Gilbert Christian High School's athletic and talented 6-foot-9, 210-pound senior post Mitch Lightfoot has been the state's top recruited prospect in the 2016 class, and one of the top prospects in the West. 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 has decided to take official recruiting visits to five different schools this fall before reaching his decision.
Lightfoot has already taken official recruiting visits to Stanford (May 28th) and Utah (September 3rd), and this weekend he took his biggest recruiting visit of all when he took a trip to Kansas to visit the Jayhawk campus.
Lightfoot commented to Rivals.com that he really enjoyed his visit to the University of Kansas, and he was very impressed by the facilities and the fan base. Lightfoot also enjoyed his time with Kansas head coach Bill Self, and felt that he would have a chance to play early for the Jayhawks.
While Lightfoot did not give a commitment to the high-powered college basketball program, the lure to play for KU, his hometown, could really sway Lightfoot in the end. Only time will tell.
Lightfoot is scheduled to take two more visits to St. John's (October 2nd) and then to the University of Arizona (October 10th) before reaching his final decision.
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.
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 pereimeter 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.