PurpleMenace.com - Rich verbal gives FSU a strong future backcourt

October 9, 2003

Jim Lamar, The Osceola
Warchant.com

First Reported on the Tribal Council

With Thursday?s commitment of Orlando prep star Jason Rich, the Florida State Seminoles took one step closer to landing the nation?s top freshman backcourt of 2004-05.

ORLAND, FL -- Three days after Isaiah Swann, a five-star guard from Hargrave Military Academy, announced he would attend Florida State next season, the Seminoles landed Rich, a four-star guard from Orlando?s Dr. Phillips High.

After his afternoon press conference at the school, Rich told the Osceola he would play shooting guard for the Seminoles, while Swann would play point guard.

In picking FSU, Rich said he turned down his other finalist, the Kentucky Wildcats, for a chance to help build Florida State into a national power..

?I didn?t turn down some cupcake school,? Rich said. ?That?s Kentucky. But that is a credit to FSU that I really feel we can get it done.?

Rich, who lives with older siblings in Orlando, is excited about the chance to be close to his parents, who live in Pensacola. But he said his family didn?t urge him to stay in the Sunshine State.

?My parents were somewhat neutral because they saw that both of the coaches were genuine,? Rich said of FSU?s Leonard Hamilton and Kentucky?s Tubby Smith. ?They were both very honest with me.?

Rich?s high school coach, Anthony Long, said his player couldn?t have gone wrong with either school.

?His parents liked both Tubby and Leonard,? Long said. ?But if everything else was equal, his parents probably would rather see him stay closer to home. That was a factor, but not the deciding factor.?

Rich?s father, Ronnie Rich, said he?s happy that his son can now move forward with his senior year.

?It was a difficult decision, but Jason was more comfortable with Florida State,? Ronnie Rich said. ?We didn?t have a hard time accepting that.?

Last season for Dr. Phillips High School Rich averaged 22.8 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 3.7 steals per game. He was the team?s leading scorer in 28 of 30 games.