Justin Headrick Recruiting (2019)
Regional colleges wisely began evaluating juniors in the last two months. Among the juniors in Tennessee, Stone Memorial High forward Justin Headrick (PrepHoopsTN #50) is one of the ten most highly coveted.
Perhaps Headrick is undervalued by PHT. More importantly, four D1 coaches are aware and intrigued.
“I have heard from Chattanooga, Samford, Tennessee Tech, Lipscomb, and then a few D2 (Bob Jones),” said Justin Headrick.”
In fact, Headrick took an invited visit to Chattanooga Saturday. The Mocs are a team on the rise since Matt McCall (UMass) accepted the head position in 2015. They are now lead by Head Coach Lamont Parris.
Lipscomb hosted Headrick both in the summer and this winter.
“I went to UTC and Lipscomb and those are the games I have been to,” said Justin Headrick.
The two visits Headrick enjoyed prior to his junior season were nearby.
“Lipscomb was this summer,” said Headrick. “UTC was probably three months ago. They call every couple weeks and we text. They congratulate me on wins and stuff.”
For Lipscomb the point men are both Coach (Steve) Drabyn and Head Coach Casey Alexander.
“And Tennessee Tech Assistant Gus Fraley came to watch me,” said Headrick. “Coach Bronson of UTC is going to watch me soon. He doesn’t know yet (when) because the weather has been bad.”
Deeper Analysis
The 6-foot-7 forward has an athletic family.
“My dad played football at our crosstown rival, Cumberland County (HS),” said Headrick. “He never went and played college, [but] he had an offer from Tech. My great-grandpa played for Navy in football.”
Currently Justin Headrick is heavily pursued by the three aforementioned Tennessee colleges. Does he have any thoughts on Lipscomb, in particular? Visits generally give players a more full feeling.
“It is really nice campus,” said Justin Headrick. “I like the size of it, where it is on the smaller size. It is in the middle of Nashville. It is on the same road as all the colleges.”
Tennessee Tech has not hosted Headrick formally, but both Justin and his father, Bubba mention their intentions to see TTU soon.
“I am going to take an unofficial when their season is over,” said Headrick.
TTU Head Coach Steve Payne has not talked directly with Justin Headrick just yet, but remember the associate head coach came to evaluate. Also, Coach Payne talked with Justin’s high school coach on the phone.
Future
After last summer, Justin Headrick is comfortable returning with EAB AAU. With their 17u program he hopes to garner more college offers and interest.
Ideally, the forward would like to mature into a college wing.
“UTC and Lipscomb said they see me playing a stretch-3…get the ball for shooting purposes or I can step out and shoot a three, a combo player,” said Justin Headrick. “UTC Coach Parrish used to be Associate Head Coach at Wisconsin. He said he sees me playing like Frank Kaminsky (Wisconsin 2011-2015).”
Currently 195-200, Justin will have to add weight. Tall, thin hoopers historically struggle to hold on weight in their mid-teens. More important is that his skills and toughness continue to develop at this stage.
With three invested college programs already tracking him, Headrick’s trajectory appears encouraging.
Keep up with @PrepHoopsTN for the latest on Justin’s college recruitment.