Key recruit exits commitment

AAU coach says Georgia remains top choice for Ashton Hagans.

With uncertainty surrounding the future of Georgia coach Mark Fox, Newton High standout Ashton Hagans has withdrawn his commitment to the Bulldogs. Hagans

is ranked the No. 18 recruit in the

2019 class by ESPN, the No. 3 point guard and the No. 1 player in the state of Georgia.

“We don’t know the status of coach Fox and his staff there,” said Hagans’ AAU coach, Chris Williams of Game Elite. “Instead of waiting a couple weeks or whatever the case may be, Ashton

and his father decided to open recruiting back up.”

Williams said Georgia, to whom

Hagans committed in December, remains Hagans’ top choice. Hagans is not ruling out committing again to Georgia, Williams said, but “just can’t wait around.”

Prior to Hagans’ commitment, Georgia Tech had been at the top of his list, as had Kentucky, Auburn and Florida State, although Tech’s candidacy was damaged by the fact that assistant coach Darryl LaBarrie was put on paid leave and then resigned after an allegation of an NCAA violation.

Now, should Georgia not be his destination, Hagans is open in his options. Williams noted that, after Monday’s news broke, he had heard from, among others, Wake Forest, Florida, Georgetown, Temple, Boston College, Providence and Ohio State.

Tech’s chances are reduced because of LaBarrie’s resignation, Williams said. Tech would not be out of the picture, though.

“Pastner’s always been a good guy,” Williams said. “He’d just have to build that relationship, basically.”

Williams further said that Hagans is “still up in the air right now” about reclassifying from a member of the 2019 class to the 2018 class, which would enable him to begin his college career in the coming academic year.

Ashton Hagans is ranked the No. 18 recruit in the 2019 class by ESPN, and No. 1 in Georgia.