Although Marshall fell one point short in its comeback bid against Arkansas State on Saturday, Class of 2014 basketball prospect Willie Atwood said the non-conference game was the highlight of his official visit to the Conference USA school.

Thundering Herd head coach Tom Herrion has the fans to thank for that.

"My favorite part of the trip, I have to say, was the game because the fans kept the team in the game," said Atwood, who is a 6-foot-8, 215-pound power forward from Connors State Community College in Warner, Oklahoma. "I liked their energy and enthusiasm. It was never dull. That showed me the program is followed and cared about."

Asked for his overall thoughts on his official visit, Atwood said: "It went well. I got there on Friday and left on Sunday. I got to cool with the guys. The game was real good. We went and ate at a nice restaurant. We toured the campus and saw the facilities. The recreation center was nice. The locker room was nice. I was impressed with everything."

Marshall, Murray State, Southeast Missouri State, Western Kentucky and Wichita State have offered scholarships to Atwood. Arkansas, Auburn, Gonzaga, Iowa, Kansas State, Missouri State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and TCU also are interested in him.

"I don't have a rank for the teams recruiting me right now," said Atwood, who has averaged 21.6 points, 8.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game for No. 25 Connors State (12-2). "I'm just considering all schools with an open mind. I want to wait to make a decision until April."

Atwood was the National Junior College Athletic Association's Division I national player of the week for November 25-December 1, when he averaged 25.3 points, 10.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.5 blocks per game in three victories.

"This is a big honor for me because I have worked pretty hard and come from a long way," Atwood said of the award. "I have never had an honor like this, even in high school. This is a dream come true. My teammates have a lot to do with this. They put the ball in my hands and give me the opportunity. This is a team honor, too. They believe in me and I believe in them."

Atwood set a school record with 49 points in a 90-87 loss to Independence Community College on November 18.

"He could have been player of the week several different times this season," Connors State head coach Bill Muse said of Atwood, an All-America candidate who has five double-doubles this season. - See more at: http://marshall.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1590880#sthash.HxCHY3xU.dpuf