NCAA Basketball: Ranking 5-star Jalen Duren’s options in case he reclassifies

8. UCLA Bruins

When I say things may have completely changed regarding Duren’s options for NEXT season, the Bruins are a great example of that. Of course, teams will gladly take Duren on, even at the potential risk of hurting the locker room and upsetting whoever the projected starting center. UCLA landed Rutgers grad transfer Myles Johnson, while also likely bringing back Cody Riley.

When you also include the fact that the team will be bringing back nearly everyone from the Final Four squad, Duren might not even have the opportunity to dominate on offense. Johnny Juzang, Tyger Campbell, five-star Peyton Watson, and others will be part of the equation so it’s hard to see a top prospect go out west and average around 12 ppg and 7 rpg, even if it would be for a title contender.

7. Michigan Wolverines

This is operating purely under the assumption that big man and All-American freshman star Hunter Dickinson will be coming back for the next season. He’s a proven star and would force Duren to have to start at the power forward spot if he truly wanted to play for Michigan.

However, Dickinson leaving would definitely vault the Wolverines up the ladder to a top-3 spot, as Coach Juwan Howard has proven himself as a developer of big men. Duren would be on a preseason top-10 team and be a focal point of the offense and it wouldn’t affect fellow five-star frontcourt recruits, Moussa Diabate and Caleb Houstan.