"I committed to Ole Miss," added Terrico
White, who was scheduled to leave on his official visit to Arkansas this
morning but has since canceled. "I like Ole Miss better because it is closer
to home. I love their style of play too, and they have a great staff."
But
it was Ole Miss' determination to ink the young man from the Bluff City that closed
the deal.
"Arkansas was my second choice. They had a great campus
and weight room. Their weight room is actually the top in the nation. And Fayettville
is a nice town, but Ole Miss has been trying to get me for the past two years,
and they have shown me they wanted me the most. And like I said, it is closer
to home too."
What makes Terrico so attractive for these SEC programs?
"I
can shoot it really well, and I can dribble it up the court and penetrate and
take it to the rim, dump it off, and go up and get the basketball," stated
Terrico. "I can pretty much do everything a coach would dream of a player
doing."
Craigmont head coach, David Taylor, adds to the conversation.
"I
think he is capable of becoming a pro," added Coach Taylor. "He will
need maybe one of two years at the next level, and then he will be ready. The
sky is the limit. He is just a a hell of an athlete. He is a three sports athlete
here at Craigmont. He is our starting quarterback, throws a 90 MPH fastball, and
carried our basketball team to the AAA State Quarterfinals last year. He is just
one of those guys that comes around every once a while, just special, he can do
things that very few players can."
Coach Taylor has had Terrico for
all four years in high school and believes the Rebels are getting a special player,
not only on the court, but off of the court.
"When you talk about
Terrico as the person, he is the type of kid who baby-sits my kids. He is a manerable
and disciplined kid. Terrico is an honor roll student and has been voted Most
Popular at Craigmont. Everybody just loves the young man. He is always so humble
and just wears that big ole smile. Ole Miss has just taken their program to the
next level with Terrico. I will say that."
But it is White's silky
smooth shot and athleticism that allows him to get to the rim when ever he wants,
and jumping ability to bring down the house, that had colleges licking their chops
to ink the 2007 Memphis Best of the Preps Finalist.
"He just has such
great vision, and his versatility and athleticism just takes over games. We have
worked in the offseason on his dribble drive and mental toughness. I think the
City of Memphis will see a different Terrico White this year because of his mental
toughness."
When trying to compare Terrico's game, Coach Taylor had
one person in mind.
"I think Terrico is another Dwayne Wade. I think
that Wade can create his own shot and get to the basket when ever he wants. And
Wade makes everyone better around him. See, Terrico like Wade, they do not have
to have the ball in their hands to score. They can go get it because of their
size and jumping ability, and of course, they have those eletricfying dunks that
brings down the house."
Terrico averaged 22 points, 7 rebounds, 3
assists, and 3 steals as a junior for Craigmont. He was named All-Metro, 1st Team
All-State by the Tennessee Writers Association, and was one of the 5 finalist
for the Commercial Appeals Player of the Year.
White is also a three year
starter at QB and has passed for over 3, 000 yards in his career.
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