4/12/2017 basketball Edit

Jeremiah Francis could still be on path to an early decision

Brian Neubert • BoilerUpload

GoldandBlack.com staff

INDIANAPOLIS — Though just a high school sophomore, Jeremiah Francis has been intent to bring recruiting to a close swiftly.

The Class of 2019 point guard from Pickerington (Ohio) Central seems locked into that plan still.

"I'm still looking at this upcoming fall, before basketball (season)," he said at this weekend's IndyBall Shootout in Indianapolis, where he helped his Indiana Elite team to the 17-and-under title. "I think I still want to make that decision."

Thanks in part to some long-standing ties between Coach Matt Painter and Francis' family, Purdue established itself early on in a strong position for the 6-foot-2, 200-plus-pound guard.

But this winter, a relatively late-arriving offer — late-arriving by today's accelerated standards, at least — came in from near-by Ohio State, a potential game-changer for a player whose family's ties to the school run deep.

"It affects things a little bit," Francis said. "It's the hometown school. My dad went there and my mom went there and it's a good school. I'd love to put on 'Ohio State.' I have a great line of communication with Coach (Thad) Matta and Coach (Chris) Jent and everybody in my family could come see me play.

"My dad got real emotional when that happened, because he played there and was a thousand-plus-point scorer there and my mom ran track there and set multiple Big Ten records. Everyone in my family would love it for me to go there."

Francis has been around the Buckeye program often, but also has a level of investment with Purdue. He attended camps there when he was younger, then visited for the first time as a recruit in the fall, at which time he was offered. He came back for Purdue's win over Wisconsin early in the Big Ten season.

"It was really crazy, really loud," he said. "I couldn't even talk to my dad, really."

Painter has been heavily involved in recruiting Francis, seemingly easing whatever setback it might have been to Purdue that lead recruiter Jack Owens has left. Owens became the head coach at Miami (Ohio).

"Purdue's still at the top of my list," Francis said. "I still love Purdue. I still love Coach Paint. He's a really good guy. I feel bad that Coach Owens left and went to Miami (Ohio), but they're still on the top of my list right now."

Francis said he hopes to visit Purdue again this spring or summer, along with taking trips to West Virginia, Virginia Tech and TCU, other schools that have offered who remain among prime considerations. North Carolina — where Pickerington Central teammate Sterling Manley has signed — has shown some interest and could get a visit, too.

"I know whatever program I go to will be a great program," Francis said. "It'll be my heart and my decision to make. I'll talk to my parents about it and they're going to tag along with me."

With a decision perhaps to come sooner rather than later in the big picture, comfort will matter for the Rivals.com four-star prospect.

"If it feels like a home," Francis said of his considerations during visits. "If I went to Ohio State, it would be home, but if I went to Purdue, I'd want to make sure it was a home and I do feel like it would be. I've been in their dorms and their gym and I know it's not too far between them."

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