After we had just released that Mountain Ridge High School's 6-foot-7 senior forward Jared Rodriguez might wait late, until the spring to make his college decision, the very athletic wing prospect with good length and a very versatile skillset, decided to pull the trigger early with a program in the Big Sky Conference.
This week, after recently receiving a division-I offer from the University of Idaho, Rodriguez, whom had not seen his college recruitment take off as of yet, decided that a bird in the hand was worth more than two in the bush - giving a verbal commitment to Idaho and their men's basketball staff.
Rodriguez chose Idaho over offers from Dixie State and Chico State. Idaho was his only division-I offer, so the decision by Rodriguez to commit to Idaho made a lot of sense. With one division-I offer on the table for himself, Rodriguez had considered committing to a college program in the spring. After not seeing his college recruitment by more schools pick up in the fall, the opportunity to wait until the spring intrigued Rodriguez enough to cause him to wait late, but in the end it made the most sense to give a verbal pledge to Idaho.
Rodriguez has excellent potential as a college prospect. He has a long, frame that he has added some serious size and muscle to over the last year. He is fundamentally sound and possesses a good very nice shooting stroke with range. He also has a good handle of the basketball.
This high school season, Rodriguez should also put up big numbers as he will look to lead his high school program, since stud underclassman prospect Josh Green is playing for Hillcrest Prep Academy. Look for Rodriguez to have major production this season.
Congratulations to Rodriguez and his family on this amazing honor, as he joins a nice list of future college prospects in Arizona's loaded 2017 class.
