How the 1st recruiting visit to Wichita State went for new basketball coach Paul Mills

When Jacob Germany was a highly-touted high school prospect coming out of Kingston, Okla. in 2019, Paul Mills was the first head coach to host him on an official visit at Oral Roberts.

The player and coach ended up going on their own separate paths — Germany went to UTSA, where he was a standout all four years, and Mills took ORU to new heights — but four years later, their paths have crossed again.

Germany, a 6-foot-11 center with 1,261 points, 760 rebounds and 83 starts under his belt, is looking for a program where he can make an impact in his final season of college basketball. Mills, who was hired three weeks ago at Wichita State, is looking for players who can help him win right away with the Shockers.

Germany was the first recruit, at least publicly, Mills has hosted on an official visit, which took place this past weekend, since taking over the job at Wichita State.

“We’ve had a good relationship for a few years now,” Germany told The Eagle after his visit. “I like him as a coach and I know Wichita is a great place. I’ve heard some amazing things about the fan support there and the culture that place has had. That’s something that really draws me as a player is that culture and then coach Mills.”

Germany, a 6-foot-11 southpaw, was rated as the top prospect in the state of Oklahoma in the 2019 recruiting class and labeled a four-star recruit by ESPN and three-star recruit by both Rivals and 247Sports.

He averaged 14.7 points and 7.2 rebounds as a junior, then followed that up with averages of 12.3 points and 8.3 rebounds this past season. Germany had his fair share of individual success — he ended his career top-10 in UTSA history in points, rebounds and blocks — but the team finished with a combined 48-74 record in his four years.

“I’m really big on personal development and growing as a person and being in a good culture,” Germany said. “I think coach Mills would be a really good step for me in my whole journey in life. What’s intriguing to me is going somewhere where I can really grow as a person.”

Germany was slated to fly from San Antonio to Wichita on Thursday, but bad weather in San Antonio altered those plans. Instead, Germany drove four hours to Dallas to hop on a direct flight to Wichita, where his parents were waiting for him after making a short drive from their home in Oklahoma.

On Friday, Germany spent the entire day being hosted by Mills. He said he met the assistant coaches, the strength and conditioning coach and a handful of the current WSU players. He toured Koch Arena, saw the locker room, the practice facility and the weight-lifting room.

“It was kind of intriguing to potentially go there and maybe build something,” Germany said. “I really liked my Wichita visit. I enjoyed my time there and I enjoyed being around those coaches and those players.”

Germany’s specialty is his left-handed hook shot around the basket, but he feels like he has versatility to his game. His range at UTSA didn’t extend to the three-point line, but he did prove plenty capable of knocking down 15-footers. He was one of the best rebounders in the country this past season and his size has always made him a shot-blocking presence around the rim on defense.

WSU currently only has one center on its roster in 7-foot junior Quincy Ballard, a rim-running shot-blocker who was limited to 10.1 minutes per game in 10 appearances due to injuries, while last year’s starter, junior Kenny Pohto, remains in the transfer portal but uncommitted.

“(Mills) gave me a glimpse of what I might look like in Wichita when I was on my visit,” Germany said. “He really likes my style of play. I’m a versatile big. I don’t need my back to the basket all the time. I can space it and I can run in transition and that fits the program he wants to build and his style of play really well.”

Although his WSU visit drew rave reviews, Germany didn’t want to make a final decision after his first visit. He plans to visit Vanderbilt early this week and then assess his options.

Regardless of where he ends up, Germany said he will always appreciate his relationship with Mills.

“I feel like even if he wasn’t recruiting me, we would still have a really good relationship,” Germany said. “He’s just a really great guy who wants what’s best for everybody. That’s what I’m looking for in a mentor and a leader. That’s why WSU is really intriguing. I know even if I don’t end up going there, Wichita State is really going to love him as their coach.”