I just got off the phone with new hoops commit/soon-to-be signee Malik Ondigo. Maitland will have a full story up on his decision in a few minutes, but I wanted to share a few of the pertinent things he told me.
-Overall thoughts on his visit, and why Tech:
"It was great, man. I've honestly been high on Tech. Tech's been number one for me for the longest time, and I just took my visits to my top three school (Tech, Nevada, Purdue), and I just sat here. I told myself I like this about that school, this about that school, but when I got to Tech for my visit, it lived up to the hype. After all the research I did, watching them play, the style of play, the campus life was great, and the process. They handle the process. They have film, on the court, off the court, balancing the college life, the weight room, all the components of the process they have, I feel like I'm going to buy into it, and I haven't even had a day of practice or worked with them yet. I'm really going to be able to thrive, be successful there, and they're bringing in a lot of freshmen. There are four freshmen in this class, and we're a talented group coming in here. The fact that he's bringing in these JUCO guards to help them win next year with the type of seniors that they have with Gray, Smith, Keenan, I feel like we're going to do some big things next year in the Big 12."
"One thing that really stuck out to me is the relationship I built with Coach Adams. Also, Coach Beard. Give him credit. For a high-major coach to call and talk to me throughout the season, that's big time and speaks a lot. Coach Adams did the majority of the recruiting, and he told me things that were not what I want to hear. There's a lot of coaches that do that. He told me what I needed to hear. I built a strong relationship with Coach Adams. At the airport he gave me a big hug, and I told myself then that 'Yeah, these people, I can trust them. They're going to take care of me and my whole family.'"
NOTES:
-The scouting report I've gotten from a few folks on Ondigo is essentially this: He's an excellent scorer with his back to the basket, and he can excel as a shot blocker and really bring a great overall presence on the defensive end. He can also shoot the hook with either hand.
-Ondigo is going to have a chance at real playing time right out of the gate. With Hamilton being a 5th year senior and one-off player, Odiase still dealing with and recovering from his foot injury, real minutes will be available to Ondigo right away. I think he can play either the 4 or an athletic 5 for you.
-He's only played basketball for three years. Total. He didn't play until his junior year of high school, hence the prep year this year to really flesh things out and grow his game.
-Ondigo has known fellow Tech signee Daniel Mading through a friend he was playing prep ball with. I think Mading and he got in touch about Tech and Mading helped Tech out in this deal.
-Overall, this is quite the foursome for Tech to sign out of high school. Ondigo, Mading, Jarrett Culver, and Zhaire Smith is similar to the group of Evans, Smith, Gray, Odiase that Tech signed a few years back, but this group is more talented. That's an extremely exciting proposition.
-You can in fact recruit to Lubbock, Texas, folks.
-Overall thoughts on his visit, and why Tech:
"It was great, man. I've honestly been high on Tech. Tech's been number one for me for the longest time, and I just took my visits to my top three school (Tech, Nevada, Purdue), and I just sat here. I told myself I like this about that school, this about that school, but when I got to Tech for my visit, it lived up to the hype. After all the research I did, watching them play, the style of play, the campus life was great, and the process. They handle the process. They have film, on the court, off the court, balancing the college life, the weight room, all the components of the process they have, I feel like I'm going to buy into it, and I haven't even had a day of practice or worked with them yet. I'm really going to be able to thrive, be successful there, and they're bringing in a lot of freshmen. There are four freshmen in this class, and we're a talented group coming in here. The fact that he's bringing in these JUCO guards to help them win next year with the type of seniors that they have with Gray, Smith, Keenan, I feel like we're going to do some big things next year in the Big 12."
"One thing that really stuck out to me is the relationship I built with Coach Adams. Also, Coach Beard. Give him credit. For a high-major coach to call and talk to me throughout the season, that's big time and speaks a lot. Coach Adams did the majority of the recruiting, and he told me things that were not what I want to hear. There's a lot of coaches that do that. He told me what I needed to hear. I built a strong relationship with Coach Adams. At the airport he gave me a big hug, and I told myself then that 'Yeah, these people, I can trust them. They're going to take care of me and my whole family.'"
NOTES:
-The scouting report I've gotten from a few folks on Ondigo is essentially this: He's an excellent scorer with his back to the basket, and he can excel as a shot blocker and really bring a great overall presence on the defensive end. He can also shoot the hook with either hand.
-Ondigo is going to have a chance at real playing time right out of the gate. With Hamilton being a 5th year senior and one-off player, Odiase still dealing with and recovering from his foot injury, real minutes will be available to Ondigo right away. I think he can play either the 4 or an athletic 5 for you.
-He's only played basketball for three years. Total. He didn't play until his junior year of high school, hence the prep year this year to really flesh things out and grow his game.
-Ondigo has known fellow Tech signee Daniel Mading through a friend he was playing prep ball with. I think Mading and he got in touch about Tech and Mading helped Tech out in this deal.
-Overall, this is quite the foursome for Tech to sign out of high school. Ondigo, Mading, Jarrett Culver, and Zhaire Smith is similar to the group of Evans, Smith, Gray, Odiase that Tech signed a few years back, but this group is more talented. That's an extremely exciting proposition.
-You can in fact recruit to Lubbock, Texas, folks.
