Top '10 prospect commits to Heels
As North Carolina’s basketball program continues to await decisions from a pair of highly-regarded Class of 2008 recruits, a Class of 2010 rising star just couldn’t wait any longer.
On Wednesday afternoon, Kendall Marshall, a 6-foot-1 point guard out of Bishop O’Connell High School in Virginia, announced his commitment to join Roy Williams’ program in Chapel Hill.
Marshall, just a 15-year-old sophomore, won’t be able to sign a letter of intent for another two years and won’t arrive on campus until the summer of 2010. Yet he felt comfortable enough with the Tar Heels, his favorite team since boyhood, to deliver a very early pledge, choosing UNC over Georgetown, Virginia and Villanova.
“I know Kendall really loved the attention from those other schools,” said his high school coach, Joe Wootten. “But ultimately, it’s simple. He’s been a true Carolina fan since he was a kid and in his heart he’s always wanted to be at Carolina.”
Considered a five-star prospect by Rivals.com, Marshall is a left-hander whose game has been described as “poised” and “crafty.” A team-first distributor who can make plays on the fly, Marshall is exactly the type of floor general Williams has always loved, which would explain why the Hall of Fame coach was so quick to offer a scholarship.
Brick Oettinger, the talent evaluator for the Prep Stars Recruiter’s Handbook, says Marshall doesn’t have the quickness of a Tywon Lawson or a Raymond Felton. But he makes up for that with his feel for the game and impressive shiftiness.
“He’s the guy who has that stop-and-go, the effective spin dribble, a nice crossover,” Oettinger said. “He can kind of lull you to sleep and get by you that way.”
Marshall hails from the same high school as current Tar Heels forward Marcus Ginyard and embodies many similar characteristics from his unselfish play to his easygoing personality to his refined fundamentals.
“He has a whole lot of polish to his game; there’s absolutely no question about that,” Oettinger said. “For a kid that age, he is quite precocious.”
Marshall’s father, Dennis, said the sincerity and warmth of the UNC coaching staff made a big difference in Kendall’s decision.
“When you spend time with them, they make you feel like you’re already part of the family,” Dennis said. “It makes a difference. It makes you feel comfortable. It makes you feel like your decision is right.”
Williams can only hope he has the same influence on the Tar Heels’ top remaining Class of 2008 targets, center Tyler Zeller and guard Iman Shumpert. Both recruits were on campus this past weekend for an official visit but neither has announced a final decision yet.
Two years their junior, Marshall did not need any more time to deliver his pledge, fulfilling a boyhood dream to play basketball at Carolina even before he has played a game as a high school sophomore.
“It’s very special for us,” Dennis Marshall said. “There are things in life you dream about and don’t believe that they’re going to happen. And when eventually they happen and it makes you really appreciate the hard work you’ve put in.”
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