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Last night, 2014 power forward Khadeem Lattin tweeted that he will visit the Texas Longhorns. Per the norm when it comes to Longhorns basketball recruiting, very little information other than Lattin's tweet has leaked out.
#ut in the am!!!! #hookem #horns
— Khadeem lattin (@just_khadeem) September 20, 2013
Presumably, the visit will be an unofficial one. It's likely, though not definite, that Lattin will stay in Austin to watch the football team play the Kansas St. Wildcats as part of the visit.
Texas got back into the mix for Lattin following the hiring of Texas Ex Jai Lucas as a special assistant. Lattin's career to-date has been an interesting one. First, some history. Lattin's grandfather is David Lattin, a member of the 1966 Texas Western basketball team that famously upset the Kentucky Wildcats. Lattin's mother is Monica Lamb, a former WNBA star with the Houston Comets.
Amazingly, Lattin spent his sophomore season in Spain, playing for the illustrious Canarias Basketball Academy. He returned to Houston last year, suiting up for Westbury Christian. His biography is mixed going into his senior season, but it appears that Lattin has withdrawn from Westbury Christian and will play for a home school team instead.
His participation in AAU ball has also been spotty, and he has suited up for both Houston Select and Houston Hoops. Consequently, his relative lack of exposure has left him as just a mid-tier 4* recruit by most recruiting services. According to the 247 Composite rankings, Lattin comes in at 83rd nationally. Peter Bean of Burnt Orange Nation is a fan, and that's enough to have me intrigued.
As for his game, Lattin plays like his grandfather, whose nickname was "Big Daddy D" -- physical, athletic, and with a motor that doesn't quit. Think Tristan Thompson. Watch him play, and it's easy to see why he's a favorite of Andy Enfield -- the new USC head coach hired away from Florida Gulf Coast following their spectacular run through this year's NCAA Tournament.
There has been precious little good news for Texas basketball lately, but the continued pursuits of Lattin and fellow Texan big Myles Turner shed a positive light on the recruiting front. Lattin's recruitment is a long way from over, but as Peter pointed out, it looks like the Lucas hire is already paying dividends.
Lattin likely won't sign until the spring. For now, he has yet to narrow his list but is considering an array of schools such as the Oklahoma Sooners, Baylor Bears, SMU Mustangs, Louisville Cardinals, and Georgetown Hoyas, among others. Like his high school career, Lattin's recruitment has been shrouded in an aura of mystery. But if the Longhorns can crack the code, they will be getting a high potential big going into next year.