UCF reels in another big time Florida prospect

UCF's basketball recruiting is on fire. A week after landing talented transfer Tristan Spurlock to round out the 2010 class, Donnie Jones and staff have now received commitments from two of the best Class of 2011 prospects in Florida. The latest to join the program is Rod Days, a 6-foot-6 guard out of Sagemont High School in Broward County.

UCFSports.com caught up with Sagemont coach Adam Ross to talk about his star player's commitment.

"As soon as Coach Jones and his staff took over, I think Rod was one of the very first players they contacted here in the state," Ross said. "Coach Jones is very well thought of here in Florida with high school basketball coaches and basketball people. They started recruiting Rod and they have been extremely persistent in his recruitment. It paid off today with a big commitment from him."

Days was highly recruited with offers from Maryland, Georgia Tech, Boston College, Arizona State, Michigan, Richmond, South Carolina, Wake Forest, Alabama and Florida State. He had already visited several of those schools.

"I think the process moved pretty quickly with UCF considering they got the job in April," Ross said. "Some of the other schools had been recruiting Rod for a long time. He went up on an unofficial visit and we went to UCF's team camp. He loved the campus. He loved the other players on the team he got to meet and hang out with. The facilities are top notch. They offer forensic science as a major, which a lot of other universities don't. Not many basketball players want to do that.

"So UCF was a natural fit. Donnie and his staff did a great job recruiting him. They operate a first class program there. It's worked out for everybody. Rod is very happy. His family is happy. Now it's my job to do my best to help get him ready."

Days has played in the Sagemont program, which is a private school, since he was in the eighth grade.

"Rod is a great kid," Ross said. "He's developed and turned himself into a great player. He's always been very tall. When he first came in he was a back to the basket post player, but he's now really transitioned out to the wing. He's developing as a potential college two guard. That creates natural problems for people because he's very long, lanky and athletic."

Coach Ross says his athleticism sets Days apart from other players.

"He's a high-flying kid, so long and active, and that's what makes him different from some other kids out there," Ross said. "He's developing into a good jump shooter, but that's a work in progress. He's very active defensively and very, very athletic on the offensive end."

Standing in at 6-foot-6, Days could play a couple spots on the court.

"I was just talking to Donnie a few minutes ago about that and Donnie sees him as a guy who can play both wing positions, the two and the three," Ross said. "He has versatility, which gives Donnie a lot of options with him."

Not only is UCF getting a fantastic basketball player, Ross says they're adding a great person into the program as well.

"He's a very, very good basketball player and he's a great kid," Ross said. "He's one of those kids that every college program wants because he's high character. He's a good student. He's a kid that's going to come in, work hard and earn his stripes. He's a great kid who comes from a great family. In fact, they're having a celebration dinner tonight."

Days' commitment comes a day after the pledge of North Port (Fla.) power forward Kasey Wilson, who announced his decision on Sunday. Both players will officially sign in November's early period.