4-star Wesley Yates talks future visits, goes in-depth with recruitment

When the lights were brightest, 2023 On3 Consensus No. 40 Wesley Yates seemed to play his best. In front of a sold-out crowd that included standing room only for coaches and NBA personnel, Yates lit up the Peach Jam scoreboard for 24 points on 2-of-4 from three against a loaded Team CP3 team. 

“I’m just trying to show what I can do,” Yates told On3. “Make the right plays. Obviously, show that I can score the ball and defend. When I started getting to the rim, a lot of people started to playback, and then I just used my shooting abilities. I really just use my shooting abilities to be able to create my own shot and get to the rim.”

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Over the last year, Yates’ game has expanded. Known previously as a deadly spot-shooter, he is attacking the rim more, putting pressure on the defense in the paint, and making plays. 

“I watch a lot of Ja Morant,” Yates said. “Just the way he moves the ball and when he gets in the air, his body control is crazy. A lot of old Derrick Rose, just watching how they finish the ball. Kyrie Irving, how he’s shifty and crafty around the rim. I watch the physical guards, like LeBron, how he uses his body, Anthony Edwards, and all the good players that know how to score the ball. I really just watch them put it all into one.”

College coaches have noticed the continued improvement in the 6-foot-4 guards game, and Yates has become a priority recruit for power five programs. On3 caught up with Wesley Yates at Peach Jam to talk about his recruitment.

I took three early visits to Washington, Auburn, and Stanford,” Yates said. “I have a visit set to LSU for September 10, and I might take another official after Peach Jam, but I’m not sure where yet.”

Wesley Yates talks visits

Stanford: “They’ve been here watching. They hit me up a lot. I’ll be on FaceTime with Coach (Rob) Ehsan a lot, man, it’s crazy. It is calm out there. The weather is great, the education is great, and the 40-year plan. Everybody is well-spoken, and there is a lot of positive energy. If you go to Stanford, you’ll love it because it’s really positive out there.”

Auburn: “That’s a school I’ve built a great relationship with BP (Bruce Pearl). It was like a family atmosphere there when I took my official visit. They told me what it was going to be like. It really felt like home, just how all the players kept it real with me and told me what it was. I talked to a couple of the player’s parents, and they said everything was true, everything they do. I just liked the atmosphere. It was crazy out there too. BP lets his players play. I feel like he would let me rock out if I went there.”

Washington: Quincy Pondexter is my cousin, so they offered me on the spot. Knowing that he’s family, he’s been in the league; he won’t let me fail. He played against some of the greats and was in the league for a long time; he’d show me the ropes. They let their guards play and get up a lot of shots.”

Senior year visits

“I got LSU set,” Wesley Yates said. “Gonzaga. I want to go to Gonzaga. I want to go to Arkansas. But the next two, I’m not sure. I’ll have to talk with the coaching staffs of all the schools that are recruiting me. I might try to get to Memphis, Baylor. I might take one to Clemson. Clemson might be the one I take after (Peach Jam), but I’m not sure yet.”

LSU: “It’s close to home, and I got a real good relationship with the coaches. Coach (Casey) Long is my guy, and you got Coach (Matt) McMahon, the head coach, who developed Ja Morant. It’s just crazy to know he did that at Murray State, and he still talks to Ja today. They have shown me how I can develop my game and how they can develop me into a pro. They play in the SEC, which is a big stage. I got a visit set with them on September 10; it’s the week LSU plays Southern in football, so it’ll be fun.”

Clemson: “They watched me at the last session. The coach hit me up and told me he would watch me this session. So they sent me the offer a couple of days ago. They stood on their word and came to the game. The whole coaching staff was there. So it just shows that their recruiting is really good because as soon as they offered me, they came to watch me play. So that really means a lot. I know somebody who goes there, Chauncey Gibson from Kimball. So I know him. I can ask him any questions I need to know about the school, stuff like that.”

Memphis: “They have a great staff. Obviously, Penny Hardaway. I feel like he could elevate my game to the next level. I haven’t been to school, so I don’t know much. It was a pretty new offer when I got it. I didn’t expect that one, but I think that he can develop me into becoming a pro.”

Arkansas: “They still hit me up a lot. Like the whole coaching staff, even the head coach, Coach Muss. Obviously, I know Anthony Black, Jordan Walsh, and Nick Smith. So I can ask those guys anything, and they’ll tell me straight up. Just the atmosphere is crazy; watching them play against Auburn when Arkansas was at home was crazy. Just the crowd and just everything about them. They get people in the league, develop them, develop them the right way. And their players get in the league and do what they need to do.”

Gonzaga: “Gonzaga is always winning. They win a lot. That’s what I like; I like to win. There’s not really much to do out there. That’s what I like about it. Pretty calm, cool, and just basketball. I feel like they develop pros, and all their pros have been staying in the league for a long time. So obviously, they’re doing something right. So just the way they develop their guards, let them play, shoot. They can come down and pull transition threes; they do all that.”

Baylor: “They are close to home, and I have a great relationship with Coach (Scott) Drew and Coach (Alvin) Brooks. They hit me up a lot, and I talk with them a lot. I talk with their players too, Keyone George and Langston Love. I grew up playing against them and with them, talking to them; they just tell me the truth about every situation. Coach Drew keeps it real with me; it’s like a family atmosphere there. When I went for my two unofficials, I enjoyed myself.”

This and that

“I feel like I developed the best relationship with Baylor and Houston because they’re so close to me,” Wesley Yates said. “Every time I get around them, it just basically elevates me. I feel like a better person, and they’re always positive. Coach (Scott) Drew, Coach (Kelvin) Sampson, Coach (Alvin) Brooks, all of them, man, like the energy around them is just crazy. I would say Auburn too, and BP (Bruce Pearl). “

“I’ve talked to a couple of people about teaming up in college,” Yates said. “I talked Ja’Kobe (Walter) about Baylor. I talked to Aden Holloway about where he’s going and Corey Chest too.

“People already in school have been talking to me too. Rylan Griffin has been recruiting to Alabama. Manny King, that’s my cousin; he played football at Auburn. Kanaan Carlyle has been recruiting me for a while to Stanford, like hard.

Yates’ final thoughts

“I will narrow my list down to nine schools, but I don’t know when.

“It really all comes down to fit,” Wesley Yates said. “Where I feel like I can see myself for the next four years. Just a coach that’s going to let me play like myself. Just let me be me. Let me play early, often, and through mistakes.”