Keeping the Faith With Georgia Basketball Signee E’Torrion Wilridge (Video)
Georgia basketball rustles a gem from the lone star state, E’Torrion Wilridge.
E’Torrion Wilridge’s personal struggles may not rank with those of fellow Georgia basketball signee Will Jackson. Nevertheless, his addition to the 2015 recruiting gives Georgia a solid “feel good” ranking.
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After receiving scholarship offers from Auburn, Georgia, Marquette, Oregon, Oklahoma, and Texas A&M, Wilridge saw his dreams of big –time college basketball fade after an
during the semifinals of the Texas state basketball tournament.
With the crucial spring and summer evaluation periods nearly upon him, the injury prevented Wilridge from playing effectively before the critical eyes of the college basketball world.
One team stuck with the 6’6″ forward from Beaumont, TX, however, and the loyalty paid off in spades.
“I committed to Georgia because of Coach [Jonas] Hayes,” Wilridge told Dan McDonald of UGASports after his commitment. “He was one of the first coaches to start recruiting me a couple summers ago. When I got injured this past season, he didn’t stop recruiting me. He stayed with me throughout. That’s one of the reasons I committed there.”
E'Torrion Wilridge @ToeToe24_ has signed his LOI with Georgia - congrats! pic.twitter.com/bSYU59UoCt
— Houston Hoops (@HoustonHoops17U) November 12, 2014
Ranked among the nation’s top 100 prospects and top 10 Texas prospects by Rivals.com, Wilridge was also first-team All-State and ranked in the Top 5 in the greater Houston area by the Houston Chronicle. It appears Wilridge has returned to form and that the Bulldogs stole away an outstanding talent from the lone star state.
Now a senior at Central Medical Magnet High School in Beaumont, Wilridge is 6-foot-7 and 205 pounds. He’s expected to be able to play both forward positions in college. Last year, he led the Jaguars to a 31-5 record and a semifinal finish in the Texas Class 4A state tournament. He averaged 22.3 points per game.
Despite his noisy numbers, Wilridge’s recruitment was quiet. First, the knee injury chased away the college coaches. Despite being offered by Georgia, Auburn Oklahoma and others in June 2013, just as his sophomore year had closed, there was no chatter among the Bulldog Nation about the skilled youngster. And finally, Wilridge chose the middle of Georgia’s 34-0 football rout of Missouri to announce his commitment.
Besides the lauds from local observers in Texas, Wilridge has the respect of his peers. Four-star junior point guard J.J. Caldwell spoke to Dan McDonald of UGASports.com.
“He’s the real deal. He’s long, pretty athletic, can shoot the ball, and he can get to the basket. He’s been good for a long time. The only thing that set him back a little bit was him getting injured earlier this year, but he’s the real deal. He’s good now. We were at the Super 16 event earlier this month where the best teams in Houston play and his team was there. I watched him play. He looks really good. He’s back to normal to me.”
Check out the 2013 – 2014 highlight reel and decide for yourself.