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NCAA Basketball Recruiting: 2020 5-star Jaden Springer down to 3 schools

By Daniel Benjamin

MEMPHIS, TN - MARCH 14: A general view of a basketball going through a net during a game against the Connecticut Huskies and the Cincinnati Bearcats during the semifinals of the American Athletic Conference Tournament at FedExForum on March 14, 2014 in Memphis, Tennessee. Connecticut defeated Cincinnati 58-56. (Photo by Joe Murphy/Getty Images)
MEMPHIS, TN - MARCH 14: A general view of a basketball going through a net during a game against the Connecticut Huskies and the Cincinnati Bearcats during the semifinals of the American Athletic Conference Tournament at FedExForum on March 14, 2014 in Memphis, Tennessee. Connecticut defeated Cincinnati 58-56. (Photo by Joe Murphy/Getty Images) /
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This edition of the NCAA Basketball Recruiting Notebook will look at 2021 five-star center Nate Bittle and 2020 four-star Jaden Springer recent recruiting news.

2021 consensus top-17 NCAA Basketball prospect Nate Bittle has a busy upcoming week as he hosts some of the top programs for in-home visits. Bittle was paid a visit by Oregon’s coaching staff on Sept. 9, per Stockrisers’ Jake Weingarten. Coaching staffs from Arizona, UCLA, and Virginia are expected to make trips to Central Point (OR) at some point this week.

The 6-11 center is extra-long possessing a 7-5 wingspan. Bittle has a complete game as he is very skilled and can stretch the floor with his shooting ability. Bittle also has an excellent mid-range with the fadeaway jumper being one of his go-to-moves. However, the Crater high school product does need to add muscle to his frame.

Bittle is a five-star recruit that is rated in the top-15 of his class rankings by each of the four major recruiting services. The top prospect in the state of Oregon is ranked 12th in his class by 247Sports, 14th by 247Sports Composite, and 15th by ESPN. Rivals have him at No. 17.

The 16-year-old holds 11 total offers from Vanderbilt, Georgia Tech, Wake Forest, Cincinnati, Arizona, Cal, USC, Oregon, Tulane, and Portland.

Bittle is slated to take part in USA Basketball mini-camp from Oct. 11-13. He will be joined there by several other top 2021 prospects, Devin Askew, Patrick Baldwin, Paola Banchero, Jaylen Blakes, Wilhelm Breidenbach, Kendall Brown, Kennedy Chandler, Max Christie, Jerrell Colbert, Damion Collins, Keon Edwards, Caleb Furst, Jackson Grant, Jaden Hardy, Zion Harmon, Will Jeffress, Bensley Joseph, Trevor Keels, Khristian Lander, Langston Love, and Peyton Watson.

Jaden Springer cancels two of his official visits

2020 five-star wing Jaden Springer canceled his official visits to Florida and UNC, according to his father Gary, on Sept 9. Meaning that he is now down to just Michigan, Memphis, and Tennessee.

Springer took his official visit to Michigan on Aug. 30. While on the visit, he watched the 10th -ranked Wolverines’ football team roll over Middle Tennessee State (40-21). The Charlotte (NC) native was not the only UM target at the Wolverines’ opening football game. As five-star center Walker Kessler and three-star Jace Howard, who is the son of coach Juwon Howard, were also in attendance.

Springer is physicality gifted and plays with a high-motor. The 6-5 guard is at his best when attacking the rim although he possesses an elite mid-range game as well. He is also a good athlete who is capable of playing above the rim and guard multiple positions defensively.

Springer has seen his stock dip just a little over the last two months. He slipped a few spots in each of the four major recruiting services with his most significant drop coming from ESPN where he went from 14th to 17th. The IMG Academy (FL) is slated at No. 14 by Rivals, No. 16 by 247Sports, and No. 15 by 247Sports Composite.

Evan Daniels of 247Sports  tweeted that Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes an assistant coach was at IMG Academy to see Springer on Sept. 9. Springer will take his official visit to Memphis on Sept. 14, and then to Tennessee on Oct. 5. He could make a decision shortly after the Oct. 5 visit.

Tennessee is considered the prohibited favorite to obtain Springer’s service, but Michigan shouldn’t be discounted.

Other recruiting tidbits

  • Top-3 2020 guard Jalen Green will receive a visit from Auburn coach Bruce Pearl on Sept. 16. Green is slated to take his official visit to Auburn on Sept. 26.
  • Pittsburgh and Georgetown went four-deep for 2020 four-star point guard R.J. Davis (White Plains, NY)on Sept.9. Coach Jeff Capel and the Panthers’ coaching staff also had an in-home visit with Davis.
  • Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski and associate head coach Jon Scheyer were in to see 2021 Adrian Griffin Jr. (Ossining, NY) on Sept.9.

Next. Programs underrated at recruiting. dark

  • Iowa State’s coaching staff had an in-home visit with four-star point guard Hunter Sallis (Omaha, NE). The 6-3 lead guard is ranked among the top-55 prospects by 247Sports and 247Sports Composite. Sallis holds 11 offers with Missouri and California being the latest to offer. He is slated to take an unofficial to Iowa State on the weekend of Sept. 13.
  • 2020 Marquette commit Justin Lewis (Baltimore, MD), who is a top-100, received an in-home visit from head coach  Steve Wojciechowski and the entire Golden Eagles’ coaching staff.
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