NCAA Basketball Recruiting: Kansas, Arizona among those interested in Paola Banchero
Top-tier 2021 NCAA Basketball recruit Paola Banchero will likely draw more interest from high major schools after being named MVP at NBPA Top 100 camp.
Paola Banchero closed out a strong spring EYBL session with an exceptional performance at the elite NBPA Top 100 camp, which brings together the top 100 high school prospects together regardless of class. The five-star prospect showed that he is one of the most skilled and versatile forwards in the nation, averaging 16 points and over six boards a game to take home MVP honors at the event.
The 6-8, 230-pound forward discussed his game with Ari Rosenfeld of ZAGSBLOG.
"“I’m kind a stretch, do-it-all ‘4’, and I can play the ‘3’ too.I can kind of do whatever, play on the wing or play inside, but if it was up to me I would prefer kind of in the midrange, 16-17 feet out, and just kind of operate from there.”"
Joining Banchero on the All-Top 100 Camp was 2020 class members Dwon Odom, B.J. Boston, Jabri Abdur-Rahim, R.J. Davis, Bryce Thompson, Ian Martinez, Joe Bamisile, and Mady Sissoko. Devin Askew, Zion Harmon, and Chet Holmgren are members of the Class of 2021 who also made the All-Camp team. Odom (Xavier), Martinez (Utah) and Bamisile (Northwestern) have verbally committed to schools. Meanwhile, Holmgren was named the Playoff MVP.
Banchero is a consensus top six player in the country. He is ranked sixth in his class by 247Sports and ESPN while 247Sports Composite has him slated at No. 5 and Rivals has him at No. 4 in their rankings.
The Seattle (Wash.) native holds nine scholarship offers after Kentucky made him an overture on June 18. Arizona, Iowa State, Kansas, Memphis, Oklahoma, Oregon State, USC, Vanderbilt, and Washington are the other schools that have offered him. Memphis, Gonzaga, Kansas, Arizona, Washington, and Oregon State are reportedly the most heavily involved, although Duke and North Carolina could get in the mix as well.
Cade Cunningham plans to cut list down to five
Team USA U19 combo guard Cade Cunningham recently told Jacob Polacheck of ZAGSBLOG that he wants to cut his college list down from the current 10 schools to five soon. The 6-7 wing is currently considering Duke, Kentucky, Kansas, Memphis, Florida, North Carolina, Texas, Oklahoma State, Virginia, and Washington.
So, what is the consensus 2020 top 10 prospect looking for when making his college choice?
"“I want to play for a coach that is going to let me play my game. Obviously, a school that is going to compete right away for a national championship. I want to win my first year.There are a lot of things. I want to play for a team that plays defense, for sure. Those are the teams that win. Good coaches. I feel that all the schools in my top ten have great coaches. Just a coach that is going to let me do what I do.”"
2021 point guard Noah Harris picked up his second scholarship offer
6-foot junior point guard Noah Harris was offered a scholarship by Robert Morris on June 21, per
. Harris averaged 11.4 points, 5.4 assists, 2.7 rebounds, 3.0 treys and 1.3 steals a game last season for Rutgers Prep. He scored in double-figures in 14 of his 27 appearances, topping the 20-point plateau on three occasions. The Somerset (NJ) native, who also holds an offer from Rider.
Harris possesses a high-motor and is an excellent ball-handler and 3-point shooter. Athleticism, court vision and decision-making ability are also a strength of his. However, lateral quickness, on-ball defense, and upper-body strength are an issue.
UCF signs a pair of transfers
The UCF Golden Knights dramatically improved their backcourt depth by signing a pair of transfers recently in Dazon Ingram and Brandon Mahan. Ingram is eligible immediately while Mahan will have to sit out the upcoming campaign after transferring from Texas A&M.
Ingram, who committed to UCF in April, will be expected to be a major contributor for the Golden Knights who lost their top three players from their NCAA tournament team this past season as well as Terrell Allen, who has transferred to Georgetown. The 6-6 guard averaged 7.1 points along with 3.8 rebounds and 2.4 assists for Alabama as a redshirt junior.
UCF is the third school for Mahan, who spent his freshman season at Chipola College (FL). The 6-5 guard averaged 5.9 points and 2.8 boards in 30 games, including 20 starts for the Aggies last year.
UCF is coming off perhaps the best season in Division I history, winning 24 games and reaching the second round of the NCAA tournament. The Knights will have 10 newcomers on their roster this season. In addition to Ingram and Mahan, Moses Bol, Ibrahim Famouke
Doumbia, Avery Diggs, Dre Fuller Jr., Darin Green Jr., Matt Milon, Tony Johnson Jr., and Yuat Akot. Doumbia and Fuller redshirted last season. Akot will have to sit out the first semester of the season after transferring from TCU midseason last year. Green and Johnson are incoming freshmen.
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More recruiting tidbits
- Kennesaw State offered a scholarship to St. Pius X (GA) 2022 guard Chase Cormier (Atlanta) on June 21.
- 2020 5-11 point guard Jalen Cook committed to LSU.
- Former VCU guard Peter Byrd transferred to Colorado State.
- 2019 6-2 point guard Jamir Reed committed to Penn.
- 2021 Jaylen Stinson (Philadelphia) picked up his fourth scholarship offer on June 21. He now holds offers from Stony Brook, Binghamton, Mississippi Valley State, and Siena.