Davonte Neal: How Coveted Recruit Is Destroying His Appeal

Davonte Neal is the only recruit in the ESPNU Top 150 who has yet to sign with a school.

On Tuesday, after weeks of waiting, Neal was supposed to show up at his old elementary school in Arizona and finally make his decision.

Except, Neal didn't show up.

Inna Lazarev of Fox Sports and Scout.com was on the scene and reported via Twitter.

Thirty-eight minutes passed and Neal still hadn't made it:

"

"It's 9:08am at the press conference scene of Davonte Neal.. The guest of honor is nowhere to be found."

— Inna Lazarev (@InnaLazarev) "

Forty minutes passed and the five-star recruit still hadn't showed up:

"

"9:10AM: There are a whole lot of elementary students in the building, teachers, media members... And that's about it. Cold feet, Davonte?"

— Inna Lazarev (@InnaLazarev) "

Finally, with everybody waiting in the building for Neal, it was discovered that he wouldn't be coming at all:

"

"It's official: He's not coming."

— Inna Lazarev (@InnaLazarev) "

This only fuels the growing sentiment surrounding Neal that he's a diva and a character concern in the making.

We've seen plenty of athletes come and go who had all the tools in the world to play but took them for granted, consequently failing to live up to their potential. After what Neal pulled on Tuesday, you got the feeling that the writing was on the wall of Kyrene de la Esperanza Elementary.

Arizona, Notre Dame, Arkansas and North Carolina are in the running for Neal's services. Lazarev tweeted on Tuesday morning that she was hearing it was between Notre Dame and Arizona.

Imagine if Neal doesn't choose Arizona in his home state.

Even if Neal does choose Arizona, imagine all the people he's led on. I can understand the pressure that accompanies being a top recruit, but at some point you have to make a decision, especially when, well, you said you'd make a decision at a certain time and a certain place.

Neal is a lightning-quick, smooth player who virtually glides across the field. He's being seen as a potential game-changer at the next level, likely as a return man and receiver.

But, despite his decisive burst on the field, he's not very decisive off it.

If Neal turns out to be a diva, we're all going to be the fools.