Recruiting Report: Markeese Hastings (2018)
After a huge July, Wyoming-Godwin Heights rising senior Markeese Hastings now has a bevy of Division I options to choose from.
The 6-foot-6 wing had two Division II offers as of last fall when we last talked to him. But now is a hot target for low to mid-major D1 programs from near and far.
Northwood and Ferris State were those initial D2 offers, and then the floodgates opened. Hastings added 10 Division I offers this summer. That list looks like this; Cleveland State, Eastern Michigan, Elon, Oakland, Illinois-Chicago, Green Bay, Buffalo, Coppin State, Detroit-Mercy and Wyoming.
“This July, I ended up playing really well. I was knocking down shots and getting to the rim and just had a good IQ, taking smart shots,” said Hastings. “And I just played hard, and that was a major key, coaches love seeing a player working their hardest the whole game.”
He’s visited one of those 10 D1s, and gave his impressions.
“I’ve only visited Buffalo, and it was real interesting, they made it real convincing,” said Hastings. “I like to play in big gyms, and their gym is real nice. Even the players were real cool.”
With still this fall, and then his senior season ahead, Hastings is hoping to add some high-major schools to his now lengthy list of offers.
“Everybody has a dream to play high-major D1, obviously. So hopefully I keep developing , getting better and I can pick up a couple high-major offers,” he said.
“High-majors that actually fit me, you know, I don’t want to go there and just sit on the bench. But I want to go somewhere where I can play. And then potentially play in the pros later on, if I get good enough.”
Hastings says he plans to visit Western Michigan, Oakland, Loyola, and Detroit-Mercy sometime soon. In the meantime he’ll continue to develop his skill-set, like he did this summer with 1Nation 17U.
“I played real well with them, I like how they play fast, five-out-dribble drive, and I picked up all those offers with them,” said Hastings.
“I feel like I’ve improved on my jump-shot, my ball-handling skills, and I feel like I’ve become a lot more confident in my dribbling. Confidence always plays a big role, if you’re not confident then you don’t got it.”