Although he's a Florida native (Jacksonville, originally) Nashville, Tennessee resident Andrew Fleming says an offer from Ohio State could seriously impact his recruitment. The 6-foot-5, 200-pound shooting guard has offers from Florida, UNLV, Vanderbilt, Nebraska and others.
"That (an Ohio State offer) would change things," Fleming, the 171st-ranked player nationally according to 247Sports.com, told Eleven Warriors. "(Thad) Matta is one of the best, he's an amazing coach. The campus life, I hear, is amazing. I'm really interested."
Matta and assistant Jeff Boals were in Nashville today to check on Fleming and 2016 forward Braxton Blackwell. Ohio State's head coach spent nearly two full hours watching Fleming workout and shoot the basketball.
"I shot it really well today," he said. "It seems like they really like me. I hope they offer. We'll talk more about it either tonight or tomorrow. I can't wait to hear from him."
Ohio State is not the only school to have checked in on Fleming this week. Billy Donovan's Gators stopped by as well.
"They stopped by on Monday," Fleming said of the Gators. "They've been recruiting me the longest, and I definitely like them. They've offered, so that helps."
With a rounded game, Fleming's is still a bit raw but he's got the skills and size that make him an intriguing prospect. As a sophomore he averaged 19.2 points a game and shot 80-percent from the charity stripe; he also chipped in five rebounds and two assists per contest. Donovan doesn't offer slouches.
"The three-ball is the best part of my game," he said. "I can also use screens well and get myself free for shots. I'm a solid defender and winning means a lot to me. I could develop a bit more of a mid-range game because I feel like I'm either getting all the way to the basket or shooting a three."
Fleming would like to get his college choice made sooner rather than later. He has yet to visit Ohio State, but an offer from the Buckeyes would make a Columbus trip a certainty.
"(I'll decide) probably at the end of the summer," Fleming added. "I want to pick a school that I've built the strongest relationship with the coaches."
