Update on . . . Tamir Jackson

I talked to St. Benedict's (NJ) 6'2 junior guard Tamir Jackson yesterday. Tamir and I primarily discussed his recruitment and how the college process is going for him. As of now, "Pop" has offers from UAB, Miami (FL), Rhode Island, Virginia Tech, Harvard, Penn, and South Carolina. In addition, Arizona is heavily recruiting Jackson, and both Virginia and Clemson are interested him. Right now, "UAB, Harvard, and Miami" are at the top of "Pop's" list. Tamir's reasoning for having these schools on top is that they are "showing [him] the most love." When I asked Tamir how the current scandal invloving Harvard Head Coach Tommy Amaker is "not affecting [him] at all," which is a good sign for the Crimson. UAB got the best sign of all, though, as Tamir told me that the Blazers are currently at the top of his list becasue he had the "most fun out there when he went to visit," of all the schools he has taken a look out. "Probably as of right now, UAB [is on top]. . . . They're number one, the same with [Harvard and Miami]," is what Jackson's response was to my question of who is in the lead for his services. DeMarcus Cousins, one of the nations top players in the class of 2009 recently pledged to UAB, so I asked "Pop" what impact that has on him: "It has a little affect. He's a great big man, and I play well with big men that are good. He called me the day he committed. He said he's waiting for me to commit." For those of you wondering why Tamir is favoring UAB over the "BCS Conference" schools, he let me know that he "doesn't really care about them big name schools," implying that the name on the front of a jersey won't be a deciding factor, though he still has interest in big-time conference schools, such as Miami. In his search for the correct school, Tamir is looking for "academics, coach/player relationship, [and if he] . . . going to be a priority." With two Ivy League schools on his list, you'd think that Tamir has some great grades, and certainly does, letting me know that he has a "3.6" GPA. Jackson told that he plans to take his official visits "probably in the summer or after AAU season." Tamir's squad at St. Benedict's finished the year at an astounding "24 and 1," so he is a proven winner, and is fine talent.