Top available NCAA Basketball grad transfer Kerry Blackshear is still mauling over his options.
In this edition of the NCAA Basketball Daily Recruiting Notebook, I will examine Kerry Blackshear’s current recruiting options. I will also look at Duke’s 2019 recruiting class as well as several movers and shakers that made decisions about their future on June 7.
It was widely known that Virginia Tech grad transfer Kerry Blackshear would have his pick of suitors when the 6’10”, 250-pound power forward decided to enter the NCAA transfer portal following coach Buzz Williams’ departure to Texas A&M. It is just a little surprising that it is taking this long for him to choose a destination.
Blackshear, ESPN’s No. 1 rated grad transfer, has improved in each of seasons with the Hokies, producing 14.9 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 2.4 assists while shooting 50.8% from the field last year. He also produced 10 double-doubles and scored in double-figures in 28 of his 35 contests, topping the 20-point plateau on seven occasions.
The 2018-19 third team all-ACC selection does most of his offensive work in the interior, although he does possess good handles and has shown the ability to play in the high post where he can create from himself as well as others. Blackshear likes to be in attack mode and will punish defenders at the rim. He has developed into an excellent offensive rebounder and is an above-average rebounder overall.
Teams in the running to land Kerry Blackshear
Kentucky, Florida, and Texas A&M have basically been involved in Blackshear’s recruitment from the beginning. Blackshear took his first campus visit ye to Florida (June 6) and then the news came out that the Arkansas Razorbacks are now a possible destination, according to the Stadium’s Jeff Goodman. Goodman added that Gonzaga and Tennessee are trying to get involved as well.
Not sure it really matters if anyone else gets involved, although Blackshear would fit nicely with the Zags. But ultimately, it will likely come down to whether he wants to go “back home” to Florida or would he rather play for John Calipari at Kentucky. It appears that Texas A&M is out of consideration because one would think that if Blackshear really wanted to be an Aggie, he would have already signed.
Blackshear had an in-home visit with Calipari in April.
Tennessee is an interesting case as the Volunteers do need some frontcourt help. The Volunteers currently have a full roster meaning that someone on scholarship would have to leave, if Blackshear does agree to go to Knoxville.
The question ultimately becomes does Blackshear find the Vols appealing enough without Jordan Bone and Grant Williams, both of whom remained in the NBA draft. Coach Rick Barnes filled those two spots with transfers Victor Bailey Jr. and Uros Plavsic, however, neither of those players are eligible to play this upcoming season.
Gonzaga is in a similar situation as Tennessee, but with a lot more talent. The Bulldogs lost a boatload of experience and talent, however, they brought in a great recruiting class, including grad transfer Admon Gilder, and caught a break with the return of Killian Tillie. Plus, the Zags still have former four-star recruits Corey Kispert and Filip Petrusev — both of whom had solid seasons last year.
Gonzaga currently has two scholarships available following the recent departure of freshman point guard Greg Foster Jr. The Bulldogs are also in the mix for grad transfer Derryck Thornton, who took a campus visit at the end of May, and Stanford sit-out transfer Cormac Ryan. Ryan averaged 8.7 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.9 assists for the Cardinal last season as he shot 33.3% from the field. He is reportedly considering is considering Butler, Davidson, Marquette, Northwestern, Notre Dame, Penn, Texas, Villanova, Virginia, and Yale as well.
I believe that the allure of Kentucky is just too much for Blackshear to pass up, so that is where I think he will ultimately end up. Florida is a close second even though I do believe Gonzaga could overtake the Gators for the second spot if they get involved.
Michael Savarino to play for grampa Mike Krzyzewski at Duke
Mike Krzyzewski added another player to the Duke Blue Devils 2019 recruiting class on June 6. This recruit, Michael Savarino, is really special to Krzyzewski as he is his grandson. Savarino will join the Blue Devils as a walk-on.
“He’s earned it,” Krzyzewski told reporters. “Michael was a really good player at Durham Academy, well-coached there, they had their best season ever. Played on a talented team this year. Michael is a leader, he’s a good shooter, player. He’s also an outstanding student.
The 6′ point guard, who is Krzyzewski’s oldest daughter Debbie’s son, averaged 7.3 points along with 3.6 rebounds, 2.9 assists as well as 1.2 steals at Durham (NC) Academy.
