NCAA Basketball Recruiting: Analyzing 2020 F Taj Thweatt's final 8 teams

NCAA Basketball Recruiting: Analyzing 2020 F Taj Thweatt’s final 8 teams

JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA - MARCH 21: Members of the Seton Hall Pirates bench react in the second half against the Wofford Terriers during the first round of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena on March 21, 2019 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /

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NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 02: Stevens (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /

Miami Hurricanes

After a rough season with very little depth, Miami’s roster is in much better shape for the next couple of years. Florida grad transfer Keith Stone joins Sam Waardenburg in the frontcourt, with Cincinatti transfer Nysier Brooks coming in for the 2020-21 season. The backcourt is solid as well, led by leading scorer Chris Lykes and Oklahoma transfer Kameron McGusty, who averaged 17 ppg per 40 minutes in his first two seasons. The Hurricanes also have a pair of four-star combo guards coming in Harlond Beverly and Isaiah Wong.

McGusty would likely start out at the small forward spot for the next couple of seasons but Thweatt can provide real depth at that spot. Freshman wing Anthony Mack transferred out this offseason so Miami could use more talent. Head coach Jim Larranaga is good at developing talent and would benefit from a solid role player on the wings. This would be a good landing spot for the recruit who won’t have to do too much to start out, before getting a bigger role later on.

Penn State Nittany Lions

This is a program in a unique situation. Head coach Pat Chambers isn’t on the “hot seat” but his position is far from safe with the Nittany Lions. But he’s still recruiting at a strong level, just recently landing three-star guard Dallion Johnson for the 2020 class. Thweatt joining him would be a nice coup for Penn State and with Oklahoma State transfer Curtis Jones eligible after next season, the roster would be able to withstand the future absence of All-Big Ten forward Lamar Stevens.

The thing is, Penn State should be fine at the small forward position without Thweatt. Seth Lundy is a heralded three-star wing commit that should have a sizable role next season. Patrick Kelly is another small forward prospect coming in for depth purposes and St. Bonaventure transfer Izaiah Brockington could have a bigger impact than expected. So unless Thweatt is able to outperform Lundy, that position would be clogged up for years with the Nittany Lions.

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