Fant, Gordon Make Statement In Rivals150
They've both openly voiced their desire to be more thought of. Yesterday, they got their wish.
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WKU now has two 2011 signees ranked among the top players in the country, with the final release of the Rivals150. St. Patrick (NJ) guard Derrick Gordon now has a four-star rating and is No. 105 overall in the country, while Warren Central (KY) forward George Fant is now No. 150 overall with a three-star rating.
"It put a smile on my face," Gordon said. "Now, people are starting to really notice me. Through all the years I've been playing, I really wasn't getting the respect I deserve. For me to move up like that, I moved up real high. To be four stars, it's good but I'm not gonna settle for that. I've still got a lot of work to do."
Gordon, who was previously No. 135, is also now rated the No. 28 shooting guard by Rivals.com. His jump of 30 spots in the Rivals150 was the sixth highest jump of anyone in the final rankings. Georgetown signee Otto Porter made the biggest jump, from No. 97 to No. 37.
Gordon is just the second WKU signee to achieve a four-star ranking. In 2009, Terrence Boyd had a four-star ranking and was No. 64 overall. But he was dismissed from the team that August, before the season began. Gordon finished the season strong, scoring 26 points in the de facto 'national championship' against St. Anthony. He was also the MVP of the prestigious City of Palms tournament in December. He scored 16 points in last weekend's Derby Festival Classic in Louisville.
Fant was previously unranked but following big games against five-star Louisville signee and cross-town rival Chane Behanan and his play in the Derby Festival Classic, catapulted into the Rivals150. Fant's inclusion marks the second time WKU has had two signees in the Rivals150 in the same year. In 2009, Jordan Swing was ranked No. 141. Last year, Brandon Peters finished at No. 129 overall.
"I mean, it feels good," Fant said. "You know every player wants to be ranked. But when you get to college all of the individual rankings go out the window."
Gordon echoed Fant's sentiment, but said the new ranking definitely gives him a confidence boost for when the new signees arrive at WKU on June 5.
"It's definitely a lot of confidence, but then again, I've gotta look at it like, when I get to college, all that ranking and all that's gonna go out the door," Gordon said. "I'm gonna have a fresh start when I get down there and I've definitely gotta make a statement my freshman year. I plan on doing that."
Catch full, in-depth interviews on today's InsideHilltopperSportsRadio from 5-6 pm CT as Fant will be in-studio as co-host and we catch up with Gordon as well. Go to ESPN1450.net to listen to the online stream.