas-Little Rock for one season in 1990-91, and Middle Tennessee State from 1988-90. During his time at Middle Tennessee State, they upset then-No. 4 seed Florida State in the first round of the 1989 NCAA Tournament, 97-83. Patton was a member of the coaching staffs at both Tennessee State and Middle Tennessee State when each won Ohio Valley Conference Championships.
In addition to Denver, Chattanooga dropped in on the local talent.
“Chattanooga Head Coach Lamont Paris visited 2020 PG Jacobi Wood today,” said Coach Tucker.
Belmont Involved
Belmont was in the building October third to watch and visit Jacobi.
Earlier this week Belmont hosted Jacobi on their campus for an unofficial visit.
Considering how powerful a recruiting push Lipscomb is making the perennial OVC favorite Belmont Bruins must get in a little earlier with the junior class. Their fast push for Jacobi’s attention, prior to his junior season, will play well for their recruitment.
Like they were with verbal commit K.J. Johnson (Marshall County), Lipscomb is actively recruiting Wood early too.
Chattanooga sent their head coach in. That gesture always resonates loudly regarding level of interest.
More to Come
“He leaves for Lafayette College on Friday morning for a visit,” said Coach Tucker. “He will attend Wofford for Junior Day on the 27th of Oct. They are inviting only six recruits from the southeastern United States.”
Expect the recruiting to continue up that flight of stairs. Offers are likely mere months away.
The buzz is impossible to ignore. The swarm is around indefinitely.