Adam Zagoria covers basketball at all levels. He is the author of two books and an award-winning journalist whose articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Sports Illustrated, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide.
Gill-Caesar Weighing Reclassifying, May Visit West Virginia
By CHIP MILLER & ADAM ZAGORIAPADUCAH, Ky. — Huntington (W.V.) Prep star Montaque “Teki” Gill-Caesar is still weighing reclassifying to 2014 from 2015.
“I have no idea, man. It’s still up in the air,” he said after his Huntington Prep team edged out Cheick Diallo and Our Savior New American, 68-66, at the Mustang Madness showcase on Thursday night.
An athletic 6-foot-5 Canadian who has drawn comparisons to Andrew Wiggins — who did reclass to 2013 from 2014 before selecting Kansas — Gill-Caesar says he has no timetable on a decision about reclassifying.
“No, none at all,” he said.
Gill-Caesar has been discussing the possibility with his family.
“My mom kind of asked me what I wanted to do because she doesn’t really know basketball too well, so we just talked about the pros and cons of doing it and not doing it,” he said.
He added: “I just told her that it’s a possibility because of how the schools work between Canada and the U.S. If I feel that I am ready I can go, or if she feels that I’m ready. It’s really like how I feel.”
Asked how he feels, Gill-Caesar said, “I feel I’m ready but it’s still up in the air.”
He said he will reclass if he feels he’s “personally ready.”
“Just on-the-court factors,” he said. “Off the court, like in school I’m a good student. I know whatever school I go to I’m going to stay focused. That’s not really an issue for me. It will be my skill development. How I feel I am progressing over the season.”
As for colleges, Gill-Caesar says he’s been hearing mostly from Kentucky, West Virginia, Florida State, Memphis, Kansas, Michigan State and Alabama.
As for Kentucky, he previously said he doesn’t have an offer but feels he could go there if he wanted.
Orlando Antigua has been the main recruiting contact.
“He’s been texting me telling me how their season is going,” he said. “We’re cool. He’s a cool guy, so we like to just chat.
Head coach John Calipari also watched Huntington Prep earlier this season when they played Kentucky pledge Trey Lyles and Arsenal Tech.
“Just feels good because I know that I’m making a difference,” Gill-Caesar said. “I know that my game speaks for itself and that I am making improvement and adjustments in my game and as the year goes on I know that I’m getting better.”
Asked what he needs to improve on, he said: “Being versatile. Like today when I was scoring, I needed to play defense more, rebound more, make the extra pass. Just different things to keep me in the ballgame.”
As for any visits, Gill-Caesar may take in a Big 12 game this weekend.
“I might go to West Virginia on Saturday against Oklahoma State,” he said.
West Virginia is also recruiting his teammate JaQuan Lyle,who postponed a weekend official to Kansas this weekend.
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Adam Zagoria is a Basketball Insider who covers basketball at all levels. A contributor to The New York Times and SportsNet New York (SNY), he is also the author of two books and is an award-winning journalist and filmmaker. His articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide. He also won an Emmy award for his work on the SNY mini-documentary on Syracuse guard Tyus Battle.
A veteran Ultimate Frisbee player, he has competed in numerous National and World Championships and, perhaps more importantly, his teams won the Westchester Summer League (WSL) championships in 2011 and 2013.
He lives in Manhattan with his wife and children.
By CHIP MILLER & ADAM ZAGORIA
PADUCAH, Ky. — Huntington (W.V.) Prep star Montaque “Teki” Gill-Caesar is still weighing reclassifying to 2014 from 2015.
“I have no idea, man. It’s still up in the air,” he said after his Huntington Prep team edged out Cheick Diallo and Our Savior New American, 68-66, at the Mustang Madness showcase on Thursday night.
An athletic 6-foot-5 Canadian who has drawn comparisons to Andrew Wiggins — who did reclass to 2013 from 2014 before selecting Kansas — Gill-Caesar says he has no timetable on a decision about reclassifying.
“No, none at all,” he said.
Gill-Caesar has been discussing the possibility with his family.
“My mom kind of asked me what I wanted to do because she doesn’t really know basketball too well, so we just talked about the pros and cons of doing it and not doing it,” he said.
He added: “I just told her that it’s a possibility because of how the schools work between Canada and the U.S. If I feel that I am ready I can go, or if she feels that I’m ready. It’s really like how I feel.”
Asked how he feels, Gill-Caesar said, “I feel I’m ready but it’s still up in the air.”
He said he will reclass if he feels he’s “personally ready.”
“Just on-the-court factors,” he said. “Off the court, like in school I’m a good student. I know whatever school I go to I’m going to stay focused. That’s not really an issue for me. It will be my skill development. How I feel I am progressing over the season.”
As for colleges, Gill-Caesar says he’s been hearing mostly from Kentucky, West Virginia, Florida State, Memphis, Kansas, Michigan State and Alabama.
As for Kentucky, he previously said he doesn’t have an offer but feels he could go there if he wanted.
Orlando Antigua has been the main recruiting contact.
“He’s been texting me telling me how their season is going,” he said. “We’re cool. He’s a cool guy, so we like to just chat.
Head coach John Calipari also watched Huntington Prep earlier this season when they played Kentucky pledge Trey Lyles and Arsenal Tech.
“Just feels good because I know that I’m making a difference,” Gill-Caesar said. “I know that my game speaks for itself and that I am making improvement and adjustments in my game and as the year goes on I know that I’m getting better.”
Asked what he needs to improve on, he said: “Being versatile. Like today when I was scoring, I needed to play defense more, rebound more, make the extra pass. Just different things to keep me in the ballgame.”
As for any visits, Gill-Caesar may take in a Big 12 game this weekend.
“I might go to West Virginia on Saturday against Oklahoma State,” he said.
West Virginia is also recruiting his teammate JaQuan Lyle, who postponed a weekend official to Kansas this weekend.
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