Georgia State Basketball: Panthers get four-star recruit in Nelson Phillips

Since *that* big shot, the Georgia State Panthers have had plenty of reasons to celebrate. Nelson Phillips just gave them one more.

Mid-major programs sometimes just need that “one shining moment” to elevate themselves in the eyes of both fans and more importantly, recruits. Georgia State had their moment when they pulled off the heart-stopping upset over the Baylor Bears.

With the dramatics and the storylines, Ron Hunter and the Panthers became one of the big stories of the 2015 NCAA Tournament. The free press and advertisements of the school were worth millions, and younger kids in the South began to take a look at the Sun Belt program.

In the way recruiting works and how relationships are built in the early years, it was naturally going to take a while before Georgia State started to reap the benefits of their big moment. Meanwhile, they’ve managed to remain in the top-tier of the conference.

Now, we’re starting to see some of the top prospects down South not only take a hard look at the Panthers but in this case commit.

Nelson Phillips is from Warner Robins, Georgia, not far from the Panthers’ campus. He’s one of the biggest pickups in recent memory, as the four-star guard is ranked No. 151 according to 247 Sports.

Coming into the year the shooting guard wasn’t high on everyone’s radar, but an outstanding summer on the AAU circuit exponentially raised his stock. He started to get offers from other schools like Mississippi State, Texas Tech, and heavy interest from the Georgia schools as well.

He joins fellow four-star commit Kavante Ivery, a 6’6 small forward. At 6’5 and 175-pounds Phillips will play more on the guard line, while Ivery will take the forward spots. Now coach Hunter will have players with the size and athleticism that most Sun Belt teams don’t simply have.

Next: Sun Belt basketball: stars for 2017-18

Georgia State isn’t done, as recently big man Landers Nolley just included the Panthers in his final four. If they can acquire his services, then the 2018 class will be one for the ages. It appears that midnight won’t striking for this mid-major for awhile.