Wake Forest has bolstered an already formidable recruiting class for 2010 by receiving a commitment from Travis McKie, a 6-7 wing forward from Richmond, Va., who was being recruited by a half-dozen rival ACC schools.
McKie, who is ranked the 36th-best player in his class by scout.com, a Web site specializing in recruiting, said he considered Wake Forest to be a perfect fit.
"They made me their No. 1 priority since Day One," McKie said. "I built a good relationship with Coach (Dino) Gaudio and Coach (Pat) Kelsey.
"It's a great school, close to home. It's the ACC. I can come in and make an impact. And I can reach All-American there."
McKie, whose name rhymes with sky, was named the Richmond Times-Dispatch's Player of the Year after averaging 21 points and 10 rebounds as a junior for John Marshall High School. He actually attends Richmond Community High School, which is ranked by U.S. News and World Report as one of the nation's best high schools.
Because Richmond Community High School has no basketball team, he plays for Coach Frank Threatts at John Marshall High School. Threatts told the Times-Dispatch that McKie is one of the best to ever play for him during his more than 35 years as the school's head coach.
"He's a beast inside," Threatts said. "He can intimidate people because he can block shots, and he's a fierce rebounder. I want to keep him there, even though he should be on the outside. He's grown in every aspect of the game."
Including size. Listed by most reports at 6-6, McKie said he's now 6-7,
He said he chose Wake Forest over a list of schools that included Clemson, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Alabama, Georgia Tech, Virginia Commonwealth, Maryland and Boston College.
"I can do anything," McKie said. "I shoot the ball well. I run the floor. I rebound well. I just make plays and try to win."
McKie is the fourth recruit from the class of 2010 to commit to Wake Forest, where he will join 6-4 guard J.T. Terrell of Burlington, 6-1 guard Tony Chennault of Philadelphia and 6-8 forward Melvin Tabb of Raleigh. Scout.com ranks Terrell No. 66 in the class, Chennault No. 69 and Tabb No. 71.
He said he knows Terrell and Tabb well from playing with them in AAU basketball, which was an enticement to attend Wake Forest.
"Yeah, because I know two of the three," McKie said. "I know J.T. and Melvin. I grew up playing with them.
"I've met Tony, but we don't really know each other like that."
McKie said his decision ultimately came down to the place he felt he was most wanted.
"At one point it was just between Wake and Clemson because they were recruiting me the hardest," McKie said. "And everybody else either had a coaching change or I hadn't heard from them in a long time.
"The NCAA requirements are that you can only go see a player seven times. Wake used all those seven visits and Coach Gaudio has been to five of them. So that tells a lot."
■ Dan Collins can be reached at 727-7323 or at dcollins@wsjournal.com.
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