NCAA Basketball: Breaking down Bryce Golden’s top four schools

Four schools are awaiting word from Bryce Golden on where he will play NCAA basketball. How does he fit with Butler, Syracuse, Georgetown, and Illinois?

Time is running out for programs to solidify their 2018 recruiting classes. The majority of the top prospects are already committed to schools, leaving just a few remaining on the market. One of the top players in Maryland, though, is one of those left uncommitted. Bryce Golden, a 6’9″ power forward that originally committed to Pittsburgh, reopened his recruitment on March 16.

Considering his status as the No. 7 player from Maryland in his class (and No. 203 overall), it is no surprise that several high-major teams reached out to him with his recruitment open. Golden has a unique combination of shooting and athleticism for a forward. The expectation is that he can sky above the rim for back-side dunks while also excelling in catch-and-shoot situations beyond the 3-point arc. He is a polished offensive player that should see immediate minutes at the college level.

After some deliberation, Golden narrowed his list of teams to just four: Butler, Syracuse, Georgetown, and Illinois. Here is a look at how he might fit with each program and a final prediction for his decision.

Butler Bulldogs

Butler is consistently one of the top programs in the nation. Although they often fly under the radar, it is hard to picture a college basketball season that does not involve the Bulldogs in the NCAA Tournament. Butler is well-respected across the country and LaVall Jordan is just starting to make his mark as a coach at his alma mater.

With two forwards in Kelan Martin and Tyler Wideman graduating, there is a hole in the frontcourt for minutes. While there are plenty of players who can fill in these spots, most of them are either true centers or belong more on the wing. Golden’s status as a pure power forward would cement a rotational spot for him should he arrive at Hinkle Fieldhouse.

This is likely Golden’s best bet if he wants to reach the NCAA Tournament right away next season. He will fill a much-needed role on a team that already has plenty of talent, especially in the backcourt. Juniors Kamar Baldwin and Sean McDermott look poised to be leading scorers on the squad next season while seniors Paul Jorgensen and Nate Fowler will see larger roles in their final seasons. Oh, and incoming transfer Jordan Tucker (former top-100 recruit) will join the squad after the first semester.

Syracuse Orange

When it comes to national powerhouses, though, few are as successful as Syracuse. The Orange have gone through their rough patches as of late but let’s not forget that they consistently show up in March as well. Head coach Jim Boeheim is one of the best in the business and Syracuse competes in the top conference nationwide.

The Orange already has a talented roster lined up for 2018-19 but there would be a spot in the rotation for Golden. This would be another landing point with immediate playing time on the table. Golden recently visited the campus and Syracuse looks to be the frontrunner at this point in his recruitment. Syracuse is typically a defensive-oriented team but Golden would add some much-needed scoring to the frontcourt. Regardless of how good the Orange’s defense is, they need to be able to put up points to win.

The ‘Cuse already has a talented backcourt, as long as Tyus Battle returns, but adding a scoring presence in the frontcourt like Golden could them over the edge. Only Oshae Brissett is a viable returning scoring option in the forward/center spots.

Georgetown Hoyas

Head coach Patrick Ewing received a lot of bad press last season due to his non-conference scheduling but the Hoyas still exceeded expectations. Georgetown has a tremendous basketball tradition and a legendary former player as the head coach. Ewing might be somewhat new to the head coaching world but it was clear from last season that he is equipped for the job.

Heading into next season, though, Georgetown has a ton of question marks. Leading scorer and rebounder Jessie Govan is currently testing the NBA Draft waters, even though he has not signed an agent. He would be one of the top seniors in the Big East next season should he return. In addition, his frontcourt partner last season, Marcus Derrickson, has already elected to leave the school in favor of playing professionally. He averaged 15.9 points and 8.3 rebounds per game in 2017-18.

While this hurts Georgetown’s hopes of moving up in the Big East standings, it does leave a role open for Golden to fill. Ewing has a great reputation for working with big men and he would give Golden a chance to play minutes, succeed, and grow as a player. There are already three players in Georgetown’s 2018 class, which ranks No. 46 in the nation.

Illinois Fighting Illini

Illinois has steadily risen up recruiting rankings in recent weeks. Head coach Brad Underwood has moved his 2018 class up to No. 28 in the country. It is easy to see the potential oozing out of this roster. Should Underwood land Golden, the team would be in even better shape to attempt a run to the NCAA Tournament.

With Leron Black‘s decision to enter the NBA Draft, there is yet another hole that Golden can fill. Considering the idea that he should receive minutes no matter where he goes, this is not a tremendously big advantage. Coach Underwood, though, should not be overlooked as an excellent recruiter. The opportunity to grow together with the other top recruits in the Illini’s class will likely be the most enticing factor for moving to Champaign.

For more information on Golden’s recruitment to Illinois, be sure to head over to Writing Illini, our Illinois site at FanSided.

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Overall, though, I feel like Golden’s most likely destination will be Syracuse. They are, like all of the other teams in his final four, an excellent college basketball program. Head coach Jim Boeheim is easily the best coach of his final four schools. That will be the deciding factor, in my opinion. Of course, it helps that he would have the opportunity to play in the ACC.

Final prediction: Golden commits to Syracuse.