Upper Room Christian Academy's Purvis re-opens recruiting, releases list
Submitted by egrobinson on 08/30/2011
RALEIGH ? Upper Room Christian Academy senior Rodney Purvis has re-opened his recruiting process and announced a revised list of schools he?s considering for the 20012-13 season.
Purvis, a 6-foot-4 senior guard who pulled his verbal commitment from Louisville in May, said he?s now, in no order, considering offers from: Connecticut, Memphis, Missouri, N.C. Central, N.C. State, Ohio State, Virginia Commonwealth and Virginia.
Purvis and his mother, Shanda McNair, said they have no time frame on a decision, but may wait to after they take five official visits, interact with coaching staffs during home visits and thoroughly evaluate each program.
?Instead of rushing into another decision,? Purvis said. ?I get to sit down and talk with the coaches more. Gain relationships with every coach on the staff. Just get a good feel for the campuses ... and see what fits my style of play the best.?
Purvis, who made the rounds of national basketball showcases this summer, is considered one of the top guards in the nation. He has played both point guard and shooting guard.
Purvis considered Duke among his recruiting choices until he recently received a call from Blue Devils coach Mike Krzyzewski.
?Coach K called Rodney and said with the number of guards they had he didn?t think it would be fair to him to bring him in,? Shanda McNair said. ?We respect it. We understand it. Our quest for the right fit continues.?
Purvis and McNair outlined the right fit as a place where he could play immediately. Also, they intend to find a school that fits Purvis? style of play, with the request that he primarily play the point guard position.
McNair said they will weigh the institution?s academic standing, as well as the team?s current and future roster. With their process extended, they will now have a chance to watch teams play.
?I came to the decision that this is the single-most important decision that we?ll make for Rodney in his 17-year life span,? McNair said. ?It may be a little hectic, it may be a little overwhelming at times, but this is a process we really need to go through. This is [Rodney?s] future that we?re making a decision about.?
Purvis previously committed to Louisville based on a relationship with assistant coach Tim Fuller, who eventually left the program, along with other assistants. McNair said that her son?s relationship with head coach Rick Pitino was strong, however, it was different than their relationship with Fuller ? now an assistant at Missouri.
?You move forward,? said McNair, who admits to a learning curve in the recruiting process, even though she was former player at N.C. Central.
?This time we wanted to make sure we had a good list so that in the event that something like this or similar comes up we don?t have to go back making phone calls and talking to coaches,? McNair said. ?We plan to make this the final list, less, of course, again, something else happens.?
Despite his reluctance to keep open the process, considering the amount of phone calls he receives, Purvis said he?s excited about the new list.
?I definitely think I have a better handle on it,? he said. ?I know me and my family are in control of it. We can take it at whatever pace we want. We can visit and hear out everyone.?
Purvis has scheduled an in-home visit with the N.C. State staff on Sept. 10. He will also visit UConn on Sept. 17. He will take an unofficial visit to N.C. Central next month where his godfather is head coach LeVelle Moton.
ESPN scout Dave Telep ranks Purvis as the No. 16 overall player in the country and No. 5 shooting guard in the 2012 recruiting class. ?The guy?s a bona fide McDonald?s All-American,? he said.
Van Johnson, owner of Baseline Hoop Sports scouting service, said Purvis will remain a hot commodity.
?He?s extremely talented, knows how to score,? Johnson said. ?He?s one of the top players in the nation, not sure if he?s a point guard. I think he?s more effective off the ball. And doing what he does best ? that?s scoring.?
Purvis said he?s happy with his summer and ready to continue his development through his senior season.
?I?m just looking forward to being college ready when it?s that time for me to go,? Purvis said. ?My first day on campus ... I just want to be able to make an impact soon as I get there.?
