Let's get one thing out of the way right up front. Grant Sherfield is not a back up plan for LeMelo Ball.
The staff has been recruiting him for the better part of three years, and they really like his ability to make plays. Assistant Coach Duane Brussard, originally from Houston, was the point man with Coach Alford prominently involved.
Then people should know that getting Grant to Westwood isn't just convincing a recruit to leave his home state. It's going up against an entire conference, as Big 12 schools were all over Sherfield and have multiple inroads.
For example Grant played for an AAU squad sponsored by former Oklahoma State Cowboy and Boston Celtic Marcus Smart. Both Oklahoma and Oklahoma State offered Sherfield.
Sherfield previously lived in Kansas and developed a strong relationship with his youth ball coaches there. So much so he made a point of thanking them in his announcement for UCLA. 247 predicted the Kansas Jayhawks would sign Grant, and the Shockers of Wichita State were universally considered a finalist. (K State also offered).
Of course Sherfield now lives in Texas (Arlington, midway between Dallas and Fort Worth). All the Texas schools offered Grant, with Baylor making a connection and TCU becoming a finalist. Interestingly enough while Shaka Smart the head coach at Texas offered, it doesn't appear the Longhorns got any traction.
The staff has been recruiting him for the better part of three years, and they really like his ability to make plays. Assistant Coach Duane Brussard, originally from Houston, was the point man with Coach Alford prominently involved.
Then people should know that getting Grant to Westwood isn't just convincing a recruit to leave his home state. It's going up against an entire conference, as Big 12 schools were all over Sherfield and have multiple inroads.
For example Grant played for an AAU squad sponsored by former Oklahoma State Cowboy and Boston Celtic Marcus Smart. Both Oklahoma and Oklahoma State offered Sherfield.
Sherfield previously lived in Kansas and developed a strong relationship with his youth ball coaches there. So much so he made a point of thanking them in his announcement for UCLA. 247 predicted the Kansas Jayhawks would sign Grant, and the Shockers of Wichita State were universally considered a finalist. (K State also offered).
Of course Sherfield now lives in Texas (Arlington, midway between Dallas and Fort Worth). All the Texas schools offered Grant, with Baylor making a connection and TCU becoming a finalist. Interestingly enough while Shaka Smart the head coach at Texas offered, it doesn't appear the Longhorns got any traction.
