Gilchrist’s finalists: USF, WVU, UK

Posted Jun 10, 2008 by Brett McMurphy

Updated Jun 10, 2008 at 02:47 PM

Terrelle Woody reiterated Tuesday what he told me last week - there is no timetable for former Maryland freshman Gus Gilchrist’s decision on where he will transfer. The highly-touted 6-foot-10 center will decide between the University of South Florida, Kentucky and West Virginia.

“We have to sit down and map it out, talk about it and go from there,” said Woody, Gilchrist’s trainer and mentor. “All three schools are great schools and have great coaches.

“USF doesn’t have the tradition that a Kentucky has or West Virginia doesn’t have a tradition that Kentucky has. But USF is a building program. They have an excellent coach in Stan Heath, who did an excellent job at Kent State and Arkansas. Gus can’t go wrong, whatever guy he feels comfortable with.”

Gilchrist played until his junior season at Friendly High School in Maryland. He was teammates and remains a close friend with USF point guard Chris Howard. “Once Gus was going to leave Maryland, him and Chris started talking and Chris told him a lot of good things about Coach Heath,” Woody said.

Gilchrist played his senior year at Progressive Christian Academy, averaging 22.3 points and 10.3 rebounds. He was rated the nation’s No. 9 center by Scout.com and signed early with Virginia Tech. But then changed his mind after the tragic April 2007 shootings, Woody said.

Gilchrist then signed with Maryland, but wasn’t aware he would have to sit out a season because he was transferring to another ACC school. That prompted his decision to leave Maryland. Woody said which ever school Gilchrist attends, it will get “the whole package.”

“They’re getting an excellent player,” Woody said. “He’s 6-10, 240, extremely fast, quick off the floor, a very good post player with a very good outside game. He’s good at blocking shots. They’ll be getting a good kid that doesn’t drink, a very well mannered young man. They’re getting the whole package in this guy.”