Fairhope two-sport star Riley Leonard might lastly be shut to selecting one sport over the opposite for his faculty profession.
After a flurry of big-time soccer affords over the weekend, the Pirates’ rising senior quarterback informed AL.com on Monday that he’s 75 % probably to decide on soccer over basketball when he does make his faculty choice.
“It’s most likely 75-25 soccer proper now,” Leonard stated. “What can I say after these previous couple of days? I’d be silly to not say soccer. My basketball recruitment might choose up after AAU season and perhaps that may change some issues, however proper now I can inform you — lastly after three years or so — that I’m leaning towards soccer.”
Leonard had maintained as just lately as final month that he had no concept whether or not he would play basketball or soccer in faculty.
“I want I knew, and I want one sport was pulling me more durable,” Leonard said in early April. “However proper now, I’m nonetheless indecisive. It’s arduous.”
The choice is getting clearer by the day, particularly after the 6-foot-Three Leonard was provided in soccer by Nebraska, Syracuse and Duke – all within the final 5 days.
“It’s fairly random,” Leonard stated concerning the timing of the affords. “As quickly as one occurred, it’s sort of been a snowball impact. These colleges had been in contact with me for some time. They wished me to go to camp, however clearly I couldn’t due to the pandemic. So, they took an opportunity and provided, and I’m simply actually grateful and blessed for the alternatives.”
Leonard already had soccer affords from South Alabama, Tulane and Southern Mississippi. As a junior final fall, he accomplished 102-of-172 cross makes an attempt for 1,231 yards. The twin-threat standout additionally ran for 499 yards and eight touchdowns on 96 carries.
“I believe it’s lengthy overdue,” Fairhope coach Tim Carter stated of Leonard’s elevated recruiting consideration. “I actually really feel like he would have garnered a variety of consideration if we had been in a position to have spring follow, however it’s all caring for itself.
“Riley is an actual simple child to promote. He’s athletic, he’s clever, he’s aggressive and he has the scale necessities that they search for at that stage. He’s not simply tall. He can run and soar. All of these elements are what you search for in a quarterback.”
Leonard stated he additionally has had some communication with the soccer staffs at Kansas and Kentucky however has not obtained a proposal from these two but.
“When coach (David) Cutcliffe at Duke affords a quarterback, it’s fairly particular,” Carter stated. “Everybody is aware of that.”
Leonard additionally has basketball affords from St. Mary’s, North Alabama, Samford and Missouri State. He helped the Pirates to the primary remaining 4 earlier this yr, averaging 20.9 factors and eight.5 rebounds a recreation. He additionally had 58 blocks and 76 steals. He was considered one of three finalists for Class 7A Participant of the 12 months.
He stated he plans to proceed to play each sports activities all through his senior yr at Fairhope with aspirations of a state title in each. He stated he isn’t prepared to select on which college to attend, however so far as which sport to play sooner or later …
“It’s arduous to go basketball with all this soccer consideration,” he stated. “It’s not 100 % soccer but so there’s all the time an opportunity.”
MORE RECRUITING
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Pleasant Grove WR sets decision date
Tennessee making recruiting inroads in Alabama
Spanish Fort DB commits to ACC school
Who’s next now? An updated look at the top 2021 Alabama recruits
— to www.al.com
