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Guys, I've been telling you I've been trying to get a full interview and finally did earlier, with Jase Richardson. Bit of a correction first off, he's officially visiting UC Sept. 23 and will NOT be on campus next weekend. My mistake for adding to the visitors list. I've deleted that section to update it. But lots of other good info here.
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First off, Richardson told me he's holding to a top eight he released last month of UC, Arkansas, Alabama, Michigan State, USC, San Diego State, Stanford and Virginia. He insists all eight are still in play, but the four he's getting ready to see are Alabama next weekend, Michigan State Sept. 9, UC Sept. 23 and Florida likely Oct. 7. The last one is not quite locked in, but it sounds like it's damn close.
The Bearcats have a very strong chance here. Richardson told me he loves coach Wes Miller, but he's formed a very tight bond with UC four-star commit Tyler McKinley. He cited McKinley as one of the main reasons he's interested in the Bearcats. The other guy who's been working Richardson hard is assistant coach Andre Morgan. He told me that Morgan "brings a different energy to recruiting." Now, that said, I think UC should feel really good here. But I think there's two right there with the Bearcats: Michigan State and Florida.
Michigan State is the obvious, since Richardson's father, Jason Richardson, is from Michigan and played for Tom Izzo and the Spartans from 1999-2001, which included the 2000 national championship. Jase told me the staff talks to him almost every day. But he also likes the way Mich St used its guards last year and he thinks he could also be used similarly.
The one here that caught me off guard was Florida. Our friend Rob Cassidy didn't even mention the Gators in his story last week on Richardson. But Richardson himself called Florida his "dream school" and said he's very intrigued by coach Todd Golden, who's entering his second season there.
I honestly don't know which one he'll pick, but again I think Richardson is favoring UC, Michigan State and Florida, even with the Alabama visit coming up. It's just the way he talks about those three. I'll be keeping tabs on him and I do expect him to decide in mid-October. But I think it's neck and neck with those three.
Full story coming.