Bassett talks top three, Colorado visit

Dontay Bassett recently trimmed down his list to a top five on social media, and with the early signing period just around the corner, the 6-foot-9, 215-pound power forward from Oldsmar (Fla.) Christian has now narrowed his focus even more.

"It is pretty much narrowed down to Oregon State, Florida and Colorado," Bassett told BuffStampede.com. "I have already taken official visits to Colorado and Oregon State, and I plan to visit Florida on Oct. 8. In late October, or by the start of the signing period in early November, I will decide."

Bassett was in Boulder this past weekend, along with Gilbert (Ariz.) Williams Field big man Wyatt Lowell, who is technically a Class of 2016 prospect but will go a two-year mission after high school.

"My trip to Colorado went well. It was a direct flight so I didn't have to take any stops, which was really nice," said Bassett. "The town around the college was really vibrant and really stood out. It is a nice city with nice people. I also liked all of the support that Colorado gives its student-athletes with an academic structure. They also have new facilities, which stood out."

How did his trip to Colorado compare with his earlier trip out to Corvallis?

"The first thing I noticed about Colorado when comparing it to Oregon State is that it is bigger," Bassett said. "Colorado's campus is bigger and while they are both college towns, Boulder is bigger and stands out more."

Bassett said he is now anxious to check out what the Gators have to offer. Gainesville is a two-and-a-half hour drive north from Oldsmar, which is located in the Tampa area.

"I want to see what the vibe is like around the Florida campus and see how the coaching staff is looking to use me, and just be around the players for a weekend," he said.

Bassett bounced back and forth between California and Mississippi as a youth, moving between the states three times. He grew from 5-foot-5 to 6-foot-9 the last four years and did not play organized basketball until three years ago. Bassett quickly fell in love with the sport.

"I have really appreciated the recruiting process because I never honestly pictured myself being in this position," he said. "I started realizing towards the end of my tenth grade summer playing AAU, that hey, I am pretty good at this.

"Colleges say I have a lot of upside and they say my best basketball is ahead of me. I look at it like I am a handful of clay, I can get molded. Most people that have been playing basketball for years, they have bad habits that they are trying to get rid of. But for me, my coach tells me something and I can absorb it without having bad habits getting in the way."

Colorado told Basset they like his versatility, as well as his ability to shoot the basketball.

"Colorado likes that I am an all-around player, like a stretch four that is still able to play in the post," he said. "Most big men are slow on their feet but I am really fast for my position. I also have the ability to step out to three-point range and knock that down. I can consistently knock down the mid-range shot and I play hard, I get up and down and play 100 percent."

Arkansas, Boise State, Boston College, Kansas State, Mississippi State, Nebraska, Virginia Tech and Wyoming are some of the other colleges that offered Bassett but are no longer in the running for his signature.

Click Here to view this Link.

[rl]