By Lauren Silva, Special to SI.com, RISE
Progressive Christian (Camp Springs, Md.) forward Augustus Gilchrist told The Washington Post yesterday that he will not play basketball for Virginia Tech, saying he is not prepared to be a Hokie in the wake of last month's campus shootings.
The 6-foot-9 Gilchrist, who signed with the Hokies last November, told The Post he was "not mentally prepared to go there for this [coming] year." He continued, "I think the campus needs time to heal. The campus needs time to mourn the first year. I don't know if I'm prepared to do that next year."
Gilchrist has not requested a release form his letter of intent, but he told Hokies coach Seth Greenberg shortly after the April 16 shootings that he did not feel comfortable attending Virginia Tech.
If Virginia Tech does not grant Gilchrist a release from his LOI, his mostly likely option would be to attend prep school for a year. If he is granted a release, it seems probable that he would attend a different college.
"I'm not sure [of my plans] at this point because everything hasn't played out," Gilchrist told The Post. "My intention at first was to take a year and see how it plays out. But I don't think I want to go to Virginia Tech."
A Hokies team spokesman told The Post Friday that he was not aware of a change in the recruit's status. But Gilchrist told the paper that the coaching staff "respected my decision."
Gilchrist averaged 22.3 points and 10.3 rebounds for Progressive Christian and was named MVP of the Capital Classic All-Star game in April after scoring 24 points, pulling down nine rebounds and collecting three blocks.
