4-star Rakease Passmore talks Indiana, Oregon officials; has two potential visits in mind

Rakease Passmore is the No. 48 player in the updated 2024 On3 Industry Ranking. The 6-foot-4 wing from Lincolnton (NC) Combine Academy averaged 13.6 points on 58.3 percent shooting from the field during Nike’s Peach Jam. He was Team Thad’s second-leading scorer throughout the event.

“I’m learning how to play with other athletes and good players,” Passmore told On3. “My confidence continues to grow; my handle and jump shot are working. I’m watching a lot of Anthony Edwards, how he plays above the rim, gets downhill, and makes shots. 

On3 sat down with four-star Rakease Passmore after a recent live viewing to dive into the particulars of his recruitment.

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Passmore breaks down official visits

“I’ve taken official visits to Indiana and Oregon so far,” Passmore said.

Indiana: “Our relationship continues to grow. I’m in constant contact with the coaches. Pretty much everyone on staff texts me, we talk like every other day. They’re trying to recruit more athleticism on the wing, and they’re trying to recruit wings in my class. They like my game and how I fit with their style. 

“Coach (Mike) Woodson is a good coach. He has NBA experience and learning from an NBA mindset. That is where I want to be (the NBA), and I’m trying to learn from the best.”

Oregon: “It was nice out there. Very similar to Asheville, where I live. It was like a cleaner Asheville, so I liked it a lot out there. Being able to walk through the Nike facility and see how the shoes were made was pretty nice. The waffle maker and all, it was all pretty crazy. 

“They like to play fast. I’m a fast athlete, I like to move and play fast too. Getting up and down the court is my thing, so that fits.”

Passmore has potential visits in mind

“I’m talking with LSU about a visit date,” Passmore said. “Creighton is another school, too. And there are a couple more schools that are jumping in the mix.”

LSU: “They’ve been my guys for a while now. They were my first ever offer when I was back at Asheville (NC) AC Reynolds High, and they were at Murray State. The coach went to LSU and then offered me there, too, so I’ve been talking with them forever. They like to play fast, and they like running and jumping athletes, and I think that fits how I play.”

Creighton: “They want to get me down for a visit. We got on a Zoom call, and they showed me a presentation, their campus, and how they play, and they talked about their plan for me. I like what I saw. They play fast. They spread the floor and play with a lot of space. We have a good relationship, they have two or three of their coaches that I talk to, at least, every other day.”

“They haven’t offered yet, but I’m hearing from UConn and Texas some, too,” Passmore said.

At the end of the day

“I don’t really have any specific dates or anything that I’m going to commit on,” Rakease Passmore said. “We’ll see how this process goes, I might sign early or late. I’m not going to rush through it.

“I’m going to look at the relationship I have with the coaches. I want to play for someone who is going to keep it real with me, no fake stuff. I want to be on the floor as a freshman, I don’t want to be given anything, but I want the opportunity to play and earn my spot. You know, I want to play in the league; that is the goal; whatever school I think can help me get there.”