Halstead High’s Dennis Latimore figures to play basketball in Kansas University’s Allen Fieldhouse at least once in his college career.
Latimore, a 6-foot-8, 235-pound senior power forward, verbally committed to the University of Arizona on Monday.
By pure coincidence, the Wildcats and Jayhawks have agreed to a future hoop series.
Jayhawk coach Roy Williams said late last season the two teams had scheduled a home-and-home series.
What’s more, he said UA coach Lute Olson won a coin flip to determine where the first game in the series would be played.
Nothing’s been announced yet, but it’s likely KU will play Arizona in Tucson during Latimore’s freshman season, with Latimore playing at Allen Fieldhouse his soph campaign.
Latimore says the weather in Arizona was a major factor in deciding to play for UA. He also considered KU, UCLA and Stanford.
“The climate doesn’t hurt,” Latimore said Tuesday.
“He said the fact it’s 70 in December helps,” quipped Halstead coach Mark Fox.
Latimore, who averaged 25 points and 13 boards a game for 11-10 Halstead last year, played for Mesa (Ariz.) Mountain View High his sophomore year.
He lived that year with his father. The Arizona Republic reported Tuesday Latimore rarely speaks with his dad. His mom, not crazy about her son going to Arizona for college, plans on buying a satellite dish to watch her son play ball.
“I felt playing at Arizona was a better opportunity for me, for what I wanted to do with my future, on and off the basketball court.
“I feel they’re going to develop my game the fastest and to my full potential,” Latimore said.
