5-star UGA commit earns Opening invite, makes bold prediction for next signing class
DAVENPORT, Fla. — Richard LeCounte III is a Georgia boy, a highly-anticipated UGA commit and the best salesman going right now in red and black. He continues to do things that make DawgNation glad he is on their side.
The 5-star athlete poured in 17 points to go along with seven rebounds on Saturday night in a Georgia High School Athletic Association basketball game. Then he loaded up with his family and drove 250 miles to Orlando to compete in a regional qualifier for Nike’s The Opening later this summer.
The LeCountes arrived about 3 a.m. and he was back at it less than five hours later to compete with some of Florida’s best. He got pushed around a bit. Some of the talkers in the crowd yelled out “weight room” and he continuously clashed with the larger receivers in camp during one-on-ones all day Saturday.
“My legs were dead but I still really competed,” he said. “I only lost one rep here today to the best wide receiver in this class out here. I heard some stuff, but you can’t listen to what everyone else says. You have got to have that short-term memory. That’s the game of football. Just come back for the next play.”
He even endured a nagging case of turf toe, but still got what he came for. That was a golden ticket, which ensured he received an Opening invitation for the all-star camp later this summer.
“This is exactly what I wanted,” LeCounte told DawgNation on Saturday afternoon while holding that golden envelope. “I’ve been working hard for this right here, man. Everything I work hard for I want to get. I wanted to come out here and be one of the first to get (invited to The Opening) so this is one of those goals I’ve got to check off right here.”
LeCounte said he would have gone around the Southeast hoping to show enough to get invited to the prestigious all-star event this summer in Oregon, if necessary.
“We played a hard basketball game last night and then came here to play and compete,” LeCounte said. “I want to thank God right here for blessing me with this right here and the ability of youth to come back the next day and still earn something like this.”
What else did LeCounte say on Sunday:
- The Liberty County standout said UGA has 3-4 silent commitments at this time
- LeCounte said to look for UGA to have a Top 3 class in the nation by the time Dawg Night rolls around in July. “On Dawg Night, we might just break the meter and move all the way to No. 1 in the nation. Just watch and wait. We’ll get it. We’ve got a lot coming. I’m ready for it. I’m excited.”
- He said Georgia junior receiver Trey Blount played amazing on Saturday. Blount didn’t receive an invite, but looked to be the most consistent and polished all-around receiver at the camp.
Unless otherwise indicated, player rankings and ratings are from the 247Sports Composite.
Jeff Sentell covers UGA football and UGA recruiting for AJC.com and The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Follow him on Twitter for the latest on who’s on their way to play Between the Hedges.
