Justice hopes to prove himself to USC
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USC's approach to recruiting wide receivers this year has been incredibly aggressive. The Trojans need just a few at the position in this class, yet the coaches are all over the country extending scholarship offers to different receivers.
The Rivals.com 2018 USC football scholarship offer list names 27 prospects that USC has extended scholarship offers to at the wide receiver position in this class. 12 of those players reside in Southern California.
JR Justice is one of those Southern California receivers. While he's listed by Rivals.com as an athlete, USC is recruiting him exclusively as a pass catcher.
And so far, the Trojans have made a big impression on the product of St. Augustine HS in San Diego, Calif.
"I really like the school," Justice said of USC. "And I like Coach (Tee) Martin, he's really cool. I think he's coming down either this week or next week. So it's a been a pretty good relationship so far."
The 6-foot-3 and 200-pounder was last on USC's campus months ago, well before spring practice started. But he plans to return in the near future.
"I plan to take an unofficial up there very soon," Justice said. "I would say June, definitely June. They have their camp the 24th and 25th."
The Rising Stars camp is very important to Justice. While he's already earned a scholarship offer to USC, he was told he would have to prove himself again in a camp setting.
"I was told that for all in-state wide receivers, we have to camp in order to solidify our position," Justice said of his decision to camp at USC. "So I just want to have that as an option. I don't know where I want to go yet but just in case. USC is definitely going to be in my top five."
Despite all the attention he's gotten from Trojan coaches, Justice understands it means nothing if he doesn't prove to be among the best of the best at the Rising Stars Camp.
"I think it's more of a prove what you've got type of deal," Justice said of the camp. "So I want to go in there and really give it my all."
He also understands math. And nothing the staff does adds up in a way that favors receivers with scholarships offers to USC.
"Coach Martin told me one or two," Justice said when asked how many receivers USC is taking this year. "They're pretty selective this year. Maybe he said two or three. But they're not taking a lot this year."
While we counted 12 scholarship offers out to wide receivers in Southern California, Justice believes USC has offered eight at the position. Either way, for just a few spots, a lot of high schoolers aren't going to have that option when it comes time to sign a letter of intent. In fact, USC has already dropped a commitment from a local wide receiver in this class.
Justice doesn't seem to mind all that. He understands and accepts how recruiting is.
"Coach Martin has told me that they would love to have me," Justice said. "But I just think that, especially this year, in California there's just so many receivers where they could take all eight of us. I think all eight of us that have been offered (in Southern California) all deserve a chance to go there. It's just you just can't take eight receivers. It's also one of those things where they have so much depth at the receiver position this year."
But when asked if USC's numbers at receiver and approach to recruiting the position could impact his recruitment, Justice confirmed that it very much could.
"Obviously I want to go somewhere where I'm going to play," Justice said. "It wouldn't make sense for me to go if other top receivers are going. I've definitely put some thought into it and I kind of just want to see how it plays out."
So he's paying close attention to who USC is targeting at receiver.
"Really just who's high on them, who has them as one of their top schools," Justice said. "All of that is important to me."
Justice is also looking closely into other colleges. And those schools continue to recruit him heavily.
"Fresno State just came by (Tuesday)," Justice said. "Arizona was here, (Texas) A&M stopped by, Stanford. Cal is coming next week. Me and a couple other football guys are still in track and a lot of the football coaches are coming next week."
And what happens in spring could actually make a big impact on this prospect.
"I kind of want to see how the whole spring evaluation period plays out," Justice said when asked about a future commitment. "Because if I feel like I might get a school that's right for me, I think I might commit in the summer. So there's a possibility for an early commitment date but as of right now I'm going to wait it out a little bit longer, towards my senior season."
But before Justice makes a commitment, he's planning to take some trips. He's considering visits to schools across California, hold San Jose State. He could also possibly see some other campuses all across the country in the near future.
"I want to take a whole California trip," Justice said. "I plan to see six of the seven D-1 schools. But other than that, I might take an East Coast trip. Also my mom lives in Dallas, so I might see (Texas) A&M again maybe. But right now I'm kind of just going with the flow. I'm not really sure yet."
