UHA’s Hopson mostly mum on recruiting

Throw Scotty Hopson the ball on the wing, and he’s pretty good at sidestepping defenders and attacking the basket. Ask the University Heights Academy star a question about his recruitment, and the 6-foot-6 senior star is pretty good at sidestepping questions and blunting reporters’ curiosity.

All of Hopson’s skills were on display at the Touchstone Energy All “A” Classic in Richmond on Thursday as UHA ripped St. Henry 76-50. After playing with pep and purpose, and posting an impressive stat line (28 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals and 1 turnover in 28 minutes), Hopson (shown at right in photo by Tim Webb) faced TV lights and reporters’ notebooks. He’s seen all this before, wherever he’s gone since the November signing period passed without him putting his name on a letter of intent with Mississippi State, the school he commited to last summer.

When asked his status on Thursday, Hopson said his family and UHA Coach Randy McCoy “are taking care a lot of the recruiting right now. I just play basketball, continue to help my team and have fun.”

McCoy said he’s heard from “a few people, a couple SEC schools. It’s what all you’ve heard, and what all I like to read on the gracious web sites . . . I get all my information there. They seem to have the inside to everything.”

Tennessee and Louisville are supposedly are wooing Hopson to some degree. Kentucky is in the mix, but apparently isn’t applying the full-court press. Word is that Cats Coach Billy Gillispie isn’t personally involved, which is a curious approach if UK really wants Hopson.

Then there’s UHA’s other star, 6-4 senior guard Tyshwan Edmondson (shown at left in photo by Tim Webb), who lit up St. Henry for 23 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 steals. Blessed with quickness, jumping ability, a nice jump shot and fearless attitude, Edmondson looks like a Division I prospect. Except that he’s generated little notice among the big schools. He has several offers from mid-majors, such as Eastern Kentucky and Western Kentucky, along with NAIA Georgetown College. He said Tennessee is showing a little interest. McCoy sees Edmondson as a big-time prospect. “No doubt in my mind,” he said. “I don’t know where the rest of the world’s at. I think he’s proved himself. I thought with technology today, ’sleepers’ were over with. I guess I was wrong.”

McCoy is amused more than irritated by all the recruiting hoopla simply because there’s really no news, and won’t be for a while. “The recruiting process is going to go on, and people are going to inquire about (Hopson and Edmondson). But I don’t know if I’ve ever seen kids handle the so-called pressures of this the way these guys have. It’s not talked about in the hallways. I let them know who calls, and they tell me if somebody calls them. That’s about it. Nothing’s going to happen till the season’s over with because there’s no time for it.”
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