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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 Kansas Jayhawks forward David McCormack Amy Kontras-USA TODAY Sports
NCAA Basketball Ernest Udeh Kansas Jayhawks forward David McCormack Amy Kontras-USA TODAY Sports /

6. Miami Hurricanes

One of two local options in play, Miami is hoping to get a five-star big man for next season after missing out on Jalen Duren. Adding Udeh may keep head coach Jim Larranaga around, who is over 70 years old and will be losing his star guards, Isaiah Wong and Charlie Moore after next season.

And that’s the issue here, is that we aren’t sure about the status of the head coach or that Udeh will be joining a competitive team in the ACC. With another local option around and several consistent NCAA Tournament caliber teams also on the list, it’s hard to see how the Hurricanes stand out here.

5. Michigan Wolverines

The Wolverines already have a top-100 center commit in the class in Tarris Reed, Jr., a really good big man who may actually be more polished than Udeh, although the ladder has a bigger upside down the road. With Dug McDaniel also part of the 2022 class, Michigan may be prioritizing other targets, including top-50 wing and son of Michigan head coach Juwan Howard, Jett Howard.

And that’s why I don’ have Michigan as a true contender in this sweepstakes, although the respect I have for this coaching staff on the recruiting trail makes me give them a top-5 spot here. I just don’t see the mutual fit, especially if five-star freshman big man Moussa Diabate doesn’t go pro after next season.

4. Kansas Jayhawks

The Jayhawks have plenty of frontcourt depth for this season, led by forward Jalen Wilson and starting center David McCormack. The odds are good that McCormack will be gone after next year but there are several young frontcourt players that could play the center position, including top-60 commit Zuby Ejiofor in the 2022 class. He, freshman Zachery Clemence and potentially Vince Iwuchukwu could be joining.

Udeh fits the past centers that have played for Kansas so I could see the match. However, the amount of frontcourt depth combined with the potential of the team just landing an impact transfer center next offseason makes the recruit’s potential playing time unknown.

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