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NCAA Basketball Recruiting: Ranking the 9 team options for 5-star Ernest Udeh Jr.

By Tristan Freeman

LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 27: Jalen Hill #24 and Cody Riley #2 of the UCLA Bruins while playing the Arizona State Sun Devils at Pauley Pavilion on February 27, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. UCLA won 75-72. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 27: Jalen Hill #24 and Cody Riley #2 of the UCLA Bruins while playing the Arizona State Sun Devils at Pauley Pavilion on February 27, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. UCLA won 75-72. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images) /
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NCAA Basketball Ernest Udeh Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets forward Moses Wright Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports
NCAA Basketball Ernest Udeh Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets forward Moses Wright Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports /

9. Tennessee Volunteers

After a disappointing season from the frontcourt, the Vols have added top-50 center Jonas Aidoo, along with five-star forward Brandon Huntley-Hatfield. There’s a real chance that both players will be back for at least one extra year, joined by three-star current commit Handje Tamba.

Assuming Aidoo returns, Udeh would have competition with an underclassman center on the roster. And that’s why Tennessee is so down on this list, as most of the other options have much clearer paths to playing time for the top-20 prospect. They’re a really good program but I think Tamba is the only center they’ll get in the 2022 class.

8. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

This team has two centers on its roster in Rodney Howard and Saba Gigiberia, neither of whom has seen extended minutes in NCAA Basketball. If neither breaks out to become an impactful starter in the frontcourt, Georgia Tech will be in desperate need of a capable big man such as Udeh to come in as a freshman and produce.

The issue with the Yellow Jackets is that once Mike Devoe leaves, the core that made this team competitive will all be gone. Udeh could potentially be joining a rebuilding that doesn’t have the supporting cast needed to make him better and head coach Josh Pastner may not be long for the job if they struggle mightily.

7. Alabama Crimson Tide

Alabama is in great shape as a program, particually with the elite backcourt they have coming back. They also have a top-20 incoming center prospect in Charles Bediako who’ll likely start. He’s similar to Udeh in that he’s a raw project with high potential.

If I was sure that Bediako would be a “one and done”, they would definitely be in the running to land Udeh. But I don’t see them getting another five-star big in the 2022 class without knowing for sure what happens with their current starter. Assuming Bediako isn’t leaving, the Tide will have to go elsewhere to land a five-star target.

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