NCAA Basketball Recruiting: Analyzing top-30 forward Julian Phillips top 10 teams

Florida Gators

The SEC program added several transfers this offseason, with only CJ Felder being from the frontcourt. Assuming leading rebounder and double-digit scorer Colin Castleton is gone after next season, the frontcourt would be wide open for someone like Phillips to come in and have a major impact.

The Gators have plenty of playing time to offer and the SEC is filled with NBA-caliber talent for the top-30 recruit to compete against. What the main concern is the lack of development of previous top-tier recruits for Florida and not getting drafted in recent years, despite having several former top-30 prospects. Coach Mike White has to prove that his system can send players to the next level or he’ll struggle to land players the caliber of a Phillips.

Florida State Seminoles

The Seminoles have plenty of depth in each of the positions, especially at the center spot. The one area where they can use some improvement is power forward, with senior forward Malik Osborne and Kentucky transfer Cam’Ron Fletcher set to get most of the minutes.

Phillips can come in and start for Florida State as a freshman and can potentially be a focal point of the offense. The team had three players on last season’s team drafted, including Scottie Barnes at No. 4 overall. This is an option that would allow the top-30 frontcourt prospect to develop short and long-term depending on his stay while playing for a consistent contender in the ACC.