Georgia Tarheel Sportse

College recruiting

Coach of ex-Georgia Tech recruit on what went wrong (UPDATED)

Longtime Georgia Tech commit Jeremi Hall and the Yellow Jackets went separate ways on Monday after he returned from taking an official visit to South Florida.

On Wednesday, Hall’s coach at Tri Cities High School, Kenneth Miller gave a statement to the AJC on his version of events.

Georgia Tech cannot comment on prospective student-athletes, per NCAA rules. A source from Georgia Tech told the AJC that “We moved on” and that “It was a mutual decision best for both parties.”

Here’s Jeremi Hall’s coach:

“Tech is solid with their decision; Jeremi is OK, he has other options,” Miller said.

“As far as my position, I don’t agree with them. I understand that they have a program to run, and how they run it is their choice.

“But I advocate for my kid. Jeremi has been committed to them since May, so with two weeks left, he has to try to choose again. But that is OK. I think it’s a blessing in disguise for the kid.

“The crazy part, though, is that some coaches think they have all the power … to pull a kid’s offer just because he visits another school. I mean, did you really, really want that kid from the (start)? Is this rule the same for all of your commits? Or just the ones who you really, really didn’t want?

“Furthermore, is it even an ethical thing to do? That’s one of the things I feel the NCAA should look at. Not only that. I wonder if Tech has ever had a recruit on campus that was verbally committed to someone else?

“I made it a point for them to know (that) I don’t like how they handled my kid. I advise all parents to not let these schools hold kids hostage with a verbal offer. Coaches shop kids, jobs … every year. Let these kids be sure. It’s only their future.”

Kelly Quinlan, publisher of Georgia Tech's Rivals.com websiteJacketsOnline.com, reported that Hall's offer was rescinded after he visited South Florida without informing the Yellow Jackets coaches. Quinlan added, "It has been well documented that Coach Johnson and his staff only ask that recruits inform them if they feel they need to visit other schools. It is not uncommon for Georgia Tech commitments to take unofficial visits with the staff's awareness of their intentions." Quinlan also tweeted on Wednesday, "Saw Tri-Cities coach plenty of times at (Georgia Tech) and he knows and Jeremi knew academic standards for his kids."

A source from Georgia Tech said there were some concerns over Hall's academic progress.

When Hall's coach was asked if Hall was on pace to qualify at Georgia Tech, he texted, "yes."

The Tri Cities coach also confirmed that Hall's teammate, 4-star offensive linemanShamire DeVine, remains committed to Georgia Tech.