NCAA Basketball Recruiting: Pros and cons for Jalen Cone's final teams

NCAA Basketball Recruiting: Pros and cons for Jalen Cone’s final teams

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - MARCH 13: Head coach Kevin Keatts of the NC State Wolfpack reacts during their game against the Clemson Tigers in the second round of the 2019 Men's ACC Basketball Tournament at Spectrum Center on March 13, 2019 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

2 of 6

WINSTON-SALEM, NORTH CAROLINA – FEBRUARY 26: Brandon Childress #0 of the Wake Forest Demon Deacons reacts after a play against the Miami (Fl) Hurricanes during their game at LJVM Coliseum Complex on February 26, 2019 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

Wake Forest Demon Deacons

Pros

Even with the program’s struggles, head coach Danny Manning still has some cache to his name as a former college great and NBA pro. And assuming Jaylen Hoard makes it to the first round, that’ll be two Wake Forest players in the last three years (John Collins in 2017) to get drafted that high. Cone could end up like another program great Chris Paul, who will end up as an all-time pro legend as well.

The Demon Deacons are also guard-heavy, so Cone will also get a chance to thrive. And even without Hoard, this team returns four of their top five scorers from 2018-19, giving them hope for a winning season.

Cons

But like Coach Christian at Boston College, Manning is also in real danger of losing his job. Some argued that he should’ve been fired after going 11-20 this past campaign. What’s saving him is the big extension he signed a couple of years ago but another losing season may not save him. That’s something to consider for Cone.

It’ll also be tough for him to get minutes out the gate. Leading scorer and passer Brandon Childress will be returning, along with underclassmen Chaundee Brown and Sharone Wright Jr. Unless Cone can play multiple positions, he’ll have to sit behind Childress for another year. But by then, will he have to deal with a new head coach?

Home/NCAA Basketball News