Tevin Mack's VCU visit is key for Georgia Bulldog basketball

Another huge recruiting weekend looms for Mark Fox and the Georgia Bulldog basketball program.

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Dan McDonald reports an impressive list of hoop visitors for the Tennessee – Georgia football game including 2015 commit Will Jackson (SG, 6’4″, 160, Athens, GA, Athens Christian School) and 2016 commit Jordan Harris (SG, 6’4″, 165, Donalsonville, GA, Seminole County High). Big man PF, F. O. G. Anunoby 96’8″, 215, Jefferson City, MO, Jefferson City High) will be taking an official visit to Athens.

But the biggest recruiting visit of the year for Georgia is taking place 500 miles away in Richmond, VA., Tevin Mack, (SF 6’7″, 170, Columbia, SC, Dreher High) a top priority at a position of need for the Dawgs, is visiting VCU to check out Shaka Smart’s program. While no recruit is a “must get”, Tevin Mack’s VCU visit could determine the fate of Georgia basketball in 2016 and 2017.

The composite prediction of the 247sports.com recruiting experts is Mack will sign with Georgia.

Clearly, however, Mack is eyeing the VCU program.

Mack has official visits scheduled for UConn and South Carolina, but it’s possible he will make a decision without taking those visits.

Mack told Dan McDonald of Rivals.com, “I want to go somewhere I can play early and make an impact. I want to earn my spot. I want to play somewhere that gets TV games and exposure and the best competition. The most important thing is that I want to make sure the coach recruiting me is going to be there all four years.”

Stability, playing time, competition, TV exposure, winning.

How do Georgia and VCU compare regarding Mack’s priorities?

Stability – this is a hands down slam dunk for the Bulldogs. Shaka Smart’s name is annually circulated as a replacement head coach candidate. Mark Fox has not succeeded enough for his name to circulate. But at the same time, Fox just received a contract extension. Also, Mark Fox coached Tevin Mack’s brother at Kansas. If the family didn’t like Mark Fox, Georgia would have been eliminated long ago.

TV exposure – with the SEC package on ESPN plus the new SEC Network, the nation will see Mack much more often if he plays for the Bulldogs.

“The most important thing is that I want to make sure the coach recruiting me is going to be there all four years.”

Competition – this comparison is a bit dicey. The SEC does not have a reputation as a big-time basketball conference. However,filling the VCU schedule are has beens familiar only to a basketball aficionado of the black and white TV era. Georgia can easily sell an advantage.

Winning – here, Georgia has work to do. “Winning” is the scrimmage line for Georgia. VCU is perceived as a powerhouse that makes NCAA Tourney plans before the season.

Coach Fox can point to last year’s success and this year’s (likely) success. With the commitments of Tyree Crump (6’3″, 175, Bainbridge, GA, Bainbrideg High) and Harris added to the projected 2017 roster, the talent Mack can find surrounding him at Georgia makes the case for a winning program.

Even if VCU – or other schools – can claim more on court success, Mack’s greatest concern is having the same coaches every year; that’s a Georgia win.

Keep an eye on this recruiting battle – it could be the key to Georgia’s long-term success

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Tevin Mack’s VCU visit is key for Georgia Bulldog basketball

By Richard Gnann | Sep 26, 2014