Recruiting Update: Darius Guinn (2018 Grant HS/Rose City Rebels 17U)
Had things gone to the original plan, Darius Guinn would be resting at this time. The solid 6-foot-6, 190-pound forward would be getting ready to graduate from Grant and would have had his college plans all firmed for the fall. Instead Guinn is still grinding it out, playing one more time on the AAU circuit before determining what his future looks like.
Had the original plan worked out, Guinn would be set on playing at Montana next year as the Grizzlies made an early offer after his sophomore year at Franklin. But a back injury his junior year at Lakeridge led to him sitting out the entire year and things no longer worked out. Guinn had a solid senior season as a key part of Grant’s 6A state championship team but on a talented roster he really didn’t put up the big numbers to attract much of a college recruitment.
So this spring Guinn has been suiting up for the Rose City Rebels on the EYBL circuit. “It’s been definitely different going from not being able to play, to this high school season, going into playing in the EYBL,” Guinn said. “But it’s been a good situation. I’ve been playing pretty well and schools have been saying that they really like me.”
Guinn has been a steadying force for the Rebels as one of only four players to have appeared in each of the team’s EYBL tournaments. He’s averaged 8.1 points, a team-high 5.4 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and a team-high 0.6 blocks, showing off an all-around game that’s generating college interest.
National junior college programs such as Casper (Wyo.), Eastern Arizona, North Idaho, and Western Nebraska have been in contact. Cal Baptist has reached out with interest although no offer has been made yet. Guinn is an academic qualifier so if he went to the junior college route it would only need to be one year, but he’s keeping all of his options open.
“Everybody’s goal is to go D-I out of high school so hopefully that’s something that I can do,” Guinn said. “As long as I get my school paid for, I’m good.”
Rebels head coach Kumbeno Memory has been a great fit for Guinn both on and off the basketball floor. Guinn is also leaning heavily on older brother Jordan Railey, who has been through the recruiting process before. “He’s one of my biggest (supports),” Guinn said. “He’s already done it all – played high-level Division I basketball at Washington State and Iowa State, and also played professionally, and he doesn’t want me to make the same mistakes that he did. He wants the best fit for me and wants to support me in whatever that I do.”
Guinn will be playing one more tournament with the Rebels this weekend in Session 4 of the EYBL in Hampton, Virginia.