MSU, UM in top eight for Old Redford's 'Rocket' Watts

Michigan and Michigan State are jostling for another of the top 2019 in-state prospects.

Detroit Old Redford’s Mark “Rocket” Watts, a four-star guard, narrowed his list Sunday and announced his eight finalists on Twitter. The Wolverines and Spartans made the cut along with Connecticut, Florida State, Louisville, Missouri, Oregon and Xavier.

Watts' stock has risen over the summer. He's rated the No. 38 prospect in the nation and No. 1 in Michigan in the 247Sports Composite rankings, leapfrogging New Haven’s Romeo Weems, who chose DePaul over Michigan and Michigan State, for the state’s top spot.

Watts (6-foot-2, 175 pounds) averaged 26.8 points, six assists and 5.5 rebounds last season to lead Old Redford to its best record (18-6) in program history. In June, he played on the U.S. U-18 squad in the 2018 FIBA Americas, helping the squad earn a gold medal with a 113-74 win over host Canada in the championship game.

Watts, who had more than two dozen offers, told The Detroit News’ David Goricki last month that he will be in no rush to pick his next destination.

“I’m going to take my time and enjoy the process, not make a decision until next season,” Watts said. “I like Michigan. Coach (John) Beilein is a great coach and I liked how he coached Trey Burke. Coach (Tom) Izzo is a Hall of Fame coach, and he’s had guys from Detroit like Keith Appling and I like his program as well.”