Virginia and Virginia Tech do not have to look far for one of the top class of 2009 basketball recruits in the country. 6-8 power forward DeShawn Painter , a junior out of Norfolk’s Booker T. Washington High School, is rated a 5-star prospect by Rivals.com and Scout.com and claims scholarship offers from some of the nation’s best men’s basketball programs.

“I’ve got offers from everywhere – North Carolina, Duke, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Louisville, Ohio State, Florida. U-Conn is recruiting me. Oklahoma is recruiting me. Maryland has offered,” Painter said.

While the recruiting process is overwhelming for some at this stage, it is not the case with Painter. The talented Tidewater standout is keeping the recruiting process at arms length, choosing instead to concentrate on his team and improving his skills out on the basketball court.

“I’m still young. I’m not ready for that yet,” Painter said of making a college choice. “My coach just said to not get caught up in it. I’m just trying not to get caught up with everything. I’m just trying to keep learning the game and keep getting better.”

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