Recruiting season is well and truly underway as the Hurricanes had a star-studded list of official visitors down in Coral Gables this weekend, and @DMoney was able to catch up with the pick of the bunch in five-star Tristen Keys (MS). Here's what he had to say:
On returning for a third time to Miami:
"It was very important for me to come back, just being around the environment, being around the people and getting the feel with the guys. [Miami] had the number one offense last year, so just kind of seeing that, they kind of pretty much broke it down and just let me know how they could use me."
Why Miami is a contender in his recruitment:
"People sleep on [Miami] a little bit in my recruiting, but they're some great guys, and I have a great relationship with them. They do well by their people. But one thing I recognize when I'm around them or just in the environment, they're for the people. So it's like, as far as bringing recruits in, bringing people in, it's like they care about the person before they care about the ballplayer, and that's just something that's important to me."
"[Miami] is high for sure."
How he's approaching his recruiting process while being committed to LSU:
"A day by day thing. It's a process, not easy, but we try to make it easy as possible. You know, I got my family, so as long as we're on the same page, we're good."
"[For LSU] it's kind of like a remember we're home type of thing."
Outside of Miami there's still Tennessee, Alabama and LSU which Keys will be visiting June 13-15, June 17-19 and June 20-22 respectively.
"I'm ready for my heart and my mind to align with each other on one school so whenever that happens is when we'll pull the plug"
On bonding with players on the team:
"(I was around) [Malachi Toney, Ray-Ray Joeseph] and I was around a couple more guys. It was great, I got a little relationship with Ray-Ray and Mali and most of the receivers honestly. So for me, it was kind of easy for me and I kind of got that feel for being in the locker room. I know if I go in that locker room, it would be great and easy and there wouldn't be no tension."
What's going to be the separating factors between the schools:
"A great offense, the people, the environment and the coaches especially. I want coaches that not only I can talk ball with but talk about life."
On returning for a third time to Miami:
"It was very important for me to come back, just being around the environment, being around the people and getting the feel with the guys. [Miami] had the number one offense last year, so just kind of seeing that, they kind of pretty much broke it down and just let me know how they could use me."
Why Miami is a contender in his recruitment:
"People sleep on [Miami] a little bit in my recruiting, but they're some great guys, and I have a great relationship with them. They do well by their people. But one thing I recognize when I'm around them or just in the environment, they're for the people. So it's like, as far as bringing recruits in, bringing people in, it's like they care about the person before they care about the ballplayer, and that's just something that's important to me."
"[Miami] is high for sure."
How he's approaching his recruiting process while being committed to LSU:
"A day by day thing. It's a process, not easy, but we try to make it easy as possible. You know, I got my family, so as long as we're on the same page, we're good."
"[For LSU] it's kind of like a remember we're home type of thing."
Outside of Miami there's still Tennessee, Alabama and LSU which Keys will be visiting June 13-15, June 17-19 and June 20-22 respectively.
"I'm ready for my heart and my mind to align with each other on one school so whenever that happens is when we'll pull the plug"
On bonding with players on the team:
"(I was around) [Malachi Toney, Ray-Ray Joeseph] and I was around a couple more guys. It was great, I got a little relationship with Ray-Ray and Mali and most of the receivers honestly. So for me, it was kind of easy for me and I kind of got that feel for being in the locker room. I know if I go in that locker room, it would be great and easy and there wouldn't be no tension."
What's going to be the separating factors between the schools:
"A great offense, the people, the environment and the coaches especially. I want coaches that not only I can talk ball with but talk about life."