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AUBURN | Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.) Rivals150 power forward Horace Spencer's visit to Auburn over the weekend was much better than his first.
Not that his first visit was bad, but it was an unofficial visit. Spencer's second visit, the one last weekend, was an official visit.
There were several big differences.
"It was great. It was way better than I thought it would be because the first time I came to Auburn I was real limited in what I could do," Spencer said. "My first visit, I saw the school, the facilities, but I really wanted to meet with the players and coaching staff more and I couldn't."
Spencer's second visit was different.
"My options really opened up," he said. "I got to see more and do more with the team and the coaches. It was a lot better than my unofficial visit, a lot more informative. I learned a lot more about Auburn and I got to meet with the players and talked a lot with the coaches."
Spencer, 6-foot-8 and 225 pounds, met at-length with Auburn coach Bruce Pearl and assistants Chuck Person and Harris Adler. The three re-emphasized their need for a player with Spencer's skill set.
Spencer, ranked the No. 62 overall prospect in the 2015 class, averaged a double-double this season at Findlay Prep, scoring 10.8 points per game while grabbing 9.7 rebounds and blocking nearly three shots.
"I talked to Bruce Pearl a lot," Spencer said. "He told me he wanted me to come in and be a big impact, possibly start and help turn the program around.
"Coach Adler wants me to come in and become a better shooter, mid-range and out. Coach Person said he would help make me a better shooter, and also a better defensive player. He wants me to come in and be a big part of the team and help improve the program."
Spencer got to see first-hand how he could make an early impact. He attended Auburn's final home game of the season, a game the Tigers lost to Georgia, 64-41.
"It made me mad that I couldn't play," Spencer said. "I wanted to play so bad. I saw that I could help with rebounding, with the short shots and being an inside presence on defense."
He'll get his shot at helping Auburn next season, and Spencer intends to take it. He's been committed to the Tigers since August and plans to stay that way until April 15.
That's when he can make it official.
"I don't have any doubts about signing with Auburn," Spencer said. "None. The first day I can sign is when I'm going to sign."
He'll report to campus a month later.
"(My academics) are good," Spencer said. "I'll be in Auburn on May 25."
Spencer's 2014 summer mix tape…
