When Vander Blue told his family Sunday he wanted to make an oral commitment to play basketball for Marquette, his grandfather, Art Wilson, told him he couldn't vacillate and announce later that he was changing his mind again.
Blue, who backed out of an oral commitment to play for the University of Wisconsin men's basketball team last May, answered firmly that he was sure he was making the right decision.
"This decision feels better because this is what it's going to be. There's no backing out. This is what I want to do," Blue said. "I'm just growing up. I'm just so thankful right now. It's a great feeling."
Blue's commitment came on the heels of his official visit to the Marquette campus over the weekend. The 6-foot-4 Madison Memorial standout guard decided he didn't have to wait any longer to make a decision where he wanted to play college basketball.
Blue said style of play and academic support were leading factors in his decision that was announced at Wilson's home in Milwaukee.
"History shows (Wisconsin) likes to slow it down, but there's no telling what can happen," Blue said. "I just thought Marquette was the better situation for me. That's why I made the decision."
The strong reputation of the Big East Conference, which includes Marquette, also a played a key role.
"What really separated (Marquette from Wisconsin) was the Big East," he said. "I wanted to play in the Big East Conference."
Blue's announcement had to have shocked those within the UW program. Even after Blue decommitted last spring, he spent so much time around the Badgers' players that few in the program felt he was going to commit elsewhere this fall. He also was planning to make an official visit to the UW campus on Oct. 30.
Blue said he phoned UW coach Bo Ryan and assistant coach Howard Moore to tell them of his decision Sunday. Wilson said a formal announcement will come out of Madison Memorial today.
The Badgers now have an extra scholarship to offer. Unless UW gets a commitment within the next few weeks, Eau Claire North center Evan Anderson and Port Washington guard Josh Gasser will be the only high school seniors who will sign a national letter of intent to play during the fall signing period that starts in November.
"The University of Wisconsin is a great school and extended a great opportunity for him to play. They showered us with their love for him. They wanted him to play there," said Wilson, who added that Blue and his family were impressed with the academic support at UW.
But Marquette's academic support impressed Blue, too.
"He had a lot of respect for a young lady who will be his academic advisor," Wilson said. "They hit it off real good and he felt he'd be comfortable working with her because, for whatever reason, he felt she could help him."
Blue said the counselor is a former student-athlete who understands what he'll face when he starts taking classes next fall.
"I'm going to leave with a degree," he said. "So if I don't have a career in basketball, I'll still be happy."
Blue was named first-team All-State by The Associated Press and Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association after he averaged 17 points and 5.5 rebounds per game and helped lead Memorial win the WIAA Division 1 state title last March. One of his teammates was good friend, Jeronne Maymon, who is a freshman at Marquette.
Recruiting analyst Van Coleman called Blue "a difference-maker" who is one of the top guards in the Midwest. After he decommitted from UW, Blue drew interest from schools all around the country this summer and fall and eventually narrowed his list to the Badgers, Marquette, Florida, Arizona and UCLA.
Wilson said Connecticut made a late bid for Blue, too, and plans were being made for him to make an official visit there.
It appeared that Blue wasn't ready to make any decisions a month ago, and Wilson told The Capital Times that his grandson might wait until the April signing period.
After that article appeared in the Wisconsin State Journal, Wilson said Blue called him and they agreed that Blue needed to make his decision by November. Wilson then got the ball rolling by setting up official visits to Marquette and UW and talking further with UConn coach Jim Calhoun.
Blue wished the best for UW.
"It's a great program," he said. "I recommend Wisconsin to anybody."