On Wednesday, November 14th, the Early National Letter of Intent (NLI) Signing Period began. The period will run for a full week, from November 14th until November 21st.
During this time period, high school prospects will have the opportunity to sign their respective national letters of intent with the school of their choice. The NLI seals the deal for a college prospect with the desired school - once a student-athlete signs the NLI he/she is locked in to the program.
This week the early signing period begins. Each of the prospects in the state from the 2013 senior class that have given verbal commitments to division-I colleges, will now have the opportunity to sign the NLI over the next week.
On Wednesday, numerous prospects around the state held signing parties at their respective high school programs and signed the NLI in front of their coaches, family and friends.
For individuals such as Basha High School's 6-foot-10 senior post Maurice Kirby, who officially signed his NLI with Viriginia Tech on Wednesday, the day was filled with joy and excitement - almost too much excitement.
"Man, I was so nervous," said Kirby. "I couldn't even sign the paper. My hands were shaking. There were so many people there and I was like, I'm going to Virginia Tech."
For Westwind Prep Academy 6-foot-1 senior guard John Marshall who officially signed with Southern Utah on Wednesday, and in front of a nice crowd of friends and family at the Westwind program, the signing of the NLI sealed the deal for his college future and years of hard work and dedication to his craft.
While the recruiting process can be very long and tough to deal with, almost grueling, for many student-athletes today - the signing day is a day of celebration. After years of preparation and countless hours in the gym, it all comes down to that moment; the moment when a student-athlete sits down and puts the pin to the paper.
Unfortunately for most student-athletes in high school, they will never get the opportunity to sign a letter of intent to a college program, or have the opportunity even to continue playing the sport they love in college. So for the select few that will get this opportunity, we have to come together and celebrate this amazing accomplishment - coaches, friends, family and the community.
Other top-rated boys prospects that are scheduled to sign over the next week include Dobson HS 6-foot-5 senior guard Jaron Hopkins (University of Colorado), Poston Butte HS 6-foot-3 senior guard Jalen Richard, Brophy Prep 6-foot-9 senior post Tim Kempton (Lehigh University), Chaparral HS 6-foot-8 senior post Joe Boyd (Drake University), Paradise Valley HS 6-foot-6 senior forward Paul Watson (Fresno State University), Pinnacle HS 6-foot-4 senior guard Drew Bender (Rice University), Greenway HS 6-foot-3 senior guard Chris Miller (Northern Arizona University), Marcos De Niza HS 6-foot-4 senior wing Richaud Gittens (Weber State) and Florence HS 6-foot-9 senior post Jeremy Verhagen (Grand Canyon University).
The late signing period, also known as the Regular Signing Period, will begin in the spring - from April 17th to May 15th for division-I athletics, and, for division-II athletics, will run until August 1st.
Congratulations to all those individuals this week that will be signing from our staff here at Arizona Preps.
