September 13, 2011
InsideMDSports: Jefferson weighing options
It's been difficult to gather any new information this fall on Amile Jefferson, the highly touted senior forward from Friends Central School in Wynnewood, Pa. Jefferson, one of the highest-rated prospects remaining on Maryland recruiting board, has been silent about his recruitment, preferring to move through the process without great fanfare and at his own pace.
It remains unclear where Maryland stands with Jefferson, though Friends Central coach Jason Polykoff did give InsideMDSports.com a brief re-cap of his meeting last week with the prized 6-foot-9 forward.
?He still doesn?t have a favorite list, per se,? Polykoff said of Jefferson, who visited Maryland unofficially for the Miami football game. ?He wants to visit a lot of the schools before he makes a decision. He doesn?t want to just make a decision based on what their record was last year or where a friend is going.?
Polykoff said Jefferson has just one official visit planned, to Ohio State the final weekend of this month. He?d also like to see Maryland again, along with Syracuse, UConn, St. John?s and possibly Stanford. He?s already visited Temple, N.C. State and Villanova and is considering those schools as well. While his coach remains hopeful Jefferson will decide before the start of his senior season, he said a spring decision is possible.
?The whole process for him, I think, has been a roller coaster,? he said.
The Terps have been recruiting Jefferson for more than a year, and he?s been to College Park on several occasions.
?He definitely enjoyed it. I know he?s been there before and he enjoys it every time he?s there. I think he?s still open and looking at a bunch of schools,? he said.
A versatile player who averaged around 19 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks as a junior, Jefferson is nightmare match-up for any high school team. Though he plays in the post in high school, he?s working hard on his jumpshot in an effort to transition to the small forward spot in college.
Combine his obvious on-court talent with his strong character, academic focus and sunny disposition off it, and it?s easy to see why he?s a no-brainer for most college programs.
?He?s a bright kid. Friends Central is one of the best private schools in Pennsylvania and he does well here,? Polykoff said. ?The word that I hear all the time from college coaches is ?refreshing.? He?s the big man on campus here and everybody loves him. We have a clinic every year and the kids just [gravitate toward him]. He?s just a lovable guy.?
