Ingram is fourth at his position and 11th overall nationally in 247Sports' composite rankings for 2021. The Dallas native is also the best recruit in the state of Texas.
On Aug. 1, he had narrowed his finalists to six schools: Harvard, Howard, Michigan, North Carolina, Purdue and Stanford.
247Sports' Brian Snow compared Ingram to former UCLA star and Memphis Grizzlies forward Kyle Anderson:
"On the court he is kind of a point forward who uses savvy, skill and intelligence to dominate games. Ingram can play on the ball or off of it, knows how to create space for himself by changing speeds, and is one of the better passers in the class. Also, despite not being a fantastic athlete, Ingram is a very solid rebounder, and competes on the defensive end. His elite IQ and skill make him one of the best prospects in the class, and someone who will exceed his physical tools as a player and producer."
Ingram helped guide St. Mark's to a Southwest Preparatory boys' basketball championship in February, dropping 14 points in an 85-57 victory over Houston Christian.
His profile rose significantly last summer when he and Team YGC36 toppled reigning champion Compton Magic Elite in the Adidas Gauntlet Finale. Team YGC36 was also crowned the 16U division champs after defeating the Atlanta Celtics.
While Ingram was bound to have plenty of prominent coaches knocking on his door, on-court reputation wasn't going to be his sole consideration during the recruitment process.
Snow noted he has a 4.0 GPA, and The Undefeated's William C. Rhoden profiled the Ingram family for a piece in December 2017 that laid out how Ingram's father, Tyrous, was concerned with more than just basketball.
Will Ingram, Harrison's older brother, plays basketball at Middlebury College, a Division III school in Vermont.
"Will went Division III," Tyrous said. "He is doing well academically and looking at a summer internship. He will go on to work on Wall Street, will get an MBA and make a lot of money, hopefully."
Tyrous expressed reservations about Harrison playing for a Division I power because his academic career might take a back seat.
Ingram's potential is impossible to ignore, though. While an NBA career is almost never a guarantee for a player just hitting the college level, it's certainly a feasible goal for Ingram down the line.
Ingram and his family can cross that bridge when it comes. In the immediate future, he's likely to assume a starring role for the Cardinal in 2021-22.
The Mike Montgomery era feels like a lifetime ago.
Stanford made 10 straight NCAA tournament appearances before Montgomery moved on to coach the Golden State Warriors in 2004. Since then, the Cardinal have made just four trips to the Big Dance.
Stanford head coach Jerod Haase might have things trending in the right direction. The Cardinal won 20 games in 2019-20 and assembled the Pac-12's third-best recruiting class in 2020, per 247Sports.
The school's academic record likely played a role in Ingram's decision, but his commitment is a strong endorsement of Haase as well.
5-Star G Mikey Williams Names Top 10 Including 5 HBCUs, Kansas, More
Jul 22, 2020
Top 2023 prospect Mikey Williams released his top 10 schools on Twitter Wednesday:
In addition to big programs like Kansas and USC, the guard also listed five historically black colleges and universities, including North Carolina Central, Tennessee State and Alabama State.
Williams has only finished his freshman year of high school but is considered one of the top prospects in the 2023 class, rated a 5-star recruit by ESPN. He had over two dozen scholarship offers from schools across the country, with notable programs like Arizona and UCLA failing to make his top-10 list.
The 6'2" player scored 77 points in a single game this season and has continually turned heads with his play:
It's enough to gain over 22,000 followers on Instagram and 26,000 on Twitter.
Despite getting attention from major conference squads, Williams has indicated his willingness to play for an HBCU at the next level.
After saying "going to an HBCU wouldn't be too bad," he elaborated his thoughts in an Instagram post.
"Why does it always have to be the big names? Have you ever thought about helping your own people out?? WE ARE THE REASON THAT THESE SCHOOLS HAVE SUCH BIG NAMES AND SUCH GOOD HISTORY," he wrote.
He explained he would have a huge impact if he followed through with his plan:
Playing for an HBCU would mean a lot to Mikey Williams
His top 10 provides Williams with options regardless of the path he chooses.
Arterio Morris, 5-Star 2022 Combo Guard Recruit, Commits to Memphis
Jul 21, 2020
Memphis continues to add top prospects with 2022 guard Arterio Morris the latest to commit to the school.
Jason Munz of the Memphis Commercial Appeal reported the news of Tuesday's verbal commitment.
