Top basketball recruit Joe Philon says USF is a finalist in his college decision

Bryan Hodgson is considered a top-notch, relentess recruiter, and his work so far as USF's head basketball coach bears that out. He and his staff brought ij some strong talent in his first class after taking the job last March.

He's not slowing down as he tries to assemble his second class.

Joe Philon, the No. 50 overall player in the Rivals 150 list, told On3.com that USF is in his final five choices. along. with Ohio State, Xavier, UCLA, and UNLV.

“My official visit was probably my third visit to the campus. So, I was really familiar with the school, but on my official I got to really meet the coaching staff and interact with them. They have a really great staff, all the guys are really close to each other, it’s really like a family out there," he said.

"They play really fast, get up and down the floor, and they have the green light to shoot open shots in the offense. The stuff they work on is the stuff they do in the game. I feel like working out there, working with their coaches, could be a big thing for me.”

The Bulls might have a home-court advantage in the recruiting battle.

Philon, a 4-star rated 6-foot-8 forward, currently plays for Montverde Academy in Tampa. The team competes in Nike’s EYBL Scholastic League. He transferred to Montverde from Tampa's Blake High School, after the team was the Class 5A state runner-ups last season.

”I think I’m a defensive stopper,” Philon told Rivals. “I’ll get out there on defense and make hustle plays. I hit open shots, get downhill, and set up things for my teammates. My biggest development this season has been just learning the game. I’m learning where to be, how to get to my spots, rotations on defense, and on offense. Just understanding where I’m supposed to be and how I’m supposed to do things.”

According to ESPN, the Bulls also could be in the running for two more four-star players: point guard Darius Bivins of Bishop O'Connell High School in Alexandria, Va., and Landyn Colyer, a 6-foot-5 forward from Atlanta.

Blivins also has offers from Rutgers, VCU, and Stanford.

Colyer also has offers from nine schools, including Florida State, UCF, Ole Miss, and Washington.