by Alex Schwartz

The full article that I wrote on Kadeem Jack for InsideTheU.com is below. Check it out.

Kadeem Jack, a 6-foot-9 forward from Rice (NY) was originally planning to announce his college decision last week, but that has changed.

Jack sent out a text message to numerous media outlets on Monday that read, “Kadeem Jack to South Kent.”

Jack had been considering Miami, Arizona, Arkansas, and UConn. St. John’s was also trying to make a play to land the skilled big man. If any of those schools are to land Jack, it will not be this spring, as he will be doing a post-graduate year and will now be in the class of 2011.

“I just wanted to go somewhere where I could hone my skills, become a better player, going into college make a better impact as a freshman,” Jack said.

Jack took an official visit to Miami in April and was hosted by former high school teammate Durand Scott. (More on Jack's visit to Miami).

On how he decided that South Kent, a high-profile school in Connecticut, would be the right choice to do the extra year, Jack remarked, “It was close to home, the coaching staff was welcoming, the campus is a place where I think that I can get a lot done, and a couple of my friends went there last year and they spoke highly of it.”

Just one month ago, Jack had said that he would be going to college in the fall of 2010 as a member of the class of 2010, but he noted that his outlook has changed, and that is why he is making the switch.

“A couple of things changed," Jack said. "I think the one thing that changed for me is my perspective on my game and where it would be going in the future, so I wanted to take a year in prep school to really find out my limitations and everything. So that’s what really made me choose to move on."

Another option that Jack had mentioned over the summer was the possibility of going to college this fall and doing a redshirt year, but he decided against that.

“I really don’t want to redshirt because not playing is not something that I wanna do because I haven’t been playing for that long and playing games is something that I need to do to get the confidence and the feel for it,” the Big Apple standout remarked.

Jack said that he did “not really” have a favorite of the colleges that were in play. That could be good news for some other programs, as Jack said he will be opening his recruitment somewhat now.

“No, I’m not really open it completely, but I am gonna let a couple schools in to see what they have to offer, but most of my core schools are gonna stay my core schools unless somebody comes in that really changes my perspective,” Jack explained.

Asked if there are any specific schools willing joining the picture, Jack replied, “A couple of schools, but I don’t have particular schools.” He added, “I started speaking to a couple of schools, but I don’t wanna speak on it yet, but when I start really speaking to them and get on good terms with them, then I can give names and all that.”

While the coaches at Jack’s finalists were no doubt disappointed that they will not have his services this upcoming season, he said they are supporting his choice.

“They just expressed that they support my decision and hope that I keep them in my recruitment, stuff like that,” Jack said.

Some have questioned Jack’s decision to do an extra year at a prep school, but he is not concerned with explaining his choice to those people.

“I don’t really have anything to say really,” Jack said. “It’s always gonna be a question when you make a decision, so I don’t really have much to say, I just think that I need to keep working hard to get where I need to be.”

Jack added that while he did talk with others about his choice, it ultimately came down to the fact that this move is one that he wanted to make.

“I consulted with a lot of people, not just one person," Jack said. "It was a solid decision I think, but it was also a decision that I also wanted to make as a person because for a decision to be made it has to be something you want to do. So, it was really me."

While coaches and fans alike will have to wait an extra year to see Kadeem Jack play his college ball, with his decision to attend prep school next year, he is ensuring that when that time comes he will be fully ready.