2017 College Football Recruits Who Also Excel in Basketball
The 2017 recruiting class is loaded with lauded athletes who shine far beyond the football field. Many participate in multiple sports for their high schools, flashing abilities in individual events on the track or team sports such as lacrosse or baseball.
In the spirit of March Madness, we've highlighted five football standouts who also excel on the basketball court. These prospects prove capable of delivering elite athletic efforts in a variety of settings, and some may ultimately have an opportunity to compete collegiately in both sports.
WR M.J. Walker
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With a name like M.J., it's no surprise to see Walker emerge as a major force on the court. The 6'5", 205-pound prospect is primarily viewed as a hoopster at Jonesboro High School in Georgia, rising to the rating of No. 4 shooting guard prospect in 247Sports' 2017 composite rankings.
Despite his status as a 5-star basketball recruit, Walker has received expansive interest in his sky-high potential at wide receiver. He claimed scholarship offers for football from Florida, Michigan, Miami and Auburn before the end of his sophomore year, according to Steve Lorenz of 247Sports, but has opted to narrow his vision for an athletic career in college.
“It was a family decision,” Walker told Josh Gershon of Scout.com in December. “We really wanted to focus on basketball due to injuries with football. We made the right choice to just focus on basketball.”
This development likely means the tantalizing possibility of his becoming a downfield pass target is unlikely to ever come to fruition, but it won't stop speculation.
"If he set his mind on only football, he would be a 5-star prospect all day for me. He may be the best [wide receiver] in the state of Georgia right now for any class," 247Sports analyst Rusty Mansell observed last summer.
DB Richard LeCounte III
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Richard LeCounte III has enjoyed quite a junior year at Liberty County High School in Georgia. He committed to the in-state Bulldogs shortly after a football season that cemented his place among America's elite talents. He then followed a sensational fall by leading the basketball team to a state title.
He scored a squad-best 20 points in the decisive game, delivering Liberty County's first basketball championship, per Dennis Knight of the Savannah Morning News. His effort occurred in a head-to-head matchup with the aforementioned M.J. Walker.
Unlike Walker, LeCounte is considered a football-focused prospect. His December pledge to Georgia capped off a recruitment that also included offers from Ohio State, Clemson, Alabama and Notre Dame.
Rated No. 2 nationally among safeties in composite rankings, LeCounte is building on a dominant 2015 campaign. He tallied 1,935 total offensive yards, 15 touchdowns, two interceptions and 100 tackles, according to MaxPreps.
LeCounte, who stands 5'10 ½", 174 pounds, gave folks in Athens a reason to cheer shortly after Liberty County's championship victory, exclaiming "Go Dawgs" during a postgame on-court interview.
QB Hendon Hooker
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North Carolina quarterback Hendon Hooker continues to fill the stat sheet on fields and courts. During the fall, his football skills dazzled at Dudley High School, as he racked up 2,234 passing yards, 1,217 rushing yards and 32 total touchdowns, per MaxPreps.
His performance behind center warranted a slew of new offers since the season ended. South Carolina, Pittsburgh, Notre Dame and Missouri are among the latest opportunities for Hooker, a 3-star prospect who rates No. 11 nationally among dual-threat quarterbacks in composite rankings.
The 6'4", 190-pound playmaker also made a splash this winter, fueling an 18-win Dudley squad in several capacities. Hooker led the program in per-game averages for blocks and assists, according to MaxPreps, finishing second on the team in points and rebounds.
His status as a multisport standout led Syracuse recruiting website Otto's Grove to create a video comparing Hooker to former Orange great Donovan McNabb, who played both basketball and football during his college career.
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RB Chase Hayden
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Chase Hayden, the son of former Tennessee Volunteers and NFL running back Aaron Hayden, has quickly compiled an impressive awards collection with another year still remaining in his high school career. Considered one of Tennessee's premier players in both football and basketball, the St. George's Independent School standout validated the hype as a junior.
Hayden led the football team to a state title last fall, claiming MVP honors at the district and regional levels en route to first-team all-state recognition, according to Eric Rutter of TodaysU.com. He gained more than 2,600 yards on the ground and tallied 37 scores.
“When I have the ball in my hands on offense I make big plays," Hayden told Rutter. "I think I can always make the first person miss. I have the acceleration and quickness to take it all the way.”
Those athletic attributes were also exhibited throughout a memorable basketball campaign. He earned "Mr. Basketball" honors in Tennessee's AA division after averaging 23.6 points per game, according to John Varlas of the Commercial Appeal.
Hayden, a 3-star recruit rated No. 32 nationally among running backs in composite rankings, continues to collect collegiate football options. His offer sheet features Arkansas, Louisville, Missouri, South Carolina and Tennessee.
TE Austin Allen
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Tight end is a position where we've particularly seen former basketball players excel, including All-Pro NFL performers Antonio Gates and Jimmy Graham. Nebraska product Austin Allen is another pass target who transfers his hoops abilities extremely well at tight end.
"He knows how to get open, and he applies his basketball skills to get open in the seam," Aurora High School head coach Kyle Peterson told the Lincoln Journal Star last season. "We line him up in the slot and at tight end."
Allen enjoyed a career-best campaign last season, providing a steady presence in the team's passing attack. He recorded 41 receptions for 507 yards and eight touchdowns in 2015, per MaxPreps, creating matchup nightmares with a 6'8" frame.
His latest basketball campaign also included its share of highlights, including a game-winning dunk in February that propelled Aurora to 20 victories for the first time in a decade, per Stu Pospisil of the Omaha World-Herald.
"You don’t see 6'8", 6'9" guys that athletic very often," the opposing coach told Pospisil after Allen punctuated a 23-point performance with the pivotal slam.
Allen has seen his recruitment reach a new level during recent weeks. Nebraska, Iowa State and UCF are among programs to extend offers since February.
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