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.
Lyle Enjoyed Oregon Visit; Planning to Cut List Soon
Huntington (W.V.) Prep guard JaQuan Lyle enjoyed his visit to Oregon this past weekend, will host Providence coach Ed Cooley tonight (Wednesday) and said he expects to cut his list soon.
The 6-foot-5 point guard tripped to Oregon for an official visit that went well.
“I liked everything about it,” Lyle told SNY.tv Wednesday morning. “I got to meet coach Dana [Altman] in person and meet the coaching staff. I got to see a great game, got to see all the facilities, so I like it. I like it a lot. It was a great visit.”
Lyle has a strong relationship with assistant coach Tony Stubblefield, who is recruiting him.
“Oh, yeah, me and coach Stubbs, we have a great relationship,” he said. “I think me and him built a great relationship throughout this process and it just keeps growing and he’s a great guy.”
Lyle, a onetime Louisville commit, said he also plans on visiting two Big 12 schools in the future.
“None are set for dates but I know I’m going to go for sure to Kansas and Oklahoma State, and the other two are up in the air,” he said. “I don’t know about the other two yet.”
Kansas already has a pledge from Lyle’s close friend Cliff Alexander, who some believe is the No. 1 player in the Class of 2014 after his performance at the Hoophall Classic.
“Just Coach [Bill] Self and the players that are there and the players that’s coming in, it’s a chance to play with great players from the jump and contend for a national championship,” Lyle said. “And just to play for Coach Self, who’s a great coach and has a great coaching staff behind him, so it’s a great opportunity.”
Obviously, the idea of teaming with Alexander is also appealing.
“Oh yeah, I mean it’s big-time,” he said. “Me and Cliff, we’ve been tight since about our eighth-grade year and our relationship just grew, so now he’s like a brother to me. Just the opportunity to play with him would be wonderful. Cliff makes me better, I make him better. Every big man wants a point guard who can get them the ball in the right place that they can score, make the job easier for them. And every point guard wants a big man who can get them open and get them an opportunity to make them look better.”
As for Oklahoma State, head coach Travis Ford is making a strong push, too.
“It’s just a chance to make an impact right away,” Lyle said. “They’re losing Marcus Smart, they lost Stevie Clark [who was dismissed after being arrested Saturday] and Coach Ford said they need a point guard to come in and play right away, play impact minutes from the jump and he obviously told me they like big guards like Marcus Smart. He said he can think of me as something like Marcus. Just Gotta get in there and work hard and get my body right. So it’s just an chance to play impact minutes right away and the opportunity.”
Providence is also making a strong push and will visit with Lyle’s mother today.
“They’re recruiting me really hard,” Lyle said. “Coach Cooley and coach [Bob] Simon, they’re actually heading down to Evansville (Ind.), this morning to meet with my mom and my grandmom and they’re coming later on tonight [to see Huntington play], so they’re making a real hard push right now to go all the way to Evansville before they come here, so that’s big-time.”
Lyle said he has no timetable on a decision but plans to cut his list soon. West Virginia is also in the mix.
“Just taking my time,” he said. “I’ll probably put out a list off three to four the beginning of next week and then I’ll make my decision after that.”
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.
Huntington (W.V.) Prep guard JaQuan Lyle enjoyed his visit to Oregon this past weekend, will host Providence coach Ed Cooley tonight (Wednesday) and said he expects to cut his list soon.
The 6-foot-5 point guard tripped to Oregon for an official visit that went well.
“I liked everything about it,” Lyle told SNY.tv Wednesday morning. “I got to meet coach Dana [Altman] in person and meet the coaching staff. I got to see a great game, got to see all the facilities, so I like it. I like it a lot. It was a great visit.”
Lyle has a strong relationship with assistant coach Tony Stubblefield, who is recruiting him.
“Oh, yeah, me and coach Stubbs, we have a great relationship,” he said. “I think me and him built a great relationship throughout this process and it just keeps growing and he’s a great guy.”
Lyle, a onetime Louisville commit, said he also plans on visiting two Big 12 schools in the future.
“None are set for dates but I know I’m going to go for sure to Kansas and Oklahoma State, and the other two are up in the air,” he said. “I don’t know about the other two yet.”
Kansas already has a pledge from Lyle’s close friend Cliff Alexander, who some believe is the No. 1 player in the Class of 2014 after his performance at the Hoophall Classic.
“Just Coach [Bill] Self and the players that are there and the players that’s coming in, it’s a chance to play with great players from the jump and contend for a national championship,” Lyle said. “And just to play for Coach Self, who’s a great coach and has a great coaching staff behind him, so it’s a great opportunity.”
Obviously, the idea of teaming with Alexander is also appealing.
“Oh yeah, I mean it’s big-time,” he said. “Me and Cliff, we’ve been tight since about our eighth-grade year and our relationship just grew, so now he’s like a brother to me. Just the opportunity to play with him would be wonderful. Cliff makes me better, I make him better. Every big man wants a point guard who can get them the ball in the right place that they can score, make the job easier for them. And every point guard wants a big man who can get them open and get them an opportunity to make them look better.”
As for Oklahoma State, head coach Travis Ford is making a strong push, too.
“It’s just a chance to make an impact right away,” Lyle said. “They’re losing Marcus Smart, they lost Stevie Clark [who was dismissed after being arrested Saturday] and Coach Ford said they need a point guard to come in and play right away, play impact minutes from the jump and he obviously told me they like big guards like Marcus Smart. He said he can think of me as something like Marcus. Just Gotta get in there and work hard and get my body right. So it’s just an chance to play impact minutes right away and the opportunity.”
Providence is also making a strong push and will visit with Lyle’s mother today.
“They’re recruiting me really hard,” Lyle said. “Coach Cooley and coach [Bob] Simon, they’re actually heading down to Evansville (Ind.), this morning to meet with my mom and my grandmom and they’re coming later on tonight [to see Huntington play], so they’re making a real hard push right now to go all the way to Evansville before they come here, so that’s big-time.”
Lyle said he has no timetable on a decision but plans to cut his list soon. West Virginia is also in the mix.
“Just taking my time,” he said. “I’ll probably put out a list off three to four the beginning of next week and then I’ll make my decision after that.”
