By ADAM ZAGORIA
Cassius Stanley, the 6-foot-5 shooting guard from Sierra Canyon (CA) High School, visited UCLA this past weekend on his second official visit.
“The UCLA visit was outstanding,” said Jerome Stanley, the player’s father. “They did a great job showing Cassius where he would fit in, and how he would succeed and thrive there. It is extremely close to home – 15 minutes. It’s just something that you look at and then you move on to go up to the Pacific Northwest and then deal with those Ducks.”
Stanley recently trimmed his list to Kansas, Oregon and UCLA. He will visit Oregon this weekend.
“He would be used much like Troy Brown was used,” Jerome said. “Athlete, big guard.”
“Bol Bol is a good friend of mine,” Cassius said ealier this year. “I just want to see how he does this year. I want to see what his take is because I think that can help me a lot. I just would like to see how his take is.”
Their first official visit was to Kansas.
“Kansas was outstanding,” Jerome said. “I don’t think anybody’s visit can top what Kansas’ visit was. I mean, they’re so thoughtful in providing you the tools you need to make a decision, whether it’s where you live or your academics or the role in going forward in the NBA transition or how you’ll be used that year.
“Coach [Bill] Self is just a beautiful dude, man. Coach Self is a special dude.”
Kansas did figure prominently in the recent Adidas college basketball trial, and the school is currently sitting big man Silvio de Sousa while it investigates improper benefits made to him. But Stanley says none of that matters to his family.
“No, that does not factor into our decision,” he said.
As for a timeline on a decision, he said, “We would like to not be in the perpetual decision mode.”
He added: “There’s a school of thought that with all the stuff that’s going around, and the names that are flipping around in the federal trial, maybe you should wait. Coaches are on hot seats. Yeah, that’s part of it, but you can always find a reason not to make a decision if you want to. ”
The early signing period runs Nov. 14-21, but it remains unclear if Cassius will sign by then.
“I can’t say that, but I don’t expect a prolonged period,” Jerome said. “I don’t know if our decision with correspond with the November signing period. I can you tell it will not be a prolonged, extended thing.”
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