The state of New Jersey has some solid class of 2026 prospects, including 6’7 combo forward Julius Avent. He’s a dynamic playmaker on the perimeter who can shoot and has the athleticism to be a quality 3 and D performer.
Avent may not have a current list of options, but there are five reported visits set for the four-star prospect. Here’s a closer look at how he’d fit with each of the options.
Four-star forward Julius Avent has locked in the following official visits, sources tell @247Sports
— Dushawn London (@DushawnLondon1) July 26, 2025
Michigan State: August 30th
Penn State: September 6
Xavier: September 12th
Providence: September 18th
Seton Hall: October 2ndhttps://t.co/fbWH9gMBTn pic.twitter.com/EYUOfj1WlJ
Michigan State Spartans
The season-ending injury to FAU transfer forward Caleb Glenn hurts the wing depth in terms of proven players for next season. Still, with four-star freshmen Cam Ward and Jordan Scott joining returning starter Coen Carr, there’s a real chance for there to be a logjam at forward by the time Avent would arrive.
Penn State Nittany Lions
Penn State is completely starting over in the frontcourt, having to replace first-round NBA Draft pick Yanic Konan Niederhauser. There’s little depth on paper, with freshmen Justin Houser and Reggie Grodin getting a lot of minutes next year. Regardless of what they do, Penn State will still need players like Avent to come in and have an immediate impact to be competitive in the Big Ten.
Providence Friars
The Friars have a similar situation to Michigan State, having two incoming freshmen forwards in Jamier Jones and Jaylen Harrell. The one difference is that transfers Cole Hargrove and Duncan Powell will be seniors so there isn’t a definite logjam for the 2026-26 campaign. Still, how the forwards in front of Avent play will factor into this decision.
Seton Hall Pirates
Seton Hall’s current roster features a ton of senior transfer pickups, including forwards Josh Rivera, Jacob Dar, and Stephon Payne III. On paper, there’s a clear path to get playing time as a freshman, and as the local option, Avent can stay close to home while playing a large role.
Xavier Musketeers
The roster situation for Xavier is similar to the others, but different. Among the many incoming transfers coach Richard Pitino brought in are Gabriel Pozzato, who averaged 15 ppg as a freshman at Evansville, and Jovan Milicevic, who averaged 4.0 ppg at New Mexico. There still would be room for someone like Avent since the other forward newcomers are seniors, but it’s TBD what kind of role would be available for him.