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NCAA Basketball: Analyzing 5-star Naas Cunningham’s final 5 options

By Tristan Freeman

Feb 1, 2023; Piscataway, New Jersey, USA; Rutgers Scarlet Knights head coach Steve Pikiell looks on against the Minnesota Golden Gophers during the first half at Jersey Mike's Arena. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 1, 2023; Piscataway, New Jersey, USA; Rutgers Scarlet Knights head coach Steve Pikiell looks on against the Minnesota Golden Gophers during the first half at Jersey Mike's Arena. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports /
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NCAA Basketball Mick Cronin of the UCLA Bruins (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
NCAA Basketball Mick Cronin of the UCLA Bruins (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

Rutgers Scarlet Knights

As the de facto “home” option for Cunningham, the Knights may have a shot here. And it’s not as if head coach Steve Pikell doesn’t have recent history landing five-star prospects, just landing five-star forward, Airious Bailey. He and four-star guard Dellquan Warren are a great pair to start the 2024 class and they’re reportedly in the mix to land another five-star prospect in Dylan Harper.

Rutgers has plenty of momentum as a program and has become a top-tier team in the Big Ten and regularly makes the NCAA Tournament. With all of the current key pieces set to be gone by the 2024-25 season, it would be a great opportunity for Cunningham to come in and have a sizeable role early on back at home.

UCLA Bruins

UCLA doesn’t have any class of 2024 commits but does have a pair of forwards set to join next season in Devin Williams and Brandon Williams. They’ll need someone else on the perimeter to help make up for the pending departures of guys like Amari Bailey, Jaime Jaquez, and Jaylen Clark.

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Cunningham has the frame and ability to be a suitable fit for the Bruins’ scheme and playing in Los Angeles would be nice for his own marketability. And depending on how scheduling works out, he could be playing at Rutgers in his freshman year since the program is set to join the Big Ten.

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