NCAA Basketball Recruiting: 2019 Bryan Antoine to visit four elite programs

Consensus top-10 2019 NCAA basketball prospect Bryan Antoine recently decided when he will visit four of final five schools.

Five-star recruit Bryan Antoine took some big steps in helping guide his college selection last week, according to Rivals’ Eric Bossi. Bossi is reporting that Antoine has set up visits to Duke, Kentucky, Florida and Villanova.

Antoine will start his campus trek in Gainesville when he visits Florida on Sept. 15. He will then visit Kentucky (Sept.22) and Duke (Sept. 29). The 6-foot-5 shooting guard is expected to visit Villanova on Nov. 3, although he may not ever step on the Radnor Township campus.

“Over the past couple of months my parents and my coaches have been talking about various schools with me and I feel that by September or October I’ll 110 percent have my decision made,” Antoine told Steve Clark of The Devils Den.com this week. “It’ll be before my senior season starts.”

Antoine possesses good size for a two-guard which includes a long wingspan. Antoine is not a superior athlete, but does have good athleticism and likes to slash to the basket. He is also an exceptional shooter with outstanding range. Defensively, he has the tools to be great on that end though he is not there yet.

Antoine averaged 21.1 points for Ranney High last season. 247 Sports believes that Duke is the favorite to obtain the services of the Tinton Falls, New Jersey native. While Kansas, Antoine’s other finalist, appears to be a distant fifth in his recruitment.

Examining the recruiting classes of Antoine’s finalists

Duke Blue Devils

The Blue Devils have the nation’s No. 1 2018 recruiting class coming in this year, having signed four five-star prospects and one four-star recruit. All five players are consensus top-40 players, led by RJ Barrett (No. 1), Cameron Reddish (No. 2), and Zion Williamson (No. 5).

Duke has not received a commitment from the class of 2019. However, the Blue Devils are showing extreme interest in six top-rated prospects. The Blue Devils are most interested in Antoine, 6-foot-9 center Isaiah Stewart, 6-foot-6 point guard Josiah James, and 6-foot-5 wing Wendell Moore. They also are very interested in Vernon Carey as well as Mathew Hurt, who are both ranked among the top-10 players in the nation.

Moore is expected to visit Durham in September. The Blue Devils will host Carey in October. Stewart, James, and Anthony are also scheduled to take official visits.

Duke is only expected to have just two open spots available for next year.

Kentucky Wildcats

John Calipari once again did a fantastic job in recruiting in 2018 with a six-man class that was ranked No. 2 in the country by ESPN. The Wildcats’ 2018 class features five players ranked in the top-40 in the nation, including EJ Montgomery, Keldon Johnson and Ashton Haggans. Kentucky has already gotten two commitments from the class of 2019. Point guard Tyrese Maxey and wing DJ Jeffries are the players who have given their commitments.

Kentucky has seven open offers left. The Wildcats are still looking at the class’ top prospect 6-foot-11 center James Wiseman along with Carey, Lewis, Lecque, and Hurt. They are also interested in Keion Brooks among others.

Florida Gators

Florida brought in high-quality recruits in 2018, led by five-star point guard Andrew Nembhardt. Top-100 prospects Noah Locke and Keyontae Johnson are the Gators other incoming freshmen.

Florida has yet to receive any commitments from the class of 2019. The Gators are looking at the usual prospects, but appear to be focusing on 6-foot-1 point guard Tre Mann. They are also interested in five-star wing Christian Brown and four-star point guard Kyle Sturdivant.

Head coach Mike White is gaining steam with Lewis and Aidan Igiehon, as well as Kissimmee native Omar Payne.

UF is expected to have at least three scholarships available for next season.

Villanova Wildcats

The Wildcats, who unexpectedly lost Omari Spellman and Donte DiVincenzo to the NBA draft, have four players currently signed for the upcoming season. 5-star point guard Jahvon Quinerly is the Cats top recruit. Villanova also added top-75 players Cole Swider and Brandon Slater.

Villanova has already received two hard commits from the class of 2019. Shooting guard Justin Moore and power forward Eric Dixon are the two players who have already committed to the program. Besides Antoine, the Wildcats are showing supreme interest in Lewis and Lecque. Villanova was expected to have four spots available, but with the hard commits from Moore and Dixon, they now have two scholarships left.

Next: Duke's 2019 recruiting targets

Whoever lands Antoine will be extremely happy. He is a gifted player than can be an immediate impact guy no matter where he goes. Of course, with choices like these, that is expected.

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