Peninsula’s JaQuori McLaughlin no longer committed to UW
JaQuori McLaughlin has re-opened his recruitment.
The standout guard for the Peninsula High School boys basketball team is no longer committed to the University of Washington. He had verbally committed to the Huskies in November.
Peninsula coach Jake Jackson stressed that McLaughlin is still considering UW, but is now also considering Arizona, California, Stanford and Oregon among others.
“(UW coach Lorenzo) Romar has built a strong relationship with JaQuori and his family and myself,” Jackson said. “So we totally respect Coach Romar. It’s not about Romar or the University of Washington, it’s more about JaQuori and what’s best for JaQuori.”
Jackson said McLaughlin received calls from Wisconsin, Virginia, Minnesota, Creighton, Harvard and other schools just in the first couple hours after announcing his decision. McLaughlin had committed to Oregon State as a sophomore but re-opened the recruiting after then-coach Craig Robinson was fired.
McLaughlin, a junior, already holds eight school records — including career points (1,262) and career 3-pointers (117). He’s ranked the No. 83 recruit in the country for the 2016 class by 247sports.com.
His father, Jason McLaughlin, said JaQuori re-opened the recruiting because he felt he rushed his decision and that he wanted to take time to look at other schools.
“A lot changes in college athletics over a six-month period,” Jason McClaughlin said. “He wants to be absolutely certain while he still has the opportunity so there will be no regrets.”
Jason McClaughlin also said he tried to dissuade JaQuori from re-opening his recruitment.
“But it’s his decision,” Jason McLaughlin said. “(I) told him he has to talk with Coach Romar himself. He talked to Romar (Wednesday), he was very cordial and treated JaQuori very well. Really makes it tough (because) we think so highly of (Romar).”
This story was originally published May 14, 2015 at 8:58 PM with the headline "Peninsula’s JaQuori McLaughlin no longer committed to UW."