NCAA Basketball Recruiting: Analyzing the final 7 teams for 5-star center Baye Fall

Kansas State Wildcats

New head coach Jerome Tang has been focusing on the 2023 class in the rebuilding efforts, landing four-star guards RJ Jones and Darrin Ames. They’re looking for frontcourt players, especially a center. Right now, former top-50 center prospect and LSU transfer Jerrell Colbert is expected to start but it’s unknown how good he is at the D-I level.

Landing arguably the best center in the class would be a massive haul for Kansas State, which is in desperate need of talent. Fall would instantly become the best player on the team and the main attraction while being able to play in the Big 12. But the team would need a lot more besides Fall in order to be competitive.

Rutgers Scarlet Knights

The Knights recently made program history by landing the highest-rated commit in 2023 guard Gavin Griffiths, a top-40 player. Fall would certainly beat that and be the best ever for the program. They’re finally making the NCAA Tournament under Coach Steve Pikiell and have a sophomore center in Clifford Omoruyi that’s a potential breakout star.

If Omoruyi sticks around after next season, that would create an awkward frontcourt pairing with Fall. If he’s gone, that opens up things easily in this scenario. Without knowing what the current starting center will do, it’s hard to see Rutgers having a real shot but look for them to be involved with top-40 power forward Papa Kante, who would be a much better fit.