Bulls Close to Verbal From Verdejo

South Florida looks to be on the verge of completing its recruiting class for next season, following an official visit this past weekend from its top shooting guard prospect, Miami Christian standout Jesus Verdejo.

According to Miami Christian Head Coach Art Alvarez, Verdejo has cancelled a trip to Memphis that was scheduled to begin Friday (Nov. 8). Instead, he and his family will discuss the USF option and a decision on Verdejo’s collegiate future could be made by the end of this week.

“I know Jesus was very impressed with the school. We came in on Friday and had a chance to meet not only with Coach (Seth) Greenberg and his staff, but with the academic counselor (Phyllis LaBaw) and Lee Roy Selmon,” Alvarez said. “There are a lot of good things happening there and (Jesus) really wants to stay in Florida.

“In talking with Jesus, I know he felt he would have a chance to come in and earn a lot of playing time because (USF) doesn’t really have a true shooting guard. Jimmy Baxter and Marlyn Bryant are good players, but neither of them is a true shooting guard like Jesus.”

Verdejo is a native of Puerto Rico who now lives in Miami with his mother. His father and an older brother and sister remain in Puerto Rico. Alvarez said the family will talk by phone this week and come to a consensus.

“They want to think it over and do what’s best for the entire family,” Alvarez said. “Obviously, they’re going to discuss their long term plans and whether or not the whole family is going to move to Florida while Jesus attends college. From my talks with them, I think they’re pretty comfortable with the idea. Whether it’s Miami or Tampa, there are large Puerto Rican communities.”

Verdejo (6-foot-4, 190 pounds), widely considered one of the nation’s top 100 high school players, averaged 22 points per game as a junior last season at Miami Christian and was named second-team all-state in Class 1A. His stock continued to rise over the summer when he led the Puerto Rican team to the gold medal with a 5-0 record at the Men’s Junior (Under 19) World Championship Qualifying Tournament in Venezuela. Verdejo then put together impressive showings at the NIKE and McDonald’s All-American camps.

Because Verdejo’s heart seems set on playing college basketball in Florida, the path now appears cleared for South Florida. Florida State was also in the running for the high-scoring guard, but recently received verbal commitments from shooting guard Von Wafer of Texas and small forward Antonio Griffin from Scottsdale (Ariz.) Community College.

The Bulls, who will have three scholarships to offer during the early signing period Nov. 13-20, already have verbal commitments from Our Savior New American (Centereach, N.Y.) center Konimba Diarra and Seward County (Kan.) Community College point guard Ricardo Freeman.