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Recruiting heating up for Aristide
Jason Pughe
Updated April 28, 2008...
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A couple of weeks ago, Ishmael Aristide took the recruiting world by storm after an impressive performance at the Gainesville Nike camp. Aristide is a 6-0, 192 pound defensive back from Evans High School in Orlando, Florida. This past Saturday he filled AthleteVault.com in on all of the attention that he is now receiving.
“Since the Nike camp, a lot of things have been heating up,” Aristide said. “I’ve been getting a lot of interviews from different websites and a lot of schools are interested. Since I’m considered a sleeper prospect and I didn’t have the stats of the other big name guys, my name is getting out there more and it’s been picking up.”
Currently Aristide has two offers, but he’s also hearing from a few Division 1-A schools. He’s not ready to name any favorites but one thing is for sure, loyalty will go a long way with him.
“I have offers from Eastern Kentucky and Bethune Cookman,” he said. “Kentucky is getting pretty heavy on me and Florida State and Georgia Tech are on me too. Right now if you are offering I am coming. Basically the one’s that are going to be loyal and recruited me from the beginning, those are my top schools. The University of Kentucky and Florida State are the two schools really recruiting me heavily right now.”
Aristide grew up in Liberty City before moving to Orlando for high school. He was originally set to attend Miami Northwestern, but ended up attending East Ridge High School in Clermont, Florida. Now he’s in Orlando at Evans High School, but it’s no surprise that the player he models his game after played for his favorite college team growing up.
“Growing up, I rooted for Miami,” he said. “I am originally from Miami and I liked their flashy style and swagger. You can’t grow up in Miami and not like UM. I model my game after Brandon Merriweather. I watch him as a safety and all of the colleges have said that they want me to play safety. Him and a lot of safeties like Reggie Nelson I really model my game after.”
While Aristide doesn’t have any favorite schools and he isn’t ready to make a decision, he does have certain things that he’s looking for in each school that will ultimately decide where he calls home.
“Atmosphere and location are the big things I am looking for,” he said. “Actually I’ll play anywhere, like I said if you are offering I am coming. I like high energy atmospheres and programs that are upbeat.”
On the field Aristide excels a large part because of his speed and strength. With a 4.46 40 time and a 325 pound bench press there’s not to many high school defensive backs that can match that. In addition, he had 17 pass breakups last year and looks to improve on that total this year as he learns more about the game.
“One of my top strength’s is speed,” Aristide said. “I won the Metro Conference and District 100 meter dash and came in second for regionals. That was my fourth track meet ever and I ran a 10.8. Next week at state, I should be at 10.6 or 10.7. I’d also have to say my strength because I have a 325 pound press. I want to get more flexible so I can play cornerback or any other position on the field. I also want to gain more knowledge about the game.”
As the attention heats up for Aristide it is sure to be a busy summer for him. He welcomes the attention and plans on attending as many colleges and camps that he can, particularly one’s in Florida and in the southeast.
“I’ve been to Florida for the Nike camp, and I’m always down in Miami because my dad lives down there,” he said. “I haven’t taken any unofficial or official visits. I didn’t get a chance to make it to Florida’s spring game. I plan on visiting every school in the state of Florida from FIU, FAU, if I can go to Rollins I will visit there too. I want to attend all of the camps in the southeast too.”