College Basketball Recruiting: Georgia And Georgia Tech Still Chasing Top In-State Talent

With the class of 2012 shaping up to be a good one for the state of Georgia, both Mark Fox and Brian Gregory are trying to make a big splash for their respective programs. The consensus top 3 prospects in the state are all uncommitted and the recruiting battle is just starting to heat up as the season and the early signing period approaches. 

Miller Grove's Tony Parker, Shiloh High's Robert Carter and Southwest Dekalb's Shaq Goodwin all have a lot in common. Each player is ranked in the top 30 of the ESPNU Top 100 for 2012, all are power forward center types and all three would look great in Georgia or Georgia Tech uniforms next season.

If either in-state school is to land Tony Parker then it appears that they have some work left to do as he is being courted by the likes of UCLA, Duke and Ohio State among others. Parker recently took an official visit to UCLA only to return and find Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski waiting for him. 

"Colleges are allowed to see a player three times in the NCAA contact period. [Krzyzewski] said he rarely uses all three of them but he did with Tony because he's a top priority."

Neither Georgia nor Georgia Tech have given up on Parker completely and the Yellow Jackets did get Parker to take an unofficial visit to the school. 

Shaq Goodwin is seeking the opportunity to play not only basketball in college but football also. He has narrowed his top 5 down to Georgia, UCLA, Memphis, Florida and Arizona. The 6-foot-8 power forward/ wide receiver plans to take official visits to each of his top 5 schools. 

Mark Fox was one of the first coaches to visit Goodwin in August and the Bulldogs remain a possibility as a destination where he could play both sports. 

Shiloh High senior Robert Carter is flying a little under the radar in his recruitment but has offers from both Georgia and Georgia Tech as well as Maryland, Florida, and Florida State. Carter has also reportedly talked with Kentucky but it is unclear whether or not he has an offer from the Wildcats or not. 

Georgia already has commitments from three in state recruits in Milton High's Charles Mann, Whitefield Academy's Kenny Gaines and Miller Grove's Brandon Morris who just happens to be Tony Parker's teammate. Brian Gregory has also been busy since taking over as Tech's coach and has commitments from two in state talents in North Gwinnett's Chris Bolden and North Clayton's Marcus Hunt. 

The early signing period will begin on November 9 and will last through November 16. 

For more on the Georgia Basketball and Georgia Tech Basketball be sure and check out Dawg Sports and From The Rumble Seat.