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NCAA Basketball Recruiting: 2019 prospect Ismael Massoud looking hard at five schools

By Daniel Benjamin

SAN DIEGO, CA - MARCH 18: Head coach Bruce Pearl of the Auburn Tigers reacts as they take on the Clemson Tigers in the first half during the second round of the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Viejas Arena on March 18, 2018 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Donald Miralle/Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO, CA - MARCH 18: Head coach Bruce Pearl of the Auburn Tigers reacts as they take on the Clemson Tigers in the first half during the second round of the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Viejas Arena on March 18, 2018 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Donald Miralle/Getty Images) /
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LEXINGTON, KY – DECEMBER 02: Tommy Amaker, head coach of the Harvard Crimson, watches from the bench during the second half of the game between the Kentucky Wildcats and the Harvard Crimson at Rupp Arena on December 2, 2017 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Bobby Ellis/Getty Images)
LEXINGTON, KY – DECEMBER 02: Tommy Amaker, head coach of the Harvard Crimson, watches from the bench during the second half of the game between the Kentucky Wildcats and the Harvard Crimson at Rupp Arena on December 2, 2017 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Bobby Ellis/Getty Images) /

Here is a look at each of the five finalists.

Auburn: Coach Bruce Pearl has done an excellent job since taking over the Tigers program. Auburn is 70-62 under the direction of the 58-year-old, which includes going 26-8 and 13-5 in SEC play in 2017-18. Last year marked the Tigers first appearance in the NCAA Tournament in 15 years and their first SEC regular-season crown since 1999.

Pearl also has had a lot success in recruiting. He recently got a commitment from 2019 four-star recruit Jaylin Williams per College Basketball Today. If Williams does in fact join the Tigers, he will be the 10th player that was a consensus four or five-star recruit that Pearl has signed.

Pearl has received four commitments from the class of 2019. Four-star Allen Flanigan, son of former Auburn star Wes Flanigan, along with Isaac Okoro and Babatunde Akingbola are the other players to make a pledge to the team. The Tigers are projected to have one scholarship left next year. Although juniors Austin Wiley and Danjel Purifoy could forego their final year of eligibility and enter the 2019 NBA draft. Thus creating space for two more scholarships players.

Here is what Massoud told Evan Daniels of 247Sports about the Tigers: “They have a great coach, a great culture. They’ve been really good in the SEC as of late. I feel like coach [Bruce] Pearl knows how to develop players and get them to the next level.

Harvard: The Crimson obviously do not give out athletic scholarships. But Massoud said that the academic aspect of attending the Ivy League school is very intriguing.

Harvard has done well since Tommy Amaker took over the program, posting a 211-118 record overall including 106-48 in conference play since the beginning of the 2007-08 campaign. They have captured three league titles and shared three others while reaching the NCAA Tournament four times. The Crimson advanced to the Round of 32 in 2013 and 2014.

Harvard already has two commitments from the 2019 class in 6-foot-4 guard Idan Tretrout and 6-foot-9 Ciaran Brayboy, a three-star center from Winnetka, Ill.

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