NCAA Basketball Recruiting: Analyzing top-30 wing Cam Whitmore final 3 teams

NCAA Basketball wing prospect Cam Whitmore is down to just three programs in the running. Who has the best shot to land him?

Top-30 NCAA Basketball class of 2022 prospect Cam Whitmore has updated his recruitment since releasing a top-10 list nearly two months ago. He’s one of the best two-way players in the entire class, listed at 6’6 and 200 pounds.

Whitmore is an outstanding scorer from all levels and is a true wing that can operate from the perimeter and potentially create mismatches at the four-spot as well. Some of the biggest names were in the mix for him this Summer but now, we’re down to three programs.

The biggest surprise here is that the local programs, Georgetown and Maryland, didn’t make the cut. It’s a really big blow for the Terrapins, who were reportedly in hot pursuit of Whitmore and were hoping he’d be the wing replacement for Eric Ayala, who’ll be gone after next season.

Instead, one of the following three programs will get a prospect that could end up listed as a “five-star” when it’s all said and done. Here’s how he’d potentially fit with each option.

Illinois Fighting Illini

The Illini ran a three and sometimes four-guard offense last season and likely will this upcoming season, with returning All-American center Kofi Cockburn anchoring the frontcourt. What’s interesting is that this team has a bunch of 6’5-6’6 guards and wings on the current roster, including Jacob Grandison, Austin Hutcherson, and incoming freshmen, Brandin Podziemski and  Ramses Melendez.

None of them are freshmen so everyone can come back for another year and if someone breaks out of the bunch, Whitmore wouldn’t come in and start at wing. However, he could play some small-ball four as a freshman and have an impact there. And not only would they get a quality 2022 prospect to keep up in the Big Ten arms race, but it’d also end up being a double blow for someone like Maryland, who’d have to play him.

North Carolina Tar Heels

The roster construction for the Tar Heels under new head coach Hubert Davis has been impressive. And even if they lose a guard or a forward, top-100 point guard commit Seth Trimble and five-star forward Jalen Washington in the 2022 class already on board. The one position where they could use an upgrade is at wing, with Puff Johnson, Kerwin Walton, and Leaky Black all solid but not star players.

Whitmore would be joining a really good roster on paper and has a chance to start, although Walton’s shooting ability may be too good to take him off the court. So if he’s willing to maybe wait a year off the bench, the Tar Heels would make great sense here.

Villanova Wildcats

After losing Cole Swider this offseason, the depth at the wing position for the Wildcats is a little thin. They’ll be fine this season, as they have several good guards that will allow them to play three-guard lineups. But with the serious chance that they could lose Justin Moore, Brandon Slater, and Bryan Antoine, they’ll need to get a talented wing in the 2022 class.

Whitmore could absolutely start as a freshman for Villanova, which has become a consistent top-10 program nationally. Head coach Jay Wright has become one of the best developers in the game and could turn this prospect in question into a future NBA player. And if not Whitmore can win around 100 games in his NCAA Basketball career here and make the NCAA Tournament regularly.