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Recruiting: Predicting Destinations for Top Unsigned Prospects (Part Two)

By Chris Godfrey

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The spring recruiting season is heating up, and there are still plenty of impact players left on the board. Here’s a quick look at where we expect the nation’s top unsigned college basketball prospects to sign on the dotted line and suit up next season. Let’s play a game of final destination — except I promise that no one dies at the end. 

This is part two of a two part series, you can read part one to see predictions for the rest of the top 100 prospects not covered in this post.

(Rankings taken from the most recent ESPN 100 Recruiting Rankings)

#12 Brandon Ingram
6’8, 180lbs – SF
Kinston, NC
Kinston High School

The race for Brandon Ingram’s signature has been especially intriguing because he is a glaring need for multiple national powers. Ingram could be the replacement for J.P. Tokoto at North Carolina. He could slide into the spot Justice Winslow vacated in Durham. Kentucky is just in need of warm bodies at this point, after striking out on Stephen Zimmerman. North Carolina State was in the mix for Ingram, but the North Carolina native was probably interested in playing with Trevor Lacy rather than playing in his spot. Even Kansas would love to have Ingram to fill the void left by Kelly Oubre’s early exit. Ingram is one of the best scorers in the class, and projects as an immediate volume scorer on the college level, but he hasn’t shown much of a lean in terms of his upcoming decision. The only indication is that the Tar Heels may be falling back on Ingram as they heavily pursue former VCU commit Tevin Mack.

Final Destination: Kentucky

This destination changed from Duke to Kentucky over the last 48 hours. During that time frame, NC State lost Trevor Lacey to the NBA D-League, Kentucky lost out on Stephen Zimmerman, and Duke lost Tyus Jones to the NBA. North Carolina and Kansas have fell off the trail with Ingram, turning their attention to other prospects. That leaves a Kentucky team that is quietly still loaded, and a Duke team with a major hole at the point guard position. The advantage goes to Big Blue Nation. Ingram looks like the likely starter next to Tyler Ulis or Isaiah Briscoe in next year’s very impressive Kentucky backcourt.

#11 Cheick Diallo
6’9, 225lbs – PF
Centereach, NY
Our Savior New American School

Since wrestling away the MVP award from Ben Simmons at the McDonald’s All-American game, Cheick Diallo has been on a roll that has lasted through the practices for today’s Jordan Brand Classic. In the process, his recruitment has taken a few drastic turns as well. All season, two of the top assistants that have been recruiting Diallo have been Iowa State’s Matt Abdelmassih and Kentucky’s Barry “Slice” Rohrsson. Diallo was also strongly considering staying local and playing with his former high school teammates Chris Obekpa and Felix Balamou at St. John’s. At the end of the season, the Johnnies had fell to a distant third place in the race for Diallo, with the Cyclones turning into the frontrunner. However, when Steve Lavin was replaced by Chris Mullin at St. John’s, Mullin immediately landed Abdelmassih and Rohrsson as assistants for his staff. Kansas has emerged as a surprise frontrunner, but it will be interesting to see if they can hold off surges from Kentucky and St. John’s. It’s hard to tell if the move to hire Mullin made St. John’s a dark horse leader to land Diallo, or just a revitalized contender. Either way, Mullin is going to throw the kitchen sink at this kid.

Final Destination: Kentucky

Diallo ends up at Kentucky due to the landing of other dominoes elsewhere. Many people believed that Stephen Zimmerman would eventually be heading to Lexington to play alongside Skal Labissiere, but with his commitment to UNLV, he leaves a hole in the UK frontcourt and valuable minutes that could now go to Diallo. Before Zimmerman’s commitment, I had Diallo going to St. John’s, but now that Kentucky will be VERY interested in Diallo moving forward, it doesn’t seem like St. John’s will be able to compete with the pitch that John Calipari can now offer. Kansas is the leader at the moment, but I don’t see Diallo actually ending up there.

#4 Malik Newman
6’3, 175lbs – SG
Jackson, MS
Callaway High School

He’s the best pure scorer in the entire class, and one of the true game changers remaining on the board. Newman is strongly considering a Stephen Zimmerman-esque move of staying close to home by going to Mississippi State, but there is also a strong allure coming from Kentucky. As a definite one-and-done prospect, going to Kentucky makes the most sense, considering the relationship that the program has with the NBA Draft process. There are certain perks that are uniquely a part of the Kentucky basketball experience (i.e. the Kentucky NBA Combine that Calipari held last year). Mississippi State, even under the direction of newly hired Ben Howland, can’t come close to competing with that. There’s also rumors of a 1.5 million one year contract offer that’s floating around overseas…or that offer could be from Kentucky (just kidding).

Final Destination: Mississippi State

It doesn’t seem like Newman is all that interested in playing for a coach like Calipari that will demand accountability despite his obscene level of talent. Being crowned the king of Starkville for one season while playing in front of family and friends seems like a more attractive situation for someone who is just trying to fast forward his career until he get to the night of the 2016 NBA Draft.

#2 Jaylen Brown
6’7, 220lbs – SF
Marietta, GA
Wheeler High School

It’s been quite sometime since there has been a top prospect who has maintained such a tight lid on his recruitment. There aren’t too many people that have any type of substantial indication about where Brown will end up. What we know is that Brown has otherworldly athleticism, and will likely be the top pick in the 2016 NBA Draft. Between now and then, it seems safe to say that he’ll just commit to Kentucky because Coach Cal always seems to land the best players, but there are so many schools still in the mix that who knows if UK is even close to the top of his list. Much talk has been made about his dealings with Michigan but the up in the air status of Caris Levert makes them a long shot. Brown has noted that he’s a fan of Los Angeles, which has led some to believe that UCLA is the frontrunner. Kansas is widely considered to be near the top of his list as well. However, in truth, none of us really know anything.

Final Destination: Kentucky

When in doubt…go with Coach Cal. Only three things in life are certain. Death. Taxes. John Calipari on the recruiting trail.

Next: Predicting Destinations (Part One)

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