Tremont Waters was all set to go to Georgetown a month ago. The No. 33 player in the Class of 2017 (and No. 8 point guard), according to ESPN, had committed to coach John Thompson III's program
Of course, that all changed when Thompson was fired March 23 after 13 seasons. Waters subsequently de-committed from Georgetown. But new Hoyas coach Patrick Ewing startied re-recruiting Waters "pretty much right after he got the job."
"He pretty much pitched that the team was going to have a new style of offense," Waters says. "They weren't gonna play the Princeton-style offense. They were gonna play more NBA.
"He was with the Charlotte Hornets, and he had Kemba Walker, so he said I pretty much feel like Kemba Walker and he could see me playing in that type of system, so that's what he pitched to me."
The Kemba Walker comparison makes sense from the standpoint of Ewing's experience as an NBA assistant coach -- he was in Charlotte from 2013-2017 -- but it's also a pitch that UConn could make. Waters plays for Notre Dame High School in West Haven, Connecticut, and UConn, Walker's alma mater, has emerged as a potential landing spot.
#UConn is back in mix for recently released Georgetown commit Tremont Waters ... Huskies were one of his final 7 schools before
— William Paxton (@wspaxton) April 11, 2017
UConn and Georgetown fans poked fun at Ewing's questionable recruiting tactic on Twitter:
Well the school that got Kemba to the pros is looking for a guard... https://t.co/SkBvU3rKTf
— Jared Kotler (@JaredKotler) April 13, 2017
Wow Ewing do you want Waters to go to Uconn? https://t.co/jpJULgDmus
— Storrs Access (@storrsaccess) April 13, 2017
Shouts to Georgetown for pitching UConn to Tremont #ConnecticutsFavoriteSon https://t.co/vyyssunjUd
— Ryan (@YoungJands) April 14, 2017
Well, shit, thanks Patrick Ewing. That probably makes Kevin Ollie's job easier. https://t.co/LIQksNEdXC
— tcf15 (@tcf_15) April 13, 2017
Hornets coach Steve Clifford mentioned Ewing often helped Kemba Walker's growth in the role of the team's best player. https://t.co/6HQQr878rc
— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) April 13, 2017
NSFW:
Well, shit, thanks Patrick Ewing. That probably makes Kevin Ollie's job easier. https://t.co/LIQksNEdXC
— tcf15 (@tcf_15) April 13, 2017
Waters says it was Ewing, not Thompson, who officially released Waters from his de-commitment, as an act of respect. Thompson did reach out to Waters though.
"He wished me luck on my process and everything," Waters says. "He really didn't want to let me go."
It was Georgetown that let Thompson go, which in turn, led to Waters parting ... for now. Ewing can still lure Waters back in, although UConn and other elite programs remain on Georgetown's toes.
Waters will showcase his skills to the nation Friday night in Brooklyn. He will be part of the East Team for the Jordan Brand Classic. At 5-11, Waters is also the shortest player in the invite-only high school all-star game.
-- Follow Jeff Eisenband on Twitter @JeffEisenband. Like Jeff Eisenband on Facebook.
