Andrew Force:
Future150 National Analyst. Covering High and Middle School basketball.
Arden, NC (Future150) -- Minutes ago John Fulkerson (TN) revealed he has three schools left in his mind.
"Charlotte, Tennessee, and Georgia," said Fulkerson.
He will decide during school in the next "2-3 weeks."
"I am going to decide between the schools I have taken official visits to," said Fulkerson opening up the conversation.
Outsiders could still make their pitches, but it truly sounds like Fulkerson has seen enough to be comfortable in his choice. Tennessee seems like the favorite, though Fulkerson has never given any explicit indication that he has a favorite.
This is purely based on his geographical upbringing, visit receptiveness, and program direction.
Georgia is also in the SEC and Charlotte has been involved the longest of the trio.
Hard Work
The trend in modern AAU is to find a "shoe-deal" team and hope for the exposure. Fulkerson is the prime example of a player sticking to his AAU program and simply developing.
Sure, Christ School (NC) deserves some credit for exposing his talent/size, but Fulkerson was followed this past summer because he improved. If you are good enough, college recruiters will find you.
And the Tennessee Bobcats are proud to be a part of Fulkerson's dreams coming true.
"I think his loyalty speaks for himself," said Tennessee Bobcats AAU Head Coach Kevin Feltner. "He had a chance to go to shoe company teams for three years. I told him to go because I thought it was the best chance."
After considering all avenues, Fulkerson turned down that opportunity.
"Very loyal kid."
Is he proof that shoe deal teams are not the only option to college offers?
"He has 35 offers," said Coach Feltner. "That speaks to that subject pretty well. The lesson learned is, 'If you can play they will find you.' We built this particular team around John. I told John a year ago that John would blow up this July. The reason he blew up wasn't because he played for me. It was because of all the hard work in last April."
Like the best leaders of young men, Coach Feltner instantly deflects the credit for Fulkerson's success back on Fulkerson.
"All of the hours he put in with me, driving three hours each way to train three hours in the offseason. That is why he blew up."
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