By Hale McGranahan.

In search of Clemson’s newest lead guard, Brad Brownell sent an offer out to three-star Marquise Pointer late last month.

The senior from Arkansas’ Jonesboro High School is rated by ESPN as the third-best player in Arkansas and the No. 29 overall point guard in the class of 2015.

Wichita State, Arkansas State, Lehigh, Southern Miss, Winthrop and Wingate have also offered. Ole Miss and Bowling Green are expressing interest.

Brownell and former assistant Earl Grant tendered the offer to Pointer during a conversation over the phone.

“They called my parents first,” Pointer told TheClemsonInsider, during a recent interview, “Then they talked to me.”

The genesis of his communication with Clemson began around the time conference play began during his junior season.

“They were saying they recruit slowly. They like to get to know people first and build a relationship before they offer,” Pointer said. “They wanted me, but they wanted to get to know me, build that trust. It was just a matter of time before offering.”

The interest is mutual.

“I like that they’re in the ACC. I like coach Grant and Brownell a lot. They’re pretty good coaches,” Pointer said. “I like that they get to know their players.”

As a junior, he averaged 17.4 points, 4.2 assists and 2.6 steals per game.

“I may take an unofficial to Ole Miss, I’m not sure when. The only visits I have set up are Lehigh and the 12th I have Wichita State,” Pointer said.

Though plans for that first visit to Clemson have not been finalized, that hasn’t stopped him from keeping the Tigers near the top of his list.

“My top schools are Clemson, Winthrop, Wichita State (and) Southern Mississippi,” Pointer said.

Exactly when he makes that final decision isn’t clear.

“Right now, I’m not sure,” Pointer said. “I’m still just waiting.”