With the Final Four going on this weekend, recruiting may not be at the forefront, but there were some high school events and some interesting that came out that were very interesting to me.
The GEICO High School Nationals went on as well as the USA Basketball Junior National Mini-camp. The AAU season also kicked off with a couple of attractive venues across the country. We have covered the 2019 Class heavily, as there was some news in that arena, but it also became apparent that the time to focus on the 2020’s is truly upon us.
First, I will start with Matthew Hurt. I believe the individual who knows more about his recruitment than anyone else is our very own Eric Bossi. He has put in the work in the past few months on Hurt, and has even flown from Kansas City to Minneapolis just to spend time with the family. Eric knows
things about this recruitment that not a lot of other people know.
One of those points that put him in an exclusive club came out this weekend, and since it came from Matthew, I will share. I was told a few weeks back that Minnesota had quit contacting the local five-star. That had not gotten out at all. Matthew confirmed that with the Pioneer Press this weekend. He said he had not heard from Richard Pitino or his staff in some time. Although the reason why is not important to Kentucky fans, it reinforced to me how close to the situation Eric actually is.
Eric believes that Duke may have passed Kansas and not to count out North Carolina. He says Kentucky is just behind them, and I believe he is one to listen in this recruitment.
On to better news. Keion Brooks was front and center at the GEICO National Championship. His La Lumiere squad was undefeated and ranked No. 1 in the country. They fell though in the Championship game to IMG Academy.
But Kentucky fans had to be pleased with what they saw from Brooks. He posted scoring outputs of 22, 20 against Oak Hill, and 15 in the finals. Brooks still has work to do on his jump shot, but that isn’t what he does best.
From what I saw last spring and summer he is just the kind of player that John Calipari loves. Coach sold him that he was tough enough to play at Kentucky and he is. Brooks is a ball of energy who I believe is as good of a perimeter defender as there is in the class. He is long and lengthy and has the versatility to guard multiple positions.
Offensively, he is explosive in the open floor and can finish at the rim with either hand. For my part, his ball handling is better than he is given credit for. I saw him play some point with Indy Heat last May and he had jack rabbits on him. He controlled the ball with his head and eyes up against pressure. He was an excellent passer.
His shot is good at the mid range level. He is not a 3-point shooter yet, but he can get to his spot and consistently knock down the 15 to 17 footer.
He also doesn’t appear to be a one and done. He will play professionally, but it isn’t a stretch to see him in Lexington for two to three years. Plain and simply, Brooks is a player who will win a lot of games at Kentucky.
Our next look is at 2020 players who may reclassify up. R.J. Hampton is at the head of that list. His father, Rod, told Adam Zagoria over the weekend that he is down to four schools: Kentucky, Duke, Kansas, and Memphis.
We speak with Rod often, and this is consistent with what he has been telling us for months. They never dodge the question of moving up a year, and the key component of doing that is instant playing time at the point guard spot.
Duke has been considered the favorite, because it has been speculated that Tre Jones will be one and done. The Hampton’s have gone on record that they want to wait and see what he does. On Saturday night, Jones went on Instagram and sent out a post that many interpret that he was saying he will be back. I just can’t see Hampton going to Duke if Jones returns.
As for Kansas, Quentin Grimes was not listed among Jonathan Givony’s Top 100 NBA Draft prospects in his most updated edition last week. Devon Dotson was No. 73. If either go pro, they are getting bad advice. But keep in mind that if the current point guards aren’t good enough to get drafted no matter the team, then chances are they aren’t good enough to beat out Hampton who should be a lottery pick. The Hampton's like Kansas because they are in Big 12 territory, but there is also that dumpster fire that is starting to smolder in Lawrence.
Memphis features Alex Lomax and Tyler Harris. Both are solid, but neither is in the category of a Hampton.
That leaves us with Kentucky. Whether or not Ashton Hagans declares for the draft will be a burning question in the next few weeks. Immanuel Quickley is expected to be back, and Tyrese Maxey will be a freshman. Maxey may be better than any point guard on the roster, but he also offers the flexibility to play the two. One thing that is clear is that Hampton does not want to be off the ball, but Maxey probably doesn’t either. Rod Hampton did tell Zagoria that Kentucky is known for playing multiple point guards, “so that is not a concern.”
Over the weekend, Isaiah Todd’s mother also confirmed what we told you we believed would happen last week. He will stay in the 2020 Class. Being prepared for playing in he NBA is definitely what Todd is looking for, and he told Zagoria that he is very impressed with the way Calipari prepares his bigs. Todd is one of the most likely juniors to commit to Kentucky.
Jalen Johnson tweeted over the weekend that he is wide open and is in no hurry to make a decision. The Phenom U member out of Wisconsin will make a major push to be the top ranked player in 2020.
Atlanta point guard, Sharife Cooper, was named the USA Today All-USA Boys Basketball Player of the Year. He has a Kentucky offer.
Finally, Scottie Barnes was impressive in the GEICO Nationals. The 6-foot-8 wing was electric in the open floor and was as athletic as anyone in the event. He is a legit top five player in 2020. He cut his list to eight in February: Kentucky, California, Duke, Florida State, Kansas, Miami, Ohio State, and Oregon. There hasn't been a lot said about his recruitment, but expect him to be one of the most followed players when the EYBL season begins.
The GEICO High School Nationals went on as well as the USA Basketball Junior National Mini-camp. The AAU season also kicked off with a couple of attractive venues across the country. We have covered the 2019 Class heavily, as there was some news in that arena, but it also became apparent that the time to focus on the 2020’s is truly upon us.
First, I will start with Matthew Hurt. I believe the individual who knows more about his recruitment than anyone else is our very own Eric Bossi. He has put in the work in the past few months on Hurt, and has even flown from Kansas City to Minneapolis just to spend time with the family. Eric knows
things about this recruitment that not a lot of other people know.
One of those points that put him in an exclusive club came out this weekend, and since it came from Matthew, I will share. I was told a few weeks back that Minnesota had quit contacting the local five-star. That had not gotten out at all. Matthew confirmed that with the Pioneer Press this weekend. He said he had not heard from Richard Pitino or his staff in some time. Although the reason why is not important to Kentucky fans, it reinforced to me how close to the situation Eric actually is.
Eric believes that Duke may have passed Kansas and not to count out North Carolina. He says Kentucky is just behind them, and I believe he is one to listen in this recruitment.
On to better news. Keion Brooks was front and center at the GEICO National Championship. His La Lumiere squad was undefeated and ranked No. 1 in the country. They fell though in the Championship game to IMG Academy.
But Kentucky fans had to be pleased with what they saw from Brooks. He posted scoring outputs of 22, 20 against Oak Hill, and 15 in the finals. Brooks still has work to do on his jump shot, but that isn’t what he does best.
From what I saw last spring and summer he is just the kind of player that John Calipari loves. Coach sold him that he was tough enough to play at Kentucky and he is. Brooks is a ball of energy who I believe is as good of a perimeter defender as there is in the class. He is long and lengthy and has the versatility to guard multiple positions.
Offensively, he is explosive in the open floor and can finish at the rim with either hand. For my part, his ball handling is better than he is given credit for. I saw him play some point with Indy Heat last May and he had jack rabbits on him. He controlled the ball with his head and eyes up against pressure. He was an excellent passer.
His shot is good at the mid range level. He is not a 3-point shooter yet, but he can get to his spot and consistently knock down the 15 to 17 footer.
He also doesn’t appear to be a one and done. He will play professionally, but it isn’t a stretch to see him in Lexington for two to three years. Plain and simply, Brooks is a player who will win a lot of games at Kentucky.
Our next look is at 2020 players who may reclassify up. R.J. Hampton is at the head of that list. His father, Rod, told Adam Zagoria over the weekend that he is down to four schools: Kentucky, Duke, Kansas, and Memphis.
We speak with Rod often, and this is consistent with what he has been telling us for months. They never dodge the question of moving up a year, and the key component of doing that is instant playing time at the point guard spot.
Duke has been considered the favorite, because it has been speculated that Tre Jones will be one and done. The Hampton’s have gone on record that they want to wait and see what he does. On Saturday night, Jones went on Instagram and sent out a post that many interpret that he was saying he will be back. I just can’t see Hampton going to Duke if Jones returns.
As for Kansas, Quentin Grimes was not listed among Jonathan Givony’s Top 100 NBA Draft prospects in his most updated edition last week. Devon Dotson was No. 73. If either go pro, they are getting bad advice. But keep in mind that if the current point guards aren’t good enough to get drafted no matter the team, then chances are they aren’t good enough to beat out Hampton who should be a lottery pick. The Hampton's like Kansas because they are in Big 12 territory, but there is also that dumpster fire that is starting to smolder in Lawrence.
Memphis features Alex Lomax and Tyler Harris. Both are solid, but neither is in the category of a Hampton.
That leaves us with Kentucky. Whether or not Ashton Hagans declares for the draft will be a burning question in the next few weeks. Immanuel Quickley is expected to be back, and Tyrese Maxey will be a freshman. Maxey may be better than any point guard on the roster, but he also offers the flexibility to play the two. One thing that is clear is that Hampton does not want to be off the ball, but Maxey probably doesn’t either. Rod Hampton did tell Zagoria that Kentucky is known for playing multiple point guards, “so that is not a concern.”
Over the weekend, Isaiah Todd’s mother also confirmed what we told you we believed would happen last week. He will stay in the 2020 Class. Being prepared for playing in he NBA is definitely what Todd is looking for, and he told Zagoria that he is very impressed with the way Calipari prepares his bigs. Todd is one of the most likely juniors to commit to Kentucky.
Jalen Johnson tweeted over the weekend that he is wide open and is in no hurry to make a decision. The Phenom U member out of Wisconsin will make a major push to be the top ranked player in 2020.
Atlanta point guard, Sharife Cooper, was named the USA Today All-USA Boys Basketball Player of the Year. He has a Kentucky offer.
Finally, Scottie Barnes was impressive in the GEICO Nationals. The 6-foot-8 wing was electric in the open floor and was as athletic as anyone in the event. He is a legit top five player in 2020. He cut his list to eight in February: Kentucky, California, Duke, Florida State, Kansas, Miami, Ohio State, and Oregon. There hasn't been a lot said about his recruitment, but expect him to be one of the most followed players when the EYBL season begins.
