BY ZACH SMART
Five days after receiving an offer from TCU, Class of 2027 guard Elijah Paez is stoked about the possibility of staying in-state to prolong his career.
Paez, who transformed from a cloaked-in-obscurity sleeper to a highly pursued recruit during a commendable job leading Drive Nation during Peach Jam, has now added an official visit to TCU for Sept. 18-20, as he confirmed this weekend.
“Texas is where I made a name for myself, I’m a Texas boy at heart,” Paez told ZAGSBLOG.
“I’m excited about visiting TCU. I have a solid opportunity to do something special there. Having friends and family nearby means a lot (in the collegiate experience).”
A versatile defender possessing a creative offensive repertoire, Paez averaged 14 points, seven boards, two steals and 1.5 blocks during Peach Jam. He recently transferred to Iowa United Prep.
While he was originally slated for an official visit to UCONN on Oct. 15-17, Paez and the Huskies’ staff have discussed the idea of moving his visit up to an earlier date. He willl take an official to DePaul on Sept. 24-26th.
An offer from the Huskies, which have won two national championships in the last four years while playing in the title game in three of the last four years, was a portent of Paez’ sudden rise up the Division-I recruiting market.
Paez recently told ZAGSBLOG he’s intrigued with the Huskies’ ceaseless national prominence and the full throttle, ferocious approach Danny Hurley has become widely known for.
“Coach Hurley’s coaching style is what I’m used to,” Paez told ZAGSBLOG upon receiving the offer.
“Growing up, my father was always hard on me when it came to sports. He always put me in a ‘eat what you kill’ environment. I’ve always been pushed to my limits and I’ve always found a way to succeed. Coach Hurley’s coaching style is in line with my upbringing.”
Paez has spent his time in Iowa United’s sparkling state of the art facility, refining his outside shooting touch. He looks to make the 3-point shot a finer point of his hardwood trade.
Coaches In To See Tyndale
As a game manager and stabilizing influence with the ball in his hands for national superpower Montverde Academy (FL) last season, Class of 2027 guard Javion Tyndale turned in several performances in which his scoring prowess was evident.
The diminutive, ultra-quick 5-foot-8 and 160-pound Tyndale scored 18 points during Montverde’s 76-71 victory over Brewster Academy (NH) during the St. James tournament in Virginia. He submitted a handful of games of three 3-pointers or more.
Operating a high powered offense featuring then-senior, prolific scoring guard Dhani Miller (Kent State) and multitalented, inside-outside threat Joe Philon (UCLA), Tyndale was entrenched in more of a dish-first facilitatator’s role.
He transitioned to shouldering the onus of focal point while establishing himself a highly spurt-able, three level scoring source on whom UPlay Canada leaned this summer.
Splashing movement 3-pointers and carving his way into the teeth of defenses for crafty finishes, Tyndale averaged 22.3 points during EYBL Session I. He sustained this go-to option pace throughout the summer.
He was instrumental in spearheading Team Canada to an unprecedented gold medal in the U18 Americup. Tyndale averaged 12.6 points and 6.0 assists throughout the event.
Controlling the tempo, sticking opportunistic 3s, whizzing fireball passes while locating cutters and feeding the post, Tyndale scored 19 points to go with six assists and three steals against Team USA in the Gold medal game.
Having recently narrowed his choices down to UNLV, Seton Hall, Providence, West Virginia, Loyola-Chicago and St. Bonaventure, Tyndale recently wrapped up a visit to St. Bonaventure.
Both Seton Hall and St. Bonaventure were in at Montverde’s sprawling Central Florida campus to see Tyndale recently.
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