I spoke with 2017/2018 combo guard Eric Ayala during the opening afternoon at the NBPA Top 100 camp and he really didn't seem to have any new news for me at the time. Still unsure as to whether he'd move back to 2017 and play in college this fall or remain in 2018 and play another prep season before college. He told me he'd have a much better idea of where things stand next month around All-American camp.
Heard from a few folks yesterday that later in the week he apparently was saying that Maryland has recently reached out in the past couple of days interested in him coming for 2017. Now to be clear, Ayala has always told me that Maryland was one of the schools interested in him for both 2017 and 2018. That said, Maryland sources had recently told me that they were only interested in him for 2018. So if Maryland is now telling him they want him for next season, that seems to be a possible change of course from just a month or so ago.
Talked to a couple of folks close to Ayala last night and they told me that based on visits and what they are thinking, Maryland is really the only school that has a real shot at landing him for 2017 at this time. I know I've mentioned this before, but I was told Ayala was all but done to Cuse for next season until Mike Hopkins left for Washington and that really gave him pause. Cuse then went and added Canadian PG Howard Washington and USF transfer Geno Thorpe a couple of weeks ago, leaving them full.
Just based on familiarity, the number of times he's already visited and the fact that he's a perfect fit to replace Trimble, would have to think the Terps could get this done quickly if they begin to really push next month. Ayala gives you a secondary ball handler that can also shoot the ball pretty well from beyond the arc. He's also fairly proficient in the pick and roll.
Oregon continues to get mentioned, but he hasn't visited and from what I can tell, nothing firm has been set up at this point either.
Ayala was kind of up and down when I saw him last week. He made smart plays for the most part, but wasn't really looking to score. He also missed action on Friday with an injury to his hand (per one of his WER1 coaches) but was back in action Saturday and played well, I was told. Led his team to the semifinals.
But if something happens here, it's likely going to happen next month.
Heard from a few folks yesterday that later in the week he apparently was saying that Maryland has recently reached out in the past couple of days interested in him coming for 2017. Now to be clear, Ayala has always told me that Maryland was one of the schools interested in him for both 2017 and 2018. That said, Maryland sources had recently told me that they were only interested in him for 2018. So if Maryland is now telling him they want him for next season, that seems to be a possible change of course from just a month or so ago.
Talked to a couple of folks close to Ayala last night and they told me that based on visits and what they are thinking, Maryland is really the only school that has a real shot at landing him for 2017 at this time. I know I've mentioned this before, but I was told Ayala was all but done to Cuse for next season until Mike Hopkins left for Washington and that really gave him pause. Cuse then went and added Canadian PG Howard Washington and USF transfer Geno Thorpe a couple of weeks ago, leaving them full.
Just based on familiarity, the number of times he's already visited and the fact that he's a perfect fit to replace Trimble, would have to think the Terps could get this done quickly if they begin to really push next month. Ayala gives you a secondary ball handler that can also shoot the ball pretty well from beyond the arc. He's also fairly proficient in the pick and roll.
Oregon continues to get mentioned, but he hasn't visited and from what I can tell, nothing firm has been set up at this point either.
Ayala was kind of up and down when I saw him last week. He made smart plays for the most part, but wasn't really looking to score. He also missed action on Friday with an injury to his hand (per one of his WER1 coaches) but was back in action Saturday and played well, I was told. Led his team to the semifinals.
But if something happens here, it's likely going to happen next month.
