Gilbert Christian High School's athletic and talented 6-foot-9, 210-pound senior post Mitch Lightfoot is going through the most important decision of his young life, and with some very good options for himself. After taking each of his five official recruiting visits recently, Lightfoot will now gather his thoughts before making his final decision.
Lightfoot is coming off another excellent recruiting visit this weekend, as he ventured just miles from his home to visit the University of Arizona - his final recruiting visit. While he has yet to make his college decision, his visit to the Wildcats program went very well for him.
According to Lightfoot's club coach with the Arizona Power, John Ortega, Lightfoot is currently strongly considering his decision and may decide to wait to wait a couple weeks before making the decision.
Lightfoot as been the state's top recruited prospect in the 2016 class, and one of the top prospects in the West, for some time. Lightfoot is coming off a very good spring and summer performance, where he earned significant high-major division-I interest from around the country. As a result, Lightfoot decided to take official recruiting visits to five different schools this fall before reaching his decision.
Lightfoot has already taken official recruiting visits to each school. He visited Stanford (May 28th), Utah (September 3rd), Kansas (Sept. 17th), St. John's (October 2nd) and then to the University of Arizona (October 10th) this weekend.
Lightfoot previously verbally committed to the University of New Mexico last summer (2014). This spring, Lightfoot decided to de-commit from the University of New Mexico and re-open his college recruitment.
It is very seldom when a prospect actually takes each of his recruiting visits before making his final decision, so I applaud Lightfoot on taking his time and considering his option. It is an exciting time for Lightfoot, as well as the basketball community, as he considers each top-rated basketball program.
Arizona Preps will continue to follow Lightfoot's college recruitment closely, and bring you any recruiting updates as they continue to develop.
Arizona Hoop Review Scouting Report: Lightfoot is a very nice talent with broad shoulders and a nice physical frame that should add weight very nicely over time. In fact, Lightfoot will easily be able to add 20-30 pounds of muscle to his now thin frame over time – a fact that will take his game to a completely different level over the next 3 to 4 years. He already possesses a strong feel for the game and a nice overall skillset, which allows him to make plays inside the post or from the perimeter, where he has developed a great deal over the past year. He is very athletic for a player his size and has excellent explosion off the ground - allowing him to finish very strong at the rim. He dunks the basketball very well and plays well above the rim. Lightfoot also has a mean streak in him, which allows him to raise his game to the level of his competition - a very nice attribute. Lightfoot has really developed his perimeter touch, but more consistency from the perimeter will open up his entire game. An active rebounder on both ends of the floor. More physical strength will take his game to the next level in his ability to rebound against bigger post players. An excellent shotblocker with good timing and length. A nice overall prospect with upside.