NCAA Basketball: Ranking teams in play for 2022 guard Jalen Hood-Schifino

4. Wake Forest Demon Deacons

As the “hometown” option, the Deacons will be leaning on having the guard stay close. And with neither Duke nor North Carolina seemingly involved with this recruitment (for now), this is a real chance for head coach Steve Forbes to steal a top-30 talent. He’d join an already crowded backcourt, even with leading scorer Davien Williamson leaving after next season.

Top-100 ball-handlers Carter Whitt and Robert McCray will be underclassmen rotational pieces, while Damari Monsanto and freshmen Lucas Taylor and Cameron Hildreth are joining the program for the upcoming season. Hood-Schifino has more talent on paper but Wake Forest is rebuilding and it’ll take time before they’re ready to compete in the ACC. And if either Whitt or McCray breaks out as a lead guard, then the situation will change when it comes to potential roles for all the guards.

3. Pittsburgh Panthers

If it wasn’t for the fact that the guard originally committed to this coaching staff, the Panthers would be dead last on this list. The team is rebuilding again after losing their top three scorers, including star Justin Champagnie to the NBA. The one positive is that head coach Jeff Capel has shown he can develop players at Pittsburgh, even if the wins haven’t been coming.

Could Hood-Schifino pick the Panthers twice? Playing time will have to serve a big part in this. Transfer Jamarius Burton can play three positions if he opts to stay more than one year and unless Femi Odukale breaks out next season, the top-30 guard can easily slide in as the team’s starting point guard. He’d have plenty of playing time and a clear role but wouldn’t be in the best position to win.