I talked with Isaiah Pola-Mao for about 30 minutes today. I won't be able to post a full story right away, but I figure I'd bullet point some stuff.
-He had some serious questions about ASU coming into the visit. The two biggest were academic and regarding the assistant coaches. He felt like those questions were honestly answered in a players only Q&A meeting with N'Keal, Jack Smith, DeMario and others. He said he hasn't been the best natural student and he doesn't want his struggles to repeat. He said he was told that you have to try to fail with all the resources students are given. He also said he thinks Todd Graham is an awesome person but he's worried about the assistants being one way during recruiting and another once you commit. Jack was able to candidly vouch for who each assistant is as a person. The rest all hammered home the family atmosphere. He said getting these questions answered made a huge difference in how he sees ASU.
-I asked him if he saw the pattern of teams treating him like a second option, he got pretty animated here. He knows he's a backup plan for Bubba Bolden for most major schools and it eats him up. He also said he knows that KJ Jarrell will end up with more accolades nationally because of the whole Saguaro thing. He wouldn't mind being at the same school with these guys but anyone who has treated him as a second option is pretty much getting the same treatment back from him (except for one school)
-It's currently down to ASU, Washington and USC. USC didn't jump in until Bolden decommitted, and that's something he keeps in mind.
-He's always wanted to stay home, but he admits as an 18 year old he has the itch to leave. He knows that more than anyone, Mountain Pointe is an insulated community, and the ASU coaches did a good job of making him feel like Tempe would be leaving home and staying home at the same time- best of both worlds.
-He likes Seattle, and loves most things about the program/school, but the cold weather gives him some pause.
-He's got a torn labrum. He says he feels good and he'll get a second opinion about what to do, but it definitely caused him issues in the state championship.
-He had some serious questions about ASU coming into the visit. The two biggest were academic and regarding the assistant coaches. He felt like those questions were honestly answered in a players only Q&A meeting with N'Keal, Jack Smith, DeMario and others. He said he hasn't been the best natural student and he doesn't want his struggles to repeat. He said he was told that you have to try to fail with all the resources students are given. He also said he thinks Todd Graham is an awesome person but he's worried about the assistants being one way during recruiting and another once you commit. Jack was able to candidly vouch for who each assistant is as a person. The rest all hammered home the family atmosphere. He said getting these questions answered made a huge difference in how he sees ASU.
-I asked him if he saw the pattern of teams treating him like a second option, he got pretty animated here. He knows he's a backup plan for Bubba Bolden for most major schools and it eats him up. He also said he knows that KJ Jarrell will end up with more accolades nationally because of the whole Saguaro thing. He wouldn't mind being at the same school with these guys but anyone who has treated him as a second option is pretty much getting the same treatment back from him (except for one school)
-It's currently down to ASU, Washington and USC. USC didn't jump in until Bolden decommitted, and that's something he keeps in mind.
-He's always wanted to stay home, but he admits as an 18 year old he has the itch to leave. He knows that more than anyone, Mountain Pointe is an insulated community, and the ASU coaches did a good job of making him feel like Tempe would be leaving home and staying home at the same time- best of both worlds.
-He likes Seattle, and loves most things about the program/school, but the cold weather gives him some pause.
-He's got a torn labrum. He says he feels good and he'll get a second opinion about what to do, but it definitely caused him issues in the state championship.
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