NCAA Basketball Recruiting: Analyzing top 4 teams for 4-star forward Niko Bundalo

One of the top frontcourt players in the 2025 NCAA Basketball recruiting class is Niko Bundalo, a consensus four-star and top-30 overall prospect. He's a 6'10 forward out of Napa, California, who is highly skilled and has an all-around game. He projects to be a talented offensive player who can spread the floor and be a focal point on an offense.

There's been an update to Bundalo's recruitment, with just four teams left in the mix. Ahead of a potential looming commitment, here's a closer look at how he fits with each of the programs in terms of roster fit.

Michigan State Spartans

The Spartans won't have transfer forward Frankie Fidler after this season but the key player here is Xavier Booker, a former 5-star prospect. If the talented forward has a big enough year where he could go pro, then Michigan State would be able to offer Bundalo a clear starting job as a freshman. Plus, Coach Tom Izzo's history of development is a good selling point too.

North Carolina Tar Heels

Power forward is the one position not perceived as a major strength right now, which explains their pursuit if Bundalo. They'll be losing both Jae'lyn Withers and transfer Tyshawn Claude after this season so there's a definite need. The hope is that he can have the same kind of impact as former Final Four starter Brady Manek had with with the Heels.

Ohio State Buckeyes

Ohio State has remade its frontcourt to include Duke transfer forward and former 5-star prospect, Sean Stewart. Like with Booker at Michigan State, a big year from him could have Stewart going pro, setting up Bundalo to start as a freshman. Otherwise, he'd have to play behind him when he arrives.

UConn Huskies

The Huskies return just one starter from last season in power forward Alex Karaban, who is a potential breakout candidate as the new focal point of the offense. If that happens and he goes pro, then the spot is wide open for someone like Bundalo to come in and start out the gate.

Of the four teams, all of them have a realistic path toward offering Bundalo a chance for major minutes as a freshman. But the ones most likely are UConn and UNC, who already have gone to battle on the recruiting trail a couple of times this offseason. If it comes down to them again, which one will he choose?