Which teams are five-star NCAA Basketball prospect Paolo Banchero scheduled to visit? Find out that in this latest recruiting roundup.
Top-5 2021 NCAA Basketball forward Paolo Banchero announced, on Aug. 20, that he will use all five of the official visits that he is permitted by the NCAA this year. Banchero will take official visits to UNC, Kentucky, Duke, Tennessee, and Gonzaga.
Banchero started the AAU spring season with a bang and continued to play well throughout the summer, finishing with over 21 points and 11 rebounds a game. In June, the 6-9 power forward took home MVP honors from the prestigious NBPA Top 100 camp and then was among the standout performers at USA Basketball Mini-Camp at the end of July.
The Seattle (Wash.) native is not a huge post player, weighing in at 235 pounds, but does possess decent length and a durable frame, according to 247Sports. Banchero can score in the low-post where he has a nice touch. However, he is the most efficient when he operates out of the high post as he can knock down jumpers, beat post defenders off the dribble, and hit cutters. The O’Dea high school product is also a terrific rebounder and capable rim protector.
Banchero is highly thought of and is ranked by the premier scouting services accordingly. He is ranked the third-best prospect in the nation by ESPN. Both Rivals and 247Sports Composite has him ranked fourth in the country while 247Sports has him fifth. There is a chance that Banchero may reclassify to 2020.
Banchero holds 16 offers with Oklahoma State being the latest to make an overture on Aug. 21. He will start his visits at UNC (Sept. 27-29) when the Tar Heels hold their annual late night with Roy and the football team at home versus Clemson. A few weeks later, he will visit Kentucky (Oct. 11-13) during their Big Blue Madness. He will then visit Duke (Oct. 17-20), Tennessee (Oct. 25-27), and Gonzaga (January 18-19). Just because those five received official visits doesn’t make them a lock as one of Banchero’s finalists. In fact, Washington is the overwhelming favorite to obtain his services.
Jalen Bridges sets visits
Top-100 2020 prospect Jalen Bridges announced that he is down to five schools on Aug. 24, which are Alabama, Indiana, Miami, West Virginia and Xavier. The 6-7 versatile combo forward is long and athletic who is also an excellent finisher at the rim. He is a strong 3-point shooter with a quick release and ever-improving handles. In addition, Bridges can create offense when facing up to the basket and defend multiple positions.
247Sports Composite and 247Sports have Bridges ranked 75th and 67 in the nation. He is ranked 72nd by ESPN and 93rd by Rivals.
Breaking down the five finalist
West Virginia: The Fairmont (WV) native will begin his official visits during Labor Day Weekend in Morgantown. Bridges has taken an unofficial to WVU as well as several other times. The Mountaineers have two 2020 scholarships left after receiving a commitment from 6-9 power forward Isaiah Cottrell (Las Vegas, Nev.). They most definitely could use help at small forward.
Alabama: Like the Mountaineers, the Crimson Tide have made Bridges a priority. Bridges will make an official trip to Sept. 6. Alabama has one scholarship available in 2020 and could use help at both forwards spots.
Xavier: The Muskateers have also made Bridges a priority, and he will take his official visit to the Cincinnati campus on September 13. He has previously taken an unofficial to Xavier.
The Muskateers have three commitments from the 2020 class, including 6-2 three-star-plus point guard Dwon Odom (Alpharetta, Geo.), four-star shooting guard Caleb Wilcher (Plainfield, NJ) and three-star shooting guard Colby Jones (Pinson, Ala.). They currently have no scholarships available for next year.
Miami: The Hurricanes will receive a visit from Bridges on Sept. 20. Miami has also made Bridges a priority, and they could use a small forward. The Hurricanes have four scholarships available in 2020.
Indiana: Bridges will make his final trip to Bloomington for Hoosier Hysteria during the weekend of Oct. 5. Indiana could use depth at both forward positions, but those two positions are not a priority. The Hoosiers have two 2020 commitments in three-star guards Anthony Leal and Trey Galloway, leaving them with two more scholarships left.
Prediction: West Virginia, Miami, and Indiana all have been predicted by 247Sports and Rivals experts as a destination for Bridges. I believe that WVU is probably No. 1 on his list followed by Miami, Indiana, and then Alabama. Xavier is last by a significant margin, I think.
Matt Murrell down to five schools
Consensus four-star 2020 guard Matthew Murrell disclosed his top five schools on Aug. 23. The 6-4 shooting guard is now down to Vanderbilt, Florida, Ole Miss, Auburn, and Texas. He is ranked between 42 and 47 by all four major recruiting services.
Murrell is a very athletic scorer who possesses a nice physique, which allows him to bully his way to the rim and finish both above and below the cylinder. He has nice handles and is capable of creating space. The Memphis (Tenn.) native shoots the ball well off the bounce and is a sharpshooter from beyond the arc. Murrell is also a solid defender.
Murrell had an excellent AAU campaign, leading Team Chad to UAA Finals Championship as he tallied 31 points (19 in the first half) in the championship game. Murrell has left Whitehaven high school for IMG Academy for his senior year.
Looking at the five finalists
Vanderbilt: Murrell has been one of the Commodores top targets for a while. And his former HS coach Faragi Phillips is now an assistant on Jerry Stackhouse’s staff. Vandy is projected to have at least two scholarships available in 2020, and they need a shooting guard with 6-5 freshman Jordan Wright, the only player currently at the 2. The Dores are still in the mix for other shooting guards such as four-star Jayden Stone (Perth, Australia), three-star Kerwin Walton (Minnetonka, Minn) and two-star Jermontae Hill (Atlanta, Geo.).
Texas: The Longhorns are expected to have two scholarships for 2020. Shooting guard is not a major priority for UT in 2020 as part-time starter Jase Febres will be a senior. Coach Shaka Smart brought in four-star recruit Donovan Williams in this year. Plus, the Longhorns offered 2020 junior college wing prospect Sardaar Calhoun ( CollegeMissouri State University-West Plains) a scholarship on Aug. 26.
Murrell is way down on the Longhorns list as they are also eyeing 2020 shooting guards five-star Brooke Thompson (Tulsa, Okla.), four-star Moses Moody (Little Rock, Ark.), four-star Kyree Walker (Moreau, Calif.) and Watson.
Auburn: The Tigers will have 6-4 redshirt sophomore Jamal Johnson and four-star freshman Allen Flanigan (Little Rock, Ark.) at shooting guard for years to come. While they may still add another shooting guard, Auburn is projected to have four more scholarships available next year. The Tigers do have a commitment from four-star combo guard Justin Powell (Louisville, Kentucky). The Tigers are also interested in 6-8 five-star wing Isaiah Jackson (Waterford, Mich.) along with Moody among others.
Florida: The Gators have three players, Andrew Nemhardt along with Noah Locke and Keyontae Johnson, who will have two years of eligibility left after the upcoming season. But none of the three may be back for the 2020-21 campaign. The Gators are also a top option for several other big-time prospects like Niels Lane (Freehold, NJ), Cade Cunningham (Arlington, Texas), Jaden Springer (Charlotte, NC), and Dudley Blackwell (Miami, Fla.). UF is expected to have at least two scholarships in 2020.
Ole Miss: The Rebels are not currently expected to have any scholarships available in 2020. They are relatively interested in Murrell, but it seems like a long shot.
Prediction: Vandy is the unquestioned leader, and it would be a shock if they don’t seal the deal. I would say that Florida is a distant second followed closely by Texas and Auburn. Ole Miss is fifth.
Other recruiting notes
Consensus three-plus 2020 Marcus Watson Jr. (Chicago, Ill.) committed to Wake Forest on Aug. 21. The 5-11 point also held offers from Chicago State, Valparaiso, Illinois, Green Bay, Oakland, and Northern Illinois. He is ranked as a three-star prospect by Rivals (No. 146 overall) and 247Sports (No. 147). Meanwhile, ESPN and 247Sports Composite (No. 118) have graded out as four-stars.
Former Arkansas Razorback forward Gabe Osabuohien transferred to West Virginia on Aug. 19. The 6-8 Toronto (Can.) native upped his production during his sophomore campaign, producing 3.1 points and 3.2 rebounds in 34 appearances with eight starts last year.
2020 four-star point guard Andre Cuberlo (Puerto Rico)was offered by Oregon and Texas A&M on Aug. 20. The 6-0 Long Island Lutheran Middle and High School product holds 27 offers including Kansas, Wake Forest, Texas Tech, Maryland, and TCU, among others.
Consensus four-star Demarr Langford (Wolfeboro, NH) received an offer from NC State on Aug. 21. The 6-4 wing is considered a top-115 player in the class as he is slated ranked No.82 by ESPN and Rivals. Meanwhile, he is rated 83rd by 247Sports Consensus and 114th by 247Sports. Langford holds 14 offers including Texas A&M, New Mexico State, WVU, and Texas Tech.
2020 6-6 shooting guard Samson Ruzhentsev (Russia) is down to Georgia Tech, Ole Miss, Florida, Stanford, and Illinois.
Vanderbilt has offered a pair of 2022 point guards– Skyy Clark (Los Angeles) and Bobby Thornton Jr. (Atlanta, Geor.).
2020 four-star 6-7 shooting guard Caleb Lohner (Flower Mound, Texas) committed to Utah on Aug. 26.
2022 6-7 power forward Taylor Hendricks (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) received an offer from Florida on Aug. 24. It is his second offer that he has received with Miami (Fla.) being the other.
2021 6-11 center Charles Bediako (Canada) received an offer from WVU. Bediako holds nine offers with Maryland, TCU, Providence, and Ohio State has offered him since July.
2020 junior college prospect Sardaar Calhoun received an offer from Alabama on Aug. 22. Calhoun holds five offers including Texas, Georgia, Florida State, and Seton Hall.
2022 point guard D’Ante Davis (Indianapolis, Ind.) received a scholarship offer from Xavier on Aug. 24. Davis also holds an offer from Nebraska.