Savarino is the fifth member of the Blue Devils recent recruiting class, which is ranked among the top-five in the nation. He joins Vernon Carey, Matthew Hurt, Wendell Moore, and Cassius Stanley.
More recruiting news
- Grad transfer Eric Hamilton signed with the Pitt Panthers on June 6. The 6’9″ power forward paid a visit to the campus, which is located in the Oakland section of the city, on Tuesday. Hamilton started his career at Wichita State and spent last season at UNCG, where he averaged 6.1 points, on 59.1% shooting, and 4.4 rebounds while averaging 16.1 minutes off the bench. Hamilton will provide a big boost a Panthers frontcourt that is in need of bodies. Pitt still has two scholarships available for the upcoming season and are looking at several prospects.
- Kenyon Martin Jr. decided to turn pro rather than play at Vanderbilt on June 6. Martin, whose father by the same name played 15 years in the NBA, was a consensus three-star recruit out of Canyon Sierra (Calif.) High School — where he averaged 16.4 points and nine rebounds as a senior. The 6’6″ forward is the second player to skip college following RJ Hampton. Martin’s departure leaves Vanderbilt with two scholarships available for the upcoming season. Coach Jerry Stackhouse’s first recruiting class currently consists of four players and is headlined by 6’1″ four-star point guard Scotty Pippen Jr. Four-star Dylan Disu along with three-star Jordan Wright and Oton Jankovic is the Commodores other players in the class.
- 6’6″ wing Bret Porter (Omaha, Neb.) will join the Nebraska Cornhuskers as a preferred walk-on. Porter, who tore his ACL in the spring of 2018, averaged 6.2 points and 4.4 rebounds in 21 games for Millard North last season. The Huskers first-year coach Fred Hoiberg has brought in several transfers including grad students in Haanif Cheatham and Matej Kavas. Hoiberg, who has one more scholarship available for the upcoming campaign, has four freshmen in his 2019 recruiting class
- Oregon has had a relatively busy week on the transfer market, inking New Mexico grad transfer Anthony Mathis on June 6. The Ducks hosted UNLV transfer Shakur Juiston on Wednesday and is expected to host Rutgers’ transfer Eugene Omoruyi at some point. Omoruyi was a major contributor for the Scarlet Knights last year, leading the team with 13.8 points along with 7.2 caroms a contest. He will have one year of eligibility remaining after sitting out the upcoming campaign. Omoruyi took a visit to Texas A&M on Tuesday.
- Sophomore point guard Greg Foster Jr. announced that he will be transferring from Gonzaga on June. The 6’5″ athletic lead guard finished the year with 19 points, 12 assists and 11 rebounds in limited action. He Foster’s father, Greg Sr., played several years in the NBA and is currently an assistant coach with the Atlanta Hawks.
- 2020 6’5″ shooting guard C.J. Wilcher (Elizabeth, NJ) committed to Xavier on June 7. He averaged 17.7 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 2.3 assists while shooting 39 percent from deep (65 threes) last year at St. Benedict’s Wilcher is Xavier’s second 2020 commitment, selecting the Muskateers over Cincinnati, Minnesota, Providence and Minnesota, among others.
- 2020 consensus four-star prospect Justin Powell committed to Auburn on June 7. He chose Auburn over several other high-major offers including Xavier, Ohio State, and Georgia Tech.
- Arizona landed 6’11” Nevada transfer Jordan Brown on Friday. Brown, who is very skilled, will have three years of eligibility remaining after sitting out in 2019-20. A former McDonald’s All-American selection, he saw limited time last year and averaged 3.0 points along with 2.1 rebounds.
- Former North Carolina point guard Seventh Woods has decided to transfer to South Carolina. The 6’1″ Columbia (SC) native is heading home after three unproductive years at UNC where he averaged 1.8 points in 94 appearances. He will join a crowded backcourt in 2020-21 as he must sit out this upcoming season.
- Sophomore forward Josh Mballa has chosen to transfer from Texas Tech to Buffalo. The 6’7″ Frenchman averaged 3.4 minutes over 17 games as a freshman for the Red Raiders.
- 2018 four-star recruit J’Raan Brooks has chosen to transfer to Washington. Brooks spent last season at USC, averaging 2.0 points and 1.3 rebounds while shooting 44.2% from the field and 35.3% from beyond the arc in less than nine minutes a game of 28 contests.