Africentric’s Horston commits to Tennessee
Pacing like a cat, Jordan Horston did a few jumping jacks backstage to alleviate anxiety before addressing the Africentric K-12 student body Wednesday with a much-anticipated decision.
Horston, the No. 2-ranked girls basketball prospect in the nation according to ESPN.com and the most prominent player to come out of central Ohio, committed to Tennessee in a lavish video production following a previously scheduled school athletic assembly.
“It’s like a huge weight being lifted off my shoulders,” said Horston, a 6-foot guard with sublime skills and versatility who led Africentric to a Division III state championship before leading the U.S. to a gold medal in the FIBA U-17 World Cup over the summer and earning tournament MVP.
“Ever since I was in ninth grade, I dreamed of this day, but it’s still overwhelming. Everything today seemed like a dream. Going through the whole recruitment process was both fun and tough because I met a lot of great people, but ultimately, I had to say no to some of them.”
Horston said she pared down a list of seven finalists to five, which included Ohio State, and then three — Connecticut, South Carolina and Tennessee — before making her decision about a week ago.
“Jordan, her mother and I, frankly, were in three different directions about where we wanted her to go,” said her father, Leigh Horston. “She couldn’t go wrong wherever she went. We just wanted her to go where she felt like she fit best.”
And for Horston, that was Jordan Horston, right, of Africentric is ranked No. 2 among girls basketball prospects in the nation according to ESPN.com. Tennessee, an eight-time NCAA champion that has produced Naismith players of the year in Chamique Holdsclaw, Candace Parker and Tamika Catchings.
“When we drove home from our visit at UConn last week, we agreed not to talk about it,” Horston said. “I just sat in my room, listened to music, prayed and carefully weighed all the pros and cons of every school. For me, it was all about the fit. I formed great relationships with the players and coaches, it’s a tradition-rich program and it’s a quick five-hour drive for my family.”
Africentric coach Will McKinney said he enjoyed the recruiting process more than Horston did.
“What a ride it’s been,” he said. “We’ve had a lot of good players get looked at in the past, but this was special. I got to meet some fantastic coaches who I’ve always looked up to you. They all took their shot.
“While I was involved,
Jordan kept her cards close to her chest. I wasn’t pressuring her to know. This is a decision kids should make. They’re going to be spending their next four years there. I’m a homer. I wanted her to be a Buckeye, but she’s going to a top-notch program not far from home. The sky is the limit for Jordan. She’s a 6-footer who can pass, run, rebound, shoot and score. With strength conditioning, she can only get better.”
Ohio State has secured commitments from twotime Ms. Basketball Kierstan Bell of Canton McKinley and point guard Jacy Sheldon of Dublin Coffman, who are considered five-star prospects.
Horston, who already has 1,182 points, 527 rebounds, 361 assists and 338 steals in helping the Nubians to two state titles, said her focus now is on one thing.
“All it’s about now is getting another ring,” she said.