Seventh Woods update: Latest timetable for Hammond hoops star decision
There was a flurry of Internet activity this week regarding Class of 2016 Hammond sensation Seventh Woods and a possible impending decision.
South Carolina coach Frank Martin had an in-home visit with the family Tuesday, and that set off the speculation that the standout guard could be headed to the Gamecocks, and headed there soon. But his father said Friday afternoon no decision is on the horizon.
“It will be a little ways down the road,” Louis Woods Sr. said. “I don’t know what’s out there on the Internet but it’s going to be down the road. He really doesn’t have anything close in his mind at this time.”
USC and North Carolina have been talked about the most in terms of closeness with Woods, and they have recruited Woods the hardest, according to Hammond coach Mark McClam.
Tar Heels coach Roy Williams first offered Woods as a 13-year-old and has made several stops to see him play. He made an in-home visit with the Woods family a couple of weeks ago.
However, it would not be correct to say the battle is only between those two.
“There’s really no schools he’s calling a top five or whatever,” Louis Woods said. “I don’t know what’s out there on the Internet saying its Carolina and North Carolina. Of course, those are schools that have contacted him, but other than that everything is really wide open. He’s just going through the recruiting process and seeing who’s really interested.”
No other coaches have been in the home at this point besides Martin and Williams, and both visits went very well.
“The visit with coach Martin was really great and we really enjoyed the conversation we had and the input he gave us,” Louis Woods said. “We got a lot out of it. He would fit in over there pretty good. We wouldn’t have a problem with that. The meeting with Coach Williams also was good. He would it in there good also. It’s more of a fast-paced, up-and-down game, which is his style of play. It was also a good conversation with him as well.”
Mr. Woods said the current NCAA investigation at North Carolina is on their minds. As of now is not a real sticking point, though they would like to know what, if any, penalties UNC faces before they make a decision.
“You hear a lot of things and I’ve read some things and you have to find out exactly if it’s going to affect the basketball program,” Louis Woods said.
Another factor is the Woods’ family proximity to USC. The opportunity for his son to play within a few miles of home is big, according to Mr. Woods.
“That’s a plus right there by itself,” he said.
Seventh Woods has visited USC, Clemson, North Carolina and Duke. Clemson isn’t a factor in his recruiting at this point. His father said they are eyeing a decision before the start of school in August.
“We want to go ahead and do this summer thing and if he feels like he’s ready to do something before school opens back up, he can put it out there and get it out the way,” Louis Woods said, adding there is no favorite at this point because other than going to games, they haven’t been able to closely examine in person the schools they are considering.
▪ USC recently offered power forward Eric Cobb (6-9) of Baltimore, as did several others after he decommitted from Kansas State. The Gamecocks are expected to get an official visit from him. Cobb on Thursday began an official visit to Seton Hall. VCU is another program believed to be strong with Cobb and he is scheduled to visit there Monday, his coach told Adam Zagoria of SNY.tv.
▪ Dikembe Dixson (6-7) of Delbarton, W.Va., who recently named his top four as USC, Arkansas, Marshall and Mississippi State, has set his first official visit with Arkansas for May 8. He was visited earlier this week by an Arkansas assistant coach.
This story was originally published April 24, 2015 at 10:21 AM with the headline "Seventh Woods update: Latest timetable for Hammond hoops star decision."