RECRUITING

Persons to take official visits to Xavier, Purdue

Kyle Neddenriep
Tayler Persons

Former Kokomo guard Tayler Persons, a 2014 IndyStar Indiana All-Star, plans to take official visits to Xavier next weekend and Purdue the following weekend.

The 6-3 Persons was named the Atlantic Sun Conference Freshman of the Year after averaging 13.7 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.7 assists last season at Northern Kentucky. But Persons asked for his release after a coaching change earlier this month.

"I'm excited," Persons said. "I'm really interested in both schools (Xavier and Purdue). Both are in great conferences and I'm excited to get on campus and see what they say to me. They both said they like my leadership and toughness and how I played this year. I think I can help both of them."

Purdue recruited Persons a little bit out of high school. Xavier didn't, but was familiar with him. Persons said he also plans to take unofficial visits to IUPUI and Ball State.

Persons said he wouldn't have transferred if not for the coaching change. Northern Kentucky was 13-17 on the season, its highest win total as a Division I program. The school replaced Dave Bezold with former Alabama assistant John Brannen.

"When I tore my ACL (as a senior in high school), they stuck with me," he said of Northern Kentucky. "I had a lot of trust with them and when they got let go, it kind of hurt. My freshman year, I felt like I learned a lot of things about basketball. By the end of the year, I felt like I was one of the better players on the floor. When they got fired, I wanted to see what else I had out there. I felt like I'd regret it if I didn't do it."

Persons said it will be difficult to sit out a season as a transfer.

"Me being a competitor, that'll be tough," he said. "But I figure this offseason I can work on my body and work on taking my game to the next level. I can work on my shot because I struggled some shooting from 3 last year. I feel like it'll help me out in the long run."

Persons twice scored at least 30 points in a game as a freshman. He did struggle from the 3-point line, hitting 10-for-54 from the arc.

"I feel like I'm tough enough and have the game to play at a high level," he said. "I've played at a high level of AAU all my life. I think I'll get that shot now to play in a bigger conference. I'm blessed to have the opportunity to visit those schools."