College Basketball Recruiting

Kansas will add a top prospect to its 2022 recruiting class after MJ Rice committed to the school Tuesday.

Rice announced his decision via Joe Tipton of On3.

"I feel like Kansas is the place for me to be," Rice said. "I feel like Kansas is somewhere I can grow and mature. They have all resources I need to develop my game and develop my mental. I really enjoyed my visit there. Great coaches, staff, players and environment."

The small forward is a 5-star recruit and considered the No. 20 overall player in the class and fifth-best player at his position by 247Sports' composite rankings.

At 6'5", Rice is a bit undersized for a wing, but he makes up for it with impressive athleticism that allows him to finish at the rim with consistency. He also has enough strength to handle the bigger players he might match up against at forward.

He remains a mismatch with his shooting ability from deep, giving him the opportunity to score a lot of points even without a lot of touches on the offensive end.

The biggest concern during his high school career was a torn ACL that sidelined him in December 2019.

Rice returned to the court the next season and said he simply needed to get over the mental aspect.

"With me, it's more about making the jump mentally; I'm already a dog on the court, now it's about being a killer!" he said in a November blog entry for SI All-American.

Having two seasons back before playing at the next level should provide plenty of time to get over his injury.

If he can add some additional handle and playmaking ability to his skill set, Rice could be an elite player going forward.

He represents a big addition for the Jayhawks, providing the team with someone who can help on both ends immediately in his college career.

Rice has the talent to be a go-to option as a freshman and could consider making the leap to the NBA before too long. 

Elite 2022 men's basketball prospect Shaedon Sharpe has narrowed his options to Arizona, Kansas, Kentucky, Oklahoma State and the G League Ignite, according to Jonathan Givony of ESPN.

The 5-star prospect is rated the No. 6 overall player in the class, per 247Sports.

Sharpe has official visits planned for Kansas, Arizona and Oklahoma State and could decide shortly after his final visit in September.

"I'm 100 percent open to all options right now," the guard said. "I want to see what all of them have to offer. I need to learn more about the G League in terms of what their offer is and which other players will be on the team to decide whether that's something I want to do."

Sharpe has already taken a visit to Kentucky, which is his predicted choice by 100 percent of 247Sports' crystal ball contributors, but he clarified the Wildcats aren't currently the leader.

"People have been penciling me in with Kentucky, and I'm honestly not sure where that's coming from," he said, per Givony. "Maybe it's because Shai Gilgeous-Alexander went there from Uplay and was one and done. ... No one really knows anything about my situation besides my family and [director of Uplay Canada, Dwayne Washington]."

Kentucky has produced its fair share of one-and-done talent under head coach John Calipari, although Oklahoma State has some impressive recent pedigree after Cade Cunningham was selected first overall in the 2021 NBA draft as a one-and-done.

The G League Ignite also developed top talent in its first year, including Jalen Green (No. 2 overall pick), Jonathan Kuminga (No. 7) and Isaiah Todd (No. 31).

The 6'4" Sharpe will likely make a move to the NBA before too long regardless of where he goes after high school. The guard has rocketed up rankings after an impressive performance at the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League, averaging 22.6 points across 12 games.

Memphis just got a major boost to its 2021 recruiting class, with 5-star center Jalen Duren reclassifying from 2022 and committing to the school.

Breaking: Jalen Duren, the No. 2 overall prospect in the class of 2022, has reclassified into the class of 2021 and committed to Memphis, according to @PaulBiancardi.

(📽️ via @jaydoefilms) pic.twitter.com/5jQDHBOX8K

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) August 6, 2021

Highly-touted recruit Jalen Duren announces he will attend Memphis and join the Class of 2021.

In last week's NBA Draft, each of the top 6 recruits in the ESPN 100 Class of 2020 went in the top 7 in the 2021 NBA Draft (only exception: Josh Giddey at No. 6). https://t.co/XUUUEug70T

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) August 6, 2021

Duren, a 6'10" center for Montverde Academy in Florida, was considered the No. 1 prospect in the class of 2022, the No. 1 center and the No. 1 player from Florida, per 247Sports' composite rankings.

247Sports' Brandon Jenkins said Duren had an "NBA-ready frame" and is a "total monster in the low post" in a February scouting report.

Jenkins continued:

"He is more physical, athletic, and bigger than his peers which sums up to him being a pro in the making. He runs the floor, can explode off it where he shows value as a conscientious rebounder. His touch around the basket, passing instincts and ability to leap multiple times is noteworthy. He is a motored up workhorse who has an affinity for playing hard. Defensively, Duren is alert while in helpside and alters or blocks shots with great elevation and timing. He has a high ceiling that gives many scouts the reason to believe he can achieve all-pro status someday and have a long career at the highest levels of the sport."

Jalen Duren dominated day 1 of @pangosaacamp 🔥 pic.twitter.com/krHQW45mGR

— BallerTV (@BallerTV) June 7, 2021

The Philadelphia native has earned comparisons to Miami Heat two-way center Bam Adebayo, an excellent defender also capable of running the offense from the top of the key.

Duren told The Athletic's Brian Bennett in June that he believes his distribution is an underrated aspect of his game.

"I think my passing is something that's very underrated, my ability to see the court," he said. "Something I definitely think I can do is run the offense from the elbow or from anywhere. I'm not a player who needs 100 dribbles to get where I need to go. I like to set up my guys and find a scorer."

It was unclear if Duren would go the college route or choose to go pro immediately via the G League Ignite team or the NBL. That answer became clear on Friday, and the Tigers will be happy to have him.

Penny Hardaway isn't going anywhere, despite overtures from the NBA. And he's bringing the top player in the nation to the Tigers. 

Highly touted wing Dariq Whitehead committed to the Duke Blue Devils, according to ESPN's Paul Biancardi.

"Growing up, Duke has always been my dream school.”

Dariq Whitehead, No. 6 overall prospect in the ESPN 100 for the class of 2022, is heading to Duke, per @PaulBiancardi.

(🎥: @TimLangPhotos) pic.twitter.com/ZW3dhajtYh

— ESPN (@espn) August 1, 2021

Whitehead is the No. 3 small forward and sixth-best player nationally in the 2022 class, per 247Sports' composite rankings.

247Sports' Jerry Meyer evaluated the Montverde Academy star last November and compared him to Jarrett Culver, who spent two years at Texas Tech prior to getting selected in the first round of the 2019 NBA draft:

"Solid size for a wing. Has quick-twitch athleticism. Fast with the basketball. Loves to attack the rim, but has a smooth jumper. Three-level scorer. Has a great pull up jumper going left. Solid ball-handler and passer who plays with awareness and instincts. Rebounds his position well. Has tremendous potential as a versatile defender."

That hesi was TOUGH‼️ He’s about to take off at Montverde 😎 @dariq_whitehead pic.twitter.com/XpQp4EgUN8

— SLAM HS Hoops (@SLAM_HS) September 16, 2020

Whitehead is poised to be the next Montverde alumnus to thrive at the next level.

D'Angelo Russell, Ben Simmons and RJ Barrett suited up for the Eagles. More recently, Cade Cunningham, Scottie Barnes and Day'Ron Sharpe all ranked in the top 15 of 247Sports' composite rankings for 2020 when they moved on.

The current Montverde squad still has an abundance of talent, with Whitehead, Caleb Houstan, Jalen Duren, Jalen Hood-Schifino and Langston Love leading the way. The Eagles opened 2020-21 with a 109-31 victory over North Florida Educational Institute and reeled off four more wins, all of which came by 20 points or more.

Montverde rly won by 78 POINTS last night 😶 @MVABasketball pic.twitter.com/JAG6azWVbt

— Overtime (@overtime) November 21, 2020

Although Culver has struggled with the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Blue Devils will be thrilled if Whitehead replicates the Texas Tech version of Culver. The former Red Raiders star averaged 18.5 points, 6.4 rebounds and 3.7 assists in 2018-19 en route to winning Big 12 Player of the Year.

Positional flexibility is critical at the moment. Excelling at one position generally isn't enough anymore for those at the top end of the talent pool.

Whitehead has the frame (6'6" and 190 pounds) and agility to defend either guard position and opposing 3s. He can also blow by bigger forwards or centers on switches with the ball in his hands. His two-way ability makes him perfectly suited to thrive.

Whitehead should make an immediate impact for Duke, and the only problem is he may not stick around for too long before he's off to the NBA.

That's not an unfamiliar position for head coach Mike Krzyzewski after he adapted to the times and welcomed more one-and-dones to Durham. Granted, Krzyzewski won't be around to coach Whitehead since the upcoming season will be the last of his legendary career.

Quickly announcing Jon Scheyer as Coach K's successor allowed the Blue Devils to provide plenty of clarity to prospective recruits about the next steps.

Scheyer will obviously have massive shoes to fill when he takes over, but securing Whitehead's commitment is obviously a great endorsement of his vision for the program.

Point guard Dior Johnson is heading to Oregon after announcing his commitment on Tuesday.

"I decided to commit to Oregon because of the great relationships I have built with the coaching staff," Johnson said to ESPN's Jonathan Givony. "Coach Crutchfield and Coach Altman welcomed me with open arms from day one. We were able to get on the same page quickly as they have built a great plan for me to succeed."

Ranked as the No. 7 player in the class of 2022 by 247Sports' in its composite rankings—and its top point guard in the class—Johnson held offers from Syracuse, Alabama, LSU, Memphis and Arizona State among others. He had committed to the Orange before walking back that decision last November.

Jerry Meyer of 247Sports predicts Johnson as a future NBA lottery pick who has similarities to the Sacramento Kings' De'Aaron Fox:

"Good length and stature for a point guard. Quick athlete with superb body control. Has tremendous instincts as a driver and passer. Delivers the difficult pass. Finishes the difficult shot. High level lay up maker. Has multiple fade away moves to his right shoulder. Shoots the ball well enough to be considered a three-level scorer. Has potential to rebound his position well and be a dangerous versatile defender. Has bounced around to multiple high school which some view as a yellow flag."

The 6'3", 180-pounder is expected to make a major impact on the program as soon as he gets to campus and is likely to start as a freshman. He's the first pledged commit for Oregon in 2022, so perhaps the Ducks can use his impending arrival to help lure other blue-chip talents to Eugene.

The top high school boys basketball teams in the country are forming the National Interscholastic Basketball Conference as an elite national league to begin the 2021-22 season, according to Jeff Borzello and Paul Biancardi of ESPN.

The initial six teams include Oak Hill Academy (Virginia), Montverde Academy (Florida), IMG Academy (Florida), La Lumiere School (Indiana), Sunrise Christian Academy (Kansas) and Wasatch Academy (Utah). Two more teams are expected to join.

The teams will play a 10-game regular season with a postseason tournament plus special NIBC events.

"The games will be intense because of the talent level, the national platform, as well as the scouting and preparation that goes into each game," Sunrise Christian coach Luke Barnwell said. "The standings keep everything competitive, and having a postseason championship will make it even more competitive."

Several of these teams have competed at the GEICO national tournament in recent years, with Montverde winning five titles since 2013. including its 2021 win over Sunrise Christian. Montverde also beat Sunrise Christian in the first-ever NIBC title game last season.

The Florida powerhouse has consistently been one of the top basketball programs in the country in recent years with NBA alumni like Ben Simmons, D'Angelo Russell and RJ Barrett plus potential future stars like Cade Cunningham and Moses Moody. Rising senior Jalen Duren is rated the No. 2 overall player in the 2022 class, per 247Sports' composite rankings.

Montverde's Dariq Whitehead, IMG's Jarace Walker and Jaden Bradley, and Oak Hill's MJ Rice will also be among the big names to watch in next year's inaugural season.

These games could serve as a showcase for the top prospects against elite competition, likely drawing plenty of college coaches and NBA scouts to each game.

Combo guard Jaden Hardy, who is ranked third overall on 247Sports' list of the top boys' high school basketball prospects in the class of 2021, explained why he chose to play for the NBA G League Ignite over going to college Saturday.

"It was the best move for me," Hardy said, per Jason Jordan of Sports Illustrated. "I never got the chance to take my official visits, so that made things harder. I feel like this is the right move for me, and I feel like I'm ready for it."

Hardy added: "I feel like my game translates better at the pro level. I train for that level."

The 6'4", 190-pound combo guard out of Coronado High School in Henderson, Nevada, averaged 30.4 points, 9.1 rebounds and 8.4 assists per game during his junior campaign in 2019-20.

Hardy's senior high school season was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hardy appears destined for an NBA court, with Brandon Jenkins of 247Sports providing a glowing scouting report that compared him to Washington Wizards superstar shooting guard Bradley Beal.

Hardy is the best offensive player in the senior class. He gets buckets from four different ranges on the floor and is elite at creating his own shot on demand. He has the touch of an elite scorer who can hit jumpers with a high degree of difficulty. He has tremendous range out to the NBA three-point line that stretches a defense and opens up driving lanes for his teammates.

He draws comparisons to Bradley Beal due to his shooting stroke, and ability to take over a game with his knack to score. A true killer who can win a game in clutch scenarios, Hardy's game translates to the highest of levels as he is always a threat to fill it up on any given night.

Per Shams Charania of The Athletic, Hardy had offers from Kentucky, UCLA and Arizona, among other schools. Charania broke the news of Hardy's decision earlier Saturday.

Hardy follows in the footsteps of other players who have made the same decision to choose the G League over college, including Jalen Green, whom Jonathan Wasserman of Bleacher Report pegs second in his latest 2021 NBA draft big board.

