NCAA Basketball Recruiting: Ranking top 10 options for 5-star Chris Livingston

4. Memphis Tigers

The Tigers do have a number of small forwards and wings currently on the roster, including incoming freshman Joshua Minott and John Camden, along with transfers Earl Timberlake and  Johnathan Lawson. But what this team is missing is a go-to guy that can score 15-20 each and every night. Livingston can come in and be the best player in the AAC overall and play for a head coach in Penny Hardaway with plenty of NBA experience.

Memphis is viewed as an early contender for the five-star prospect and I would’ve had them a bit higher but the news of Coach Hardaway reportedly being willing to interview for vacant head coach openings is a bit concerning if you’re a future prospect. Because if the Tigers have a big campaign, he’ll be an even hotter name next offseason. While I doubt he leaves anytime soon, this stuff could be used against him on the recruiting trail.

3. Ohio State Buckeyes

As the “hometown” option of the group, being able to stay close to home can be very appealing for Livingston. So is playing for a team that will be a preseason Final Four contender for next year and who also currently has the No. 1 overall recruiting class for 2022, with three perimeter commits.

Considering that Justin Ahrens, Seth Towns, and Justice Sueing, Jr. will all be seniors next season, the small position could be completely wide open for a five-star prospect to come right in and have a big impact. But the Buckeyes also are targeting another forward in AJ Casey, ranked in the top-25 overall in the 2022 class. Right now, I think Ohio State has a much better shot with him right now than Livingston, so a potential commitment from Casey would then take them out of the sweepstakes for this recruit in question.