Two-Sport Star McKinstry in No Rush With Recruitment
Known as "Kool-Aid" around the Birmingham area and beyond, class of 2021 athlete Ga'Quincy McKinstry is as decorated a prep prospect as there is in the state of Alabama.
He helped the Pinson (Ala.) Pinson Valley football team to state titles in two straight seasons and turned around and helped the Indians do the same on the basketball court for the first time in school history. On both fronts, recruiting has been fruitful when it comes to programs coast to coast.
Of late, the 6-foot-1, 175-pound prospect has heard of new opportunities in the Pac-12 with USC, Oregon and Arizona State adding to the football offer list.
"It feels different and good because schools like that don't really shoot their shot with kids in the South like that," he said. "Because of all the schools in the South are in a six-hour radius, they figure you're staying in the area."
A defensive back and wide receiver on Friday nights, McKinstry expanded on the latest options to his name.
"USC is in LA, good city, it sits around Compton," he said. "Compton is very popular lately because of Nipsey Hustle. ASU has NFL type coaches and one of the youngest DB coaches in the country. That's always good because it can help relate to kids more.
"Oregon is a school every kid looks into no matter what because of everything around it, the colors, the uniforms and all of that."
A spring trip to USC, where he has yet to take in, is in the works as is a first impression of the new coaching staff at Florida State.
Before those, adding to the Pinson Valley basketball trophy case is the focus.
"Right now I'm just trying to focus on basketball and winning another state championship," McKinstry said. "Basketball is going really well, we've only lost three games and we're on the right track. We're number one in the state and we'll play in the Elite 8 next.
"I haven't been talking to football coaches as much because of that but I will be back on recruiting as soon as we handle business."
At this point of the process most programs know basketball is an important part of recruiting the Yellowhammer State's top football player. While not a requirement, playing both sports at the next level is the current preference.
"Most schools that are really interested and really want me are interested in me playing both sports," he said. "11 schools have offered me in both and it's an added benefit in how I view those programs."
In no rush to end the process overall, there is an end point in sight when it comes to kicking off the collegiate career no matter school gets the good news.
McKinstry will graduate from Pinson Valley in December and enroll in college come January.
"I really have no timeline but if I wake up one day and I feel like I want to commit then that's what I will do," he said. "In the meantime I'm in no rush, I want to go somewhere that fits me best and no one else. I'm the one who has to do the work so I'm still evaluating everyone."
Pinson Valley faces Birmingham (Ala.) Huffman High on Tuesday.
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