As we reported here a few days ago, Oklahoma City University is recruiting Louisville big man and New Jersey native Derrick Caracter and needs to have an answer from him very soon.
“Are we recruiting him? Yes,” Oklahoma City coach Tommy Wade told Jeff Goodman of FoxSports.com. “Is he at Oklahoma City? No. Has he decided to come to Oklahoma City? No. Not today.”
Louisville coach Rick Pitino is in favor of the move.
“I think it’s an excellent choice for him,” Pitino told the Louisville Courier Journal. “Sitting out is not going to benefit Derrick, but playing right away will.”
If Caracter comes to the two-time NAIA champs, he would not have to sit out a season, whereas if he transferred to another D-1 school, he would have to sit a year. He needs a 2.0 GPA to play at any NAIA school and is still waiting on some summer courses from Louisville.
“He’s a big-time talent and an intelligent young man,” Wade said. “He’s got to make a decision (soon).”
In a move first broken by ZAGSBLOG, Caracter was offered a chance by Pitino to return to the Louisville team for the 2009-10 season assuming he met various GPA and weight requirements, but said it was unlikely he would meet those.
“I don’t think there is any chance of him reaching the stipulations that we set forth,” Pitino told the Courier Journal. “It’s in his best interest to do exactly what he’s doing.”
Caracter could also follow Brandon Jennings overseas or join the NBDL.
