Recruiting update: Largo's Ben O'Donnell

It appears the Ben O'Donnell sweepstakes is down to two schools.

The Largo senior point guard just returned from a visit to William & Mary, saying he enjoyed his trip to the Virginia campus.

O'Donnell, who also visited East Tennesee State a month ago, said he's still undecided between the two, but could have a commitment in the next few weeks.

Either way, the four-year starter said he'd get a chance to come in and play right away.

Here's the skinny on both options:

At William & Mary, O'Donnell would play for Tony Shaver, the Colonial Athletic Association Coach of the Year. The Tribe (15-15) finished tied for fifth in the CAA with George Mason and of course, first-place VCU.

The Tribe needed another floor general, having graduated CAA first-teamer Adam Payton, but will return the other four starters (and 75 percent of its scoring). W&M's up-tempo style fits O'Donnell, and he'll have plenty of options on an experienced team....He likes that the Tribe plays in a tough league, with VCU, Drexel and George Mason

Interestingly enough, if O'Donnell lands at William and Mary, he could potentially play against fellow Pinellas County star, Lakewood's Ed Nixon, who is strongly considering VCU (and will visit there April 6)......

"They want a point guard," O'Donnell said. "I liked the campus more (than ETU's) and it'd be a really good situation (playing-wise) for me."

Then there's East Tennessee State, coming off an Atlantic Sun Conference regular season title. The Bucs (24-10) lost to Clemson by 7 in the first-round of the NIT, but have made the postseason in three of the past five seasons.

O'Donnell was the only county player to participate last weekend in the Florida Senior Showcase - the state's largest high school basketball all-star game - in Orlando. His team lost to the group featuring Lake Howell's Joey Rodriguez (VCU) and Chandler Parsons (Florida), who scored 30 points.

"It was a great time," O'Donnell said. "It was one of those things where you pass the ball and don't get it back, but it was fun to play against some serious talent."

O'Donnell plays next in the Pinellas-Hillsborough All-Star Game April 13th at Eckerd College. Once I get the full rosters, I'll post them up here, but on the Pinellas side, Lakewood's Anthony Dorsey, Clearwater's Justin Morin, Largo's Charlie Lytle will be among the 10 .....

-- JOE SMITH

joesmith@sptimes.com

Largo High senior Ben O'Donnell. Times photo by Ted McLaren. Click to enlarge

Comments

Yeah. Florida and Pinellas county in particular are really into hoops!!!!