Andrew Wiggins was bound to make one program ecstatic — and break plenty of hearts — with his college choice.
And on Tuesday afternoon, after months of buildup, the nation’s No. 1-rated basketball recruit finally made his decision known and chose Kansas.
Considered the most electric high school hoops prospect since LeBron James, Wiggins opted for the Jayhawks over Kentucky, North Carolina and Florida State.
"Andrew Wiggins will be attending Kansas," pool reporter Grant Traylor posted on his Twitter feed at about 12:10 p.m.
As reserved as his game is athletic, the 6-foot-8 forward kept his comments about the four schools to himself for months. He didn’t talk publicly about his official visits to the four schools. He gave away next to nothing to recruiting analysts and reporters. Even his coach at Huntington Prep in West Virginia, Rob Fulford, didn’t know which school Wiggins would choose.
“Lol if you ain't in my family you know nothing about my recruitment, lol stop with the rumors,” Wiggins wrote on April 12 on his Twitter feed, @22wiggins.
On Tuesday, Wiggins made his choice in front of family, friends and classmates at Huntington Prep. There was no formal press conference before a large assembly of journalists. No shell game of four hats in front of him on the table. Just a few Twitter posts by those in the room to inform the college basketball world where Wiggins would be playing in November.
Wiggins’ impact goes beyond points, rebounds and assists per game. He will almost assuredly provide all of the above. And while he’s a YouTube sensation for his dunking prowess, Wiggins can defend just as well. He could lead the Jayhawks to a deep run in the NCAA tournament.
And he almost assuredly will leave his mark in one year on campus before moving on to the NBA. But first, college basketball fans are in for a fun season. Wigginsmania is coming to Lawrence, Kan.