Morris is considered a 5-star recruit and the No. 21 overall prospect in his class by the 247Sports composite rankings. He is rated as the fifth-best combo guard in the country.
The 6'3", 175-pound player has good athleticism for his age with the ability to attack the rim with consistency. His play was enough to pick updouble-digit offersafter just his sophomore season of high school, including from Kansas and Oregon.
The Texas native ended up choosing Memphis, giving head coach Penny Hardaway another top option for the AAC school.
Memphis had theNo. 1 recruiting classin the nation in 2019, including top prospect James Wiseman, although he eventually withdrew from the school after a suspension from the NCAA. The squad had an up-and-down season without him while finishing with a 21-10 record.
The Tigers added5-star prospectMoussa Cisse for the 2020 class, while Morris now gives the team a head start for 2022 with plenty of time to add more.
4-Star SG Matthew Cleveland Commits to FSU over Kansas, Michigan, More
Jul 21, 2020
One of the top 2021 recruits is off the board after Matthew Cleveland committed to Florida Stateon Tuesday.
Cleveland told Sports Illustrated's Jason Jordan that he picked the Seminolesfrom a group of schools that included Kansas, Michigan, North Carolina State and Stanford.
Jordan noted last week that Kentucky and North Carolina tried to make a late push to get into Cleveland's top five, but the Georgia native already decided which programs made his final list.
"I know that those are two of the schools that most players wait to hear from," Cleveland told Jordan. "They're great programs, but I had put so much time into coming up with my list. I had built a connection with those coaches, and it was tough to get it to five. I was set on those schools."
A 6'6" shooting guard from Pace Academy, Cleveland has earned high marks from scouts for his shooting ability.
Jerry Meyer of 247Sports offered this assessment of Cleveland's skill set:
"Good length for a wing scorer. An explosive athlete with top notch body control. Slasher who specializes in making tough shots. Can keep defense honest with long range shooting but needs to improve in that area. Handles well especially in half court. Not necessarily a playmaker for others. Great potential as a versatile defender. Top notch rebounder for his position."
According to 247Sports' composite rankings, Cleveland is a 4-star prospect who is the No. 3 shooting guard and No. 24 overall prospect in the 2021 class.
Given the ability Cleveland already possesses as a scorer, it wouldn't be a surprise to see Seminoles head coach Leonard Hamiltonhelp him develop into one of the best players in college basketball as a freshman.
If Cleveland can develop his playmaking skills in order to get his teammates more involved without sacrificing his shooting, there's no telling how high his ceiling can be.
Hamilton continues to push all the right buttons with this program. His coaching and recruiting staff have had tremendous success in recent years developing players with athleticism and size, like Mfiondu Kabengele, Devin Vassell and Jonathan Isaac.
One reason that Hamilton has had so much success in his 19 years at Florida State is recruiting players who fit his system. The Seminoles haven't suddenly become a recruiting powerhouse—their 2019 class was ranked 19th overall by 247Sports' composite rankings, the first time they finished in the top 20 in four years.
Cleveland's all-around skill set will help him quickly acclimate himself into Florida State's system as soon as he arrives in Tallahassee. He could crack the starting five as a true freshman next year and will likely play a key role in the team's quest for ACC dominance.
5-Star SF Kendall Brown Commits to Baylor over Kansas, Vanderbilt, More
Jul 20, 2020
Sunrise Christian Academy's Kendall Brown #10 is seen against Hillcrest Prep during a high school basketball game at the Hoophall Classic, Sunday, January 19, 2020, in Springfield, MA. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)
Baylorreceived a high-profile commitment from 5-star small forward Kendall Brown on Monday.
"I've been telling people for a while that I'm going to surprise them," Brown told Rivals.com's Eric Bossi.
Brown is the No. 14 overall prospect in the 2021 class in 247Sports' composite rankings and chose the Bears over Kansas and Vanderbilt among others. He's also listed as the fourth-best small forward and the top player coming out of the state of Kansas in the group.
The Sunrise Christian Academy standout has showcased a tremendous ability to put the ball on the floor to create offense, typically by attacking the rim. His athleticism has also allowed him to create valuable versatility on the defensive end, guarding everyone from guards and wings to stretch 4s.
He must continue to add more power to his frame (6'8'', 205 pounds) to maintain that ability at the collegiate level. It's a process he told Jacob Polacheck of Zagsblog is already underway.
"I've just been lifting every day," Brown said in April. "I'm definitely trying to get stronger during this time period. We've got a hoop outside for shooting and then I