A few recruiting notes this Friday afternoon…
– Bayside’s (Virginia Beach, VA) Quin Blanding, one of the most coveted safety prospects in the nation in the class of 2014, has narrowed his list to 10 schools. The 6’1″, 195-pound junior had been offered by over 30 major FBS schools.
Rivals.com National Recruiting Analyst Mike Farrell tweeted the following earlier this week:
“2014 standout Quin Blanding down to 10 — #FSU, #UVA, #UNC, #OhioState, #ND, #WVU, #Miami, #Clemson, #NCState, #Michigan”
Assuming it can get things back on track on the field, UVa should be one of the top contenders throughout this race. Blanding has visited the grounds numerous times and has developed a close relationship with Mike London and staff. Plus, the Cavaliers have established a pipeline at Bayside High. Sophomore starters Henry Coley (LB) and Tra Nicholson (CB) attended the school, as did freshman safety Anthony Cooper. Additionally, the Hoos have a verbal commitment from 5-star Bayside senior tailback Taquan “Smoke” Mizzell.
– A pair of UVa class of 2013 recruits — wide receiver Keeon Johnson and linebacker LaChaston Smith — will be in playoff action tonight. Smith and his South Iredell (Statesville, N.C.) teammates host West Lincoln in the first round of the Class 2AA state playoffs. A.L. Brown (Kannapolis, N.C.), which saw Johnson return to the field last week after missing a chunk of the season with a toe injury, meets North Forsyth in the first round of the Class 3AA state playoffs.
– On the basketball front, Auburn, Duke, Memphis, Tennessee, Vanderbilt and Virginia continue to wait for a decision from 6’9″ senior power forward Austin Nichols.  Briarcrest Christian’s (Eads, TN) 5-star prospect has completed all five of his official visits and is expected to decide soon. (**Update: Joseph Thompson, who covers SEC Basketball and writes for 247Sports.com, tweets that Nichols is down to Memphis and Tennessee.)
– Boone (Orlando, FL) power forward Schuyler Rimmer will make an official visit to Vanderbilt this weekend. This will be the final official the senior takes before he chooses from four finalists: Southern Cal, Stanford, UVa and Vandy.
– Rock School (Gainesville, FL) senior center Joel Embiid is expected to take an official to Marquette this weekend, and this will be his final official visit. The 7’0″ standout previously visited Texas, Kansas, Virginia and Florida.
