Why New Haven's Romeo Weems picked DePaul: 'They told me the truth'

Romeo Weems made his collegiate decision on Tuesday in front of his high school basketball team at New Haven High School.

His mother, Nyasha Weems, was fine with it and so was the rest of his family.

And, boy, was it a stunner.

Weems, the top-ranked recruit in Michigan in the 2019 class per 247Sports Composite, committed to DePaul, choosing the Blue Demons over instate powers Michigan and Michigan State. Oregon and Ohio State also were finalists for the four-star power forward.

More: Michigan State's title chances unfazed by Romeo Weems' DePaul commitment

DePaul finished 11-20 last season and hasn't had a winning season since 2006-07, but that didn't matter to Weems because it felt like home with head coach Dave Leitao and assistant Tim Anderson, whom he called his guy.

"I never really had a favorite college,'' Weems said. "I never said I was going to Michigan State, people put that out there and wrote that. They were in my top five. I never said they were my leader. I went to DePaul on my visit and I knew that was where I wanted to be. Coach (Leitao) didn't tell me what I wanted to hear; he told me what I needed to do to get better. Other coaches were telling me how good I was. They told me the truth at DePaul. Coach was the real deal.''

Weems, 6-foot-7, joins Benton Harbor's Wilson Chandler (2005) as No. 1 prospects in Michigan to spurn the instate schools and choose DePaul, a Big East school that has struggled in recent years.

"I have a relationship with the coaches," Weems said. "Coach Tim and i talk all the time. He worked with former pros and he's a good trainer. I think he can take my game to the next level.''

Weems, who nearly had a quintuple double as a junior last season, was named to the Free Press Dream Team after averaging 23.5 points, 10.8 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 4.8 steals and 2.0 blocks per game.

"I'll go there and be a leader,'' he said. "Everybody on the team will buy in. Offensively, coach is going to let you play. He's going to give you advice and work on getting you at the next level.''

Weems is ranked as the No. 37 overall prospect in the country for the 2019 class.

"I'm fine with what he chose,'' said Nyasha Weems. "He has to play ball. He has to be comfortable there. He can go anywhere. He had to see what fit him. Every school because it's a great school doesn't mean that's the right choice for him. I'm glad he made the decision he wanted, not what everybody else wanted.

"I've known since (Monday). I knew his top choices, but he had to do what's right for him, even if he had changed his mind. I roll with him. That's my son.''

Weems' suitors all found out at the same time about his decision.

Weems credited Chuck Bailey for coaching him while he played for The Family, the top-flight AAU program that's based in metro Detroit.

"It was a tough decision,'' said Weems. "I felt the decision I made was the best decision for me and my family to carry on my career. I knew everybody is going to ask why DePaul? Why not DePaul? When I came to New Haven, it was why New Haven? I've always been different. DePaul is rebuilding. When I get there we are going to build and get better.

"I like the environment. It's not too big. It's not too little. It's a basketball city. It's a big city. I played AAU there. I had fun in Chicago. I like the campus. The area is new. We're going to be successful.''

Said New Haven coach Tedaro France: "I know I a goal of his is to be Mr. Basketball. He has wanted that since his freshman year. He's a natural leader. He's going to do whatever it takes to win.''