Connecticut Recruiting, Providence Recruiting, Rutgers Recruiting, Seton Hall Recruiting, St. John's Recruiting

CATCHING UP (AGAIN) WITH TEVIN BASKIN

Athletic forward seeing school list expand after impressive summer

By Raymond Balter

Previously published reports that have appeared on the internet have asserted that Tevin Baskin, rising senior from Trinity Catholic in Stamford, Conn, is wide open in his recruiting process. After conversing with him recently, NBE Basketball Report can attest that this is indeed the case. Baskin said he’d like to make a decision by November, but added that “the process is crazy so it may take longer than that”.

“There are new people in the picture every day,” Tevin Baskin said. “Right now, everyone is equal.” Those schools that would all seem on equal footing in their pursuit of him would be UMass, St John’s, Xavier, Providence, Rutgers, Auburn, and “a couple of others,” he said. He paused for a moment, perhaps drawing a momentary blank, then added that “Virginia had been coming pretty hard, Clemson too.”

I asked him about two other schools, Seton Hall and Connecticut. About the Pirates, he was quick to add, “Oh yeah, they’re still in the picture. I don’t want to leave them out.” About the Huskies, though, he had this to say: “I haven’t heard from them. Maybe they want something that I don’t have, but I can’t worry about that. I’m happy with what I have (as far as offers).”

“Right now,” he went on, “I’m just trying to see what everyone has to offer aside from basketball. I’m trying to see what schools really want me or need me.” He said distance is not a factor, and also said that at the moment there is nothing that specific education-wise about any school that would be a factor, although he did state that he would like to look into the graduation rate for student-athletes at each school.

Like most young men I speak with, the chance for immediate playing time could be a factor, and so too could the recent success (or lack of it) that each potential suitor has had, as he said, “I’m used to winning.” One thing that the school that eventually lands Baskin will not have to worry about will be his availability as a freshman. “With the way my parents and family are, there will be no problems with grades,” he said.

As far as his individual game, Baskin addressed the issue that commonly comes up when discussing him: his extraordinary athleticism. “Athleticism can only get you so far,” he said. “”Eventually is has to come down to fundamentals. You can only out-jump people for so long.” He feels he’s made good progress, adding that, “my ball-handling and my mid-range jumper are coming along.”

He went on: “I’m more than just a high-flyer, and that’s what I’ve been labeled as. It motivates me. If people back off me, if I can show them that I can hit that open shot, or bring the ball up court and dish it … being able to do that, that’s what motivates me.”

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