McDevitt aims to keep MT's signing class in tact
Proclaimed as one of, if not the best recruiting classes in MTSU history, first-year coach Nick McDevitt has some work to do to keep K.J. Buffen, Tye Fagan and Carlos Curry committed to the Blue Raiders.
And he knows it.
“I know they’re apprehensive,” McDevitt told GoMiddle.com. “That’s natural and they should be. They came here under the pretenses that the coaching staff they signed with would be here, and now they’re not. Asheville is going through the same thing with the same players that we signed who are apprehensive about staying committed to UNC Asheville."
“Anytime there’s change, that’s only natural," McDevitt continued. "What we’re going to try and do is ease that apprehension and those nervous feelings and convince them that this is still the place for them to play.”
During his introductory press conference Tuesday in the Murphy Center, McDevitt said he envisions his Blue Raiders playing a gritty, hard-nosed defensive game with an up-tempo offense. The Georgia trio are all three-star recruits according to Rivals, and each one possesses a skillset McDevitt deems necessary to be successful with his style of play.
“I saw K.J. and Tye and what they’re capable of doing,” McDevitt added. “You’ve got a guy at all three positions covered. You’ve got a really good guard in Tye, then you’ve got a 6-7 combo forward in K.J. and a mobile guy in Carlos that is big at 6-11.
“Those guys can help you in this league. So, we’re really looking forward continuing to show them why Middle (Tennessee) is the place they chose to play in the first place.”
Upon taking the head coaching job at Middle Tennessee, McDevitt knew one of his first, and potentially most difficult tasks, would be keeping this talented trio committed to the Blue Raiders – an assignment he is more than happy to tackle.
“Absolutely,” McDevitt said with a smile when asked if he enjoyed the challenge of trying to convince all three to stay with MTSU. “It’s better than the alternative of not having anybody signed.”
McDevitt has now reached out to each recruit, making plans to pay each one a visit in the coming days for face-to-face meetings.
“In talking to them, so far, things have been really good,” he said. “We’ve been in contact last night, as a matter of fact. I’ve talked to them about looking at their schedules sometime later this week – Wednesday, Thursday and Friday – we’re going to Georgia. I told all of them that yesterday. We’ll be down there this week to see them.
“They don’t know me. They haven’t seen me face to face, I haven’t met their parents and those are things we’re looking forward to later this week.”
Buffen and Gainesville HS (24-7,10-0) made it to the state title game, losing 85-78 to Langston Hughes (27-5, 15-1). Curry averaged 13.9 points, 8.5 rebounds and 3.2 blocks per game for Dougherty Comprehensive HS (14-12, 4-4), leading the Trojans to the GHSA state tournament.
Fagan had perhaps the best year of the trio, averaging 25 points, 7.3 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game. He propelled Upson-Lee (31-0, 10-0) to the state championship game, defeating St. Pius X Catholic (28-4, 10-0) 70-54. It was Upson Lee's second consecutive state title and second consecutive undefeated season.
“Fortunately, the rules allow us past tomorrow night to go see kids off their high school campuses – kids who we’ve already gotten commitments and national letters from,” McDevitt said. “I’m looking forward know knowing them better and seeing them face-to-face. I’ve seen them play and I know how good they are.”