NCAA Basketball: Where does Armaan Franklin stand in his recruiting journey?
Armaan Franklin is one of the more sought after combo guards in high school hoops right now. Which NCAA basketball teams are vying for his services?
With the 2017-18 NCAA basketball season complete, it is time for programs to divert the majority of their attention to the recruiting scene. For programs in the Midwest, there are very few high school players more highly-regarded than Armaan Franklin. A member of the high school class of 2019, Franklin has one more year of high school ball left before entering the college scene. Still, that has not stopped the top programs in the region from reaching out to the 6’4″ combo guard from Indianapolis.
According to 247Sports, Franklin has received offers from powerhouse schools in the Midwest. Butler, Louisville, Ohio State, Xavier, and Purdue are among the top programs that have extended scholarship offers to the guard. One of the more versatile scorers and defenders in the area, Franklin comes in at No. 105 in 247Sports’ national ranking for the class of 2019.
These highlights were released prior to Franklin’s junior season, highlighting his potential as a breakout high school star. This past season, Franklin definitely followed through on that praise, rising up recruiting rankings with a stellar junior season.
While playing for Cathedral High School, the guard dropped in 23.0 points per game on 54% shooting from the field and a 35% clip from beyond the 3-point arc. A well-rounded star, Franklin also added 7.8 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.4 steals per game. Thanks to his excellent statistics while leading Cathedral, Franklin was named to the All-City team.
The polish on Franklin’s game on both ends of the floor is noticeable when he steps onto the floor. He is a fluid athlete who is able to use his quickness and size to create mismatches in transition. In addition, he is an excellent defender, a skill that often goes overlooked at the high school level.
Franklin, though, knows just how important both ends of the floor are. In an interview with Lukas Harkins at Busting Brackets, he stated, “I pride myself on the defensive end. I always enjoy guarding the best players on every team. It’s always a challenge. I think my size and versatility sets me apart. I can play 1 through 3 and I think that’s what coaches like most about me.”
This determination to succeed on defense is something that cannot go understated. Given Franklin’s size, he has the ability to defend several different types of players.
In regards to his recruitment, Franklin pointed to Xavier, Butler, and Purdue as the three schools chasing him the most at this point. He had this to say about each team:
Xavier Musketeers: “At Xavier, Coach Steele and I have always had a great relationship. He was the one recruiting me hard when he was an assistant.”
Butler Bulldogs: “Butler is appealing just because it is close to home. Literally 20 minutes down the road so it would be easier for my family to come and see me.”
Purdue Boilermakers: “At Purdue, I have a good relationship with the staff. It’s not far from home at all and I’ve visited and really enjoyed being around the players.”
All three of these schools represent the class of the Midwest in terms of college basketball programs. They each bring a unique basketball tradition that Franklin will be able to continue. While it is still early in the recruiting period for 2019, these teams are eagerly hoping to receive a commitment from the combo guard.
As a junior, Franklin learned “to be humble about everything because it can always be taken away. During the high school season, I learned to be more vocal and becoming a leader.” He still has one more year left before starting his college career but Franklin is a mature guard with all of the skills to succeed.
Of course, he will have plenty of support when it comes to making his college decision as well. Franklin references his mother as his biggest supporter when he recollected, “I’ve been playing since I was four-years-old and I can only remember her missing one game. She is my biggest fan but is also the toughest on me.”
Next: Way-too-early 2019 Bracketology
With a big summer and senior season, there is no reason to believe that Franklin cannot be a top-100 recruit across multiple recruiting services by the time he starts college. If you are in the Indianapolis area, this is the kind of high school athlete that you need to see before he hits college.