By Dylan Butler
He wasn’t named the game’s MVP and he wasn’t the leading scorer or rebounder, but Kadeem Jack was the center of attention in the hallway outside the locker rooms at Madison Square Garden Saturday afternoon following the Jordan Brand Classic regional game.
Reporters from near and far converged on the Rice High School senior wanting to know one thing: where the Trinidad-born Queens resident was going to play college basketball.
Jack, who had 21 points and eight rebounds in the City team’s 137-133 loss to the Suburban team, wasn’t ready to announce that decision, much to the dismay of the University of Arizona. He said the Wildcats are so keen on landing him with their final available scholarship that he received a National Letter of Intent with a suggestion he sign at halftime of the nationally televised Jordan Brand Classic regional game.
“I told them that I still have a couple of schools to visit,” Jack said.
A few months ago, the 6-foot-8 budding star was sure he’d become the latest New York City prep standout at Arizona, joining Kevin Parrom (St. Raymond) and Rice’s Lamont “Momo” Jones. Jack said when he returned from Tucson on his official visit in January, he was on “Cloud Nine.”
“It was the first time I saw a college atmosphere and the atmosphere just blew me away,” Jack said. “I think it was a good thing that my parents and my [adviser] didn’t allow me to make the decision then. After a couple of weeks I came back down to earth and I realized that I had more stuff in mind.”
Jack has since visited the University of Miami, St. John’s and Seton Hall and plans on going to the University of Connecticut likely this week, with a final visit planned for April 23 at the University of Arkansas. That, Jack said, is his final five and he’ll make his decision known April 28.
“I just want to go to a place where I know the coach will develop me, turn me into a pro player one day,” Jack said. “The distance [from home] doesn’t matter.”
A shot-blocking machine, Jack has only been playing organized basketball for four years. He’s improved, but is still somewhat limited offensively. Because he is still a relative basketball novice, there is a chance Jack will attend prep school next year. But it’s not because of any academic deficiencies, he said. It’s a decision Jack said he’ll make with his new college coach.
“I’m great academically, it’s just evolving my game because I haven’t been playing that long,” Jack said. “I think that extra year will help me before going to college, playing against people who have been playing nearly their whole life.”
Jack had a breakout season at Rice this year, averaging a team-high 16.9 points per game. His breakout performance was a 24-point, 20-rebound and six-block explosion in a 71-56 win at Bishop Loughlin in January. The Raiders advanced to the CHSAA Class AA intersectional semifinals, where the Lions earned a measure of revenge.
His last appearance as a high school player came Saturday on the famed Madison Square Garden hardwood. He’s played there before, at the Nike Super Six two years ago, but the experience, he said, never gets old.
“It’s a special feeling to step out on that court and play,” Jack said.
Will it be special enough for him to play his college home games there? That answer comes in 11 days.
