NCAA Basketball Recruiting: Ranking 10 contenders for top-50 Isaac Traudt

The state of Nebraska has been providing a fair amount of future NCAA Basketball, including current recruiting class five-star prospect Hunter Sallis. Next year’s 2022 class features another top-50 overall prospect in Isaac Traudt, the state’s top overall player.

Traudt is a 6’9 power forward from Grand Island Senior School, known to be a really good shooter and overall scorer. Capable of playing both forward positions, he’s above average in just about every category and projects to being a 3-4 year starter at the power conference level.

And those are the teams that are currently after Traudt. Some of the biggest names from the midwest and all over the country are making efforts to land the forward, with several already landing official visits starting in the month of June.

While the recruiting is still in its early stages, we have an idea of which teams are in the picture to land the four-star recruit. Here’s how I would rank them in terms of ideal fits.

10. Missouri Tigers

The Tigers went through a complete roster turnover, losing their top four scorers from this past season. Just Kobe Brown and Javon Pickett remain, joined by several offseason transfers, including UMass power forward Ronnie DeGray III. There’s little frontcourt depth currently so expect a lot of small-ball from Missouri next season.

So there is a potential for lots of playing time for Traudt if he picked the Tigers but unless some unexpected starpower joins him in the 2022 class, he may end up in the bottom of a strong SEC Basketball league. It’s hard to envision this being a real long-term option, despite the early interest.

9. Kansas Jayhawks

Kansas is one of the biggest programs in NCAA Basketball and any player would be interested in joining. Even with the potential for sanctions due to alleged recruiting violations, class of 2022 and beyond prospects likely won’t be deterred.

The reason why I have the Jayhawks so low among the top options is that there are already several young forwards committed on the roster. Four-star recruits KJ Adams and Zachary Clemence are coming for next season, while top-100 forward Gradey Dick is part of the 2022 class. And if Jalen Wilson doesn’t go pro after next season, Traudt would have to wait potentially two years before meaningful playing time. The forward position isn’t a big need for the program so I doubt this is a potential pairing.