HAMPTON, Va. – Theo Pinson is one of the best long term prospects in the nation due to his impressive blend of athleticism, length and overall skill. The 6-foot-6, 185-pound small forward is elite member of a 2014 class that is loaded at the top.
The Shiver had the opportunity to catch up with Pinson this past weekend in Virginia, where he was with the CP3 All-Stars for Session #2 of the Nike EYBL.
Pinson listed scholarship offers from Syracuse, Tennessee, Alabama, Duke, Louisville, North Carolina State, Wake Forest, Florida State, and the former Virginia Tech staff. The other schools involved in Pinson’s recruitment are Kentucky, Kansas, North Carolina, and Ohio State.
“No, not really,” Pinson said of whether he has any favorites at this point in his recruitment.
Thus far, the rising junior has taken unofficial visits to Alabama, North Carolina State, North Carolina, Duke, and Virginia Tech.
“Honestly, I mean, all of them are recruiting me equally,” Pinson said when asked if anyone is coming at him the hardest. “You hear from a different coach every day.”
Although Pinson grew up a fan of the Duke Blue Devils, he says that will not be a factor in his decision.
“It won’t, just [going to] make the decision for me,” Pinson explained.
Living in the Tobacco Road area, Pinson constantly has people telling him to stay local and attend an ACC school.
“I mean, you have people every day telling you [to] go to Carolina or Duke, just living in North Carolina,” Pinson said.
As for his reaction when those situations do arise, Pinson remarked, “I just laugh it off. I just laugh.”
Another major program that is interested in landing his signature is the University of Kansas and Pinson shared his thoughts on the Jayhawks.
“I was watching them throughout the NCAA Tournament and through the whole year,” Pinson said of KU. “Coach [Bill] Self, he’s a great coach. Nobody thought they would be where they were, in the Final.”
Pinson has not actually had the opportunity to speak with Self, the KU head coach, just yet. Rather, it was one of the former assistants that he was in touch with.
“Not really, the person that was recruiting me was Danny Manning,” Pinson said of the newly minted Tulsa head coach.
Although he has not had as much interaction with the current Kansas staff as he has with the staffs at some other schools, Pinson is still interested in the Jayhawks.
“Oh yeah, definitely,” Pinson said. “I’m interested in everybody.”
Pinson also spent some time talking about his game and the type of player that he is on the hardwood.
“Probably getting my teammates involved and attacking the basket,” he said of the strongest parts of his game.
As for his chief weaknesses, Pinson commented, “I gotta get my ball handling stronger and [work on] my strength.”
While there is a certain NBA player who Pinson enjoys watching, there is not one in particular who he sees as similar to himself.
“I mean, I grew up watching Kobe [Bryant], but I don’t compare my game to anybody, really,” Pinson said.
