ADD Auburn University to the US NCAA division I schools officially courting Fil-Am center Sage Tolentino.
The 7-foot Tolentino, a Gilas Pilipinas prospect, said he has formally received an offer from Tigers coach Bruce Pearl.
“I am humbled and honored to receive an offer from coach Pearl and the entire Auburn family,” Tolentino said on his Instagram account @sagee23_ yesterday. “All glory to God,” he added.
Tolentino, 16, averaged 13.5 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 3.5 blocks last season in leading Maryknoll High School to back-to-back State Championships in Hawaii.
Among the other schools that have expressed interest in Tolentino are Kentucky, Kansas, and Tennessee.
Auburn, which produced NBA great Charles Barkley, was ranked 20th in the US last season and wound up with a 12-6 record in the Southeastern Conference and 25-6 overall.
The US NCAA season was called off for good last March due to the health risks and uncertainties brought about by the dreaded COVID-19 pandemic.
Tolentino is toughening up via the East West Private, the same agency that handles 7-foot-2 big man Kai Sotto, in Cincinnati, Ohio along with former Far Eastern University-Diliman high School standout Cholo Anonuevo.
Like Tolentino, the 6-foot-4 Anonuevo also got an offer to suit up for Tennessee.
Anonuevo was good for 9.1 points, 9.3 rebounds and 3.1 assists in his swan song with the Baby Tamaraws in the last UAAP juniors’ cage wars.
Before heading to the US, the Ireland-born Anonuevo said he remains ready and willing to play for the Tamaraws in seniors’ play under coach Olsen Racela.
