Intriguing 2018 big man with size, length and skill on UT official
A week after hosting Keldon Johnson and Kamaka Hepa, the Longhorns will be busy again this weekend playing the role of hosts for an intriguing, rising 2018 big man. Jaxson Hayes is currently in Austin and on his official visit. Where do things stand with him, and what kind of player is he? Our official visit preview:
The skinny: We caught up with Hayes, who is probably close to 6-11 than the listed 6-9, on Thursday to preview the upcoming Texas official visit.
On his relationship with the Texas coaching staff since it offered him in July:
"My relationship with the Texas coaches has been great. I feel like they have made me a priority. They really talk about how they can develop me."
On what he's looking forward to about Austin and the UT campus:
"I have never been to Austin. I'm really looking forward to seeing the campus."
The visits he's taken so far and if he remains intent on signing during the early period:
"I've taken unofficials to Xavier, Kentucky, Dayton, Butler, Ohio State, Purdue, and Illinois. I have an official to Xavier set up for next weekend. That's still the case (signing early)."
Who is recruiting him the hardest?
"Really, the recruitment has been even with who have been recruiting me the hardest."
Hayes will be accompanied by his mother on the trip. You'll notice a lot of regional programs on the list with Texas being the exception, but location isn't believed to be a big factor. What Hayes is looking for most is a place to be developed. He has a good understanding for how raw he is as a prospect, and what he could become over time. After all, this is a guy that used to be a football player and underwent a huge growth spurt, which, along with his talent, put him on the radar of high-major programs.
Texas's recent run at developing bigs has Hayes's attention, but how does he fit into Texas's plans given its tight numbers? That should become clearer after this weekend. Xavier and Butler are thought to be big contenders to sign Hayes, and taking an official visit to Xavier after an unofficial already is telling.
Prospect breakdown: Hayes likely isn't done growing, and could play at 7-0 at the collegiate level. What stands out most is his skill for a guy so tall, which speaks to his growth spurt coming after he played different positions earlier in his hoops career. He shows a nice shooting touch and stroke at the free throw line, and that will eventually extend out to the mid-range and maybe even beyond. Also, Hayes has solid passing skill, and a surprising handle for a player his size.
There's no doubt he'll have to add strength at the collegiate level, and that will take time. When he does, he could emerge as a good rebounder, and his length and athleticism combination should lead to impressive shot-blocking ability.
OB in-person look: 2017 Adidas Summer Championships (two games)