The Inside Story on 5-star Earl Timberlake’s decision to become a Cane
Hyattsville (Md.) DeMatha High School 5-star Earl Timberlake signed with the Miami Hurricanes this week.
Today, reflecting back on his recruitment, he tells CaneSport the decision came down to a single weekend.
“My visit to Miami, that was it,” Timberlake said on Friday. “Going into the visit I didn’t expect to really love Miami as much as I did. But when I got there it felt right, the campus and coaching staff and players were great. And my family felt the same way, we knew it was the right fit.”
Timberlake doesn’t want to get into which program finished No. 2 on his list, or where he was favoring prior to that UM trip, but in the end he chose the Canes over Pittsburgh, Providence, Seton Hall and South Carolina.
He's the first five-star signee for the Canes since Lonnie Walker four years ago. With five-star status comes a lot of pressure, but Timberlake says it’s the furthest thing from his mind.
“I’ve been doubted my whole life coming from where I come from, I don’t care what people say,” Timberlake says. “I just want to work and get better.”
That place he comes from? Southeast Washington D.C.
“It’s a pretty tough neighborhood,” he says. “My mom put me in basketball in fourth grade to keep me out of trouble.”
He’s been starring on the court ever since.
Timberlake says the comparison to his game he thinks is most accurate is Jimmy Butler.
“At least with play-making,” he says.
Certainly his ability on both ends of the floor should make him a Day 1 starter at UM, probably in the spot vacated by shooting guard DJ Vasiljevic’s graduation.
“I’m not sure what spot I’ll start out at, and I don’t think it’ll be a big transition,” Timberlake says. “I’ve been prepared very well from my high school.
“I’ll do anything they need me to do, just love paying basketball, want to play at the highest level. Miami, they said they like my playmaking, that I can score.”
The strengths and weaknesses he sees in his own game?
“Well I’d like to improve on being more consistent on my shot,” Timberlake said. “Really all aspects of my game I want to improve: Being smarter, being more vocal and things like that. The best attributes of my game - I’m a two way player, do well on both ends of the floor. I’ll guard the best player, love taking on the challenge. I can do everything on the court, am versatile, can score, pass, play defense.”
Timberlake says he’s talking with Cane coaches “every day” and that he’s staying in shape nowadays “by riding the bike, working out whenever I can, doing running and stuff like that.”
Asked his goals in Year 1, Timberlake responded “I just want to win as many games as we can, win the ACC Tournament and get to the NCAA Tournament. I don’t care about personal accolades.”
Some fans were concerned after last season’s struggles that Timberlake might opt to go to a program that was winning more games. But he says that never entered his mind - he opted not to sign early just in case there was a coaching shakeup at UM. And that was the only reason he didn't ink in November.
“I knew in my mind where I really liked, and I really liked the coaching staff, coach L (Jim Larranaga),” Timberlake said, adding that from November to when he signed this week “I didn’t talk to any other schools, stayed loyal to Miami.”
So there were never any second thoughts when UM was struggling to compete this past season?
“No,” Timberlake said. “I know we’ll be a way better team than what we showed this past season. The experience we already have coming back, me being able to come in and help - we should be good.”