Jaden Hardy will skip college and sign with the NBA G League Ignite, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium. 

The 5-star guard had offers from dozens of schools, including Kentucky, UCLA, Oregon and Arizona, before deciding to go pro.

Hardy is considered the No. 3 overall prospect in the 2021 class by 247Sports. He's the top-ranked combo guard thanks to his elite offensive ability and 6'4" frame.

The Coronado, California, product is one of the most explosive scorers in the nation, dropping 62 points in a game in January.

Hardy's explosive scoring and shooting ability make him a potential lottery pick in the 2022 draft. He can also create off the dribble and rebound, helping him average 30.4 points, 9.1 rebounds and 8.4 assists per game as a junior.

He did not play as a senior after Nevada canceled the entire season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

While the talent could have allowed him to dominate at the college level, he will instead go to the G League and follow in the path of top Class of 2020 prospects Jonathan Kuminga and Jalen Green.

The Kentucky Wildcats landed their point guard of the future when TyTy Washington joined their 2021 recruiting class on Wednesday.

"There is a big challenge at Kentucky for playing time and a leadership role," Washington said, per ESPN's Jeff Borzello. "I always liked a challenge."

2021 Five-star point guard TyTy Washington is headed to Kentucky 👀 @tytywashington3 pic.twitter.com/c3jzFB7tpM

— B/R Hoops (@brhoops) May 13, 2021

The 6'3" Washington checks in as a 5-star prospect and the No. 21 overall player, No. 3 point guard and No. 2 player from Arizona in the class of 2021, per 247Sports' composite rankings. He announced on April 17 that he was down to the six schools of Arizona, Oregon, Kansas, Baylor, Kentucky and LSU.

"I just felt like those six, each of the school's situation fits me best," he said, per Chris Fisher of 247Sports. "The style of play, location, opportunity to come in and play right away, the relationship I have with the coaches. Not just the assistants but the head coaches."

While the point guard decided between those schools, there was a time when he was part of Creighton's 2021 class.

However, Washington told Kyle Tucker of The Athletic he decommitted from the Bluejays because head coach Greg McDermott said "I need everyone to stay on the plantation" and was suspended for the comment.

"It was definitely the controversy," he said. "I really wanted to attend Creighton. It felt like the situation and the plan Coach McDermott had for me was really good. So it was kind of heartbreaking once I found out what he said. I just felt like the day and age we're living in—a police officer just killed another young Black man for no reason—him saying something like that, it's just not right."

It was a major loss for Creighton on the court, as Washington is one of the most productive playmakers in his entire class.

Fisher noted he averaged 24 points, seven assists and six rebounds per game behind 48 percent shooting from the field and 41 percent shooting from three-point range as the Max Preps Arizona Player of the Year as a high school senior.

His ability to shoot from the outside, facilitate when defenders collapse on his penetration, rebound from the backcourt and defend multiple positions at his size stands out and should help him make a significant impact as soon as his freshman season at the next level.

If Washington lives up to expectations, Kentucky should quickly return to its winning ways come March.

While John Calipari is running a national powerhouse program, the Wildcats were an ugly 9-16 last season and missed the Big Dance. They are well positioned to bounce back from that showing and make a deep run in 2021-22 with their new point guard on the roster.

The 2022 recruiting class for the Michigan State men's basketball team reportedly took a major hit Friday. 

According to basketball reporter Joe Tipton, Emoni Bates will decommit from the Spartans and reopen his recruitment. Bates is a 5-star prospect and the No. 1 overall player in his class, per 247Sports' composite rankings. 

This is not the first notable loss for Tom Izzo's 2022 recruiting class, as big man Enoch Boakye, who is a 4-star prospect on 247Sports' composite rankings, decommitted in February. Boakye then reclassified to the 2021 class and joined the Arizona State Sun Devils.

As for Bates, Tipton reported he is "open to both college and pro options."

Travis Branham of 247Sports noted "it will come as little surprise if Bates follows the footsteps of other elite prospects such as Jalen Green and goes the professional route."

The small forward checks in at 6'8" and 200 pounds, and 247Sports' Brandon Jenkins listed Paul George as an NBA player comparison.

Like George, Bates has the versatility to defend multiple positions, shoot from the outside, attack off the bounce and set up teammates when opposing defenses collapse on him. He can simply shoot over smaller defenders and blow past bigger ones, and that skill set should easily transition to the NBA.

Even if he was at Michigan State for just one season, he is someone who could guide the Spartans to the Final Four and a Big Ten championship.

Instead, he may look to explore his professional options before eventually reaching the NBA.