NaLyssa Smith's recruitment has been interesting to follow. A little over a year ago, South Carolina wasn't even a school she had listed in her Top 15 or so. But, then Dawn Staley and her staff had an in-home visit with her and her family in San Antonio last September.
In April, one week after USC wins the national championship, she makes her first official visit to South Carolina.
I forget when exactly, but she tweeted that she would make a verbal commitment on August 28 (which is her brother's birthday). I've often wondered why a recruit publicly schedules a time so far in advance (of NSD) to commit, especially when they haven't even made all their official visits. But ,that implies she will have to take any additional official visits during the summer.
A few weeks later, ESPN reports that NaLyssa has a Top 4 leaderboard of Baylor, South Carolina, Ohio State and Louisville, but still has an additional 5 schools in consideration; seems like most schools not in her Top 4 got the hint and moved on.
May, June, and July go by, and no additional official visits taken by NaLyssa. Just my opinion, but it sure seemed like USC was the leader.
Finally, come August, it is reported that NaLyssa would take official visits to Ohio State, Louisville, and Baylor in consecutive weeks. She also postpones her announcement date from August 28 to September 1. Again, it just surprises me that recruits feel the need to paint themselves into a corner as to when to make their decision public. She has plenty of time to decide prior the Fall NSD or Spring NSD period, especially if she is torn between two schools.
I will be shocked if Ohio State is her choice; surprised they even made her Top 4.
Louisville and Waltz have been known to pull off some major coups in recruiting elite players; so, won't discount them.
Baylor is a school with which she is very familiar; has attended many games there; and, two hours' drive from home.
But, I've always thought she was enamored with Dawn Staley and South Carolina. Anyone who has ever seen her twitter page knows that she has been retweeting South Carolina stuff for months. They are my pick for her choice tonight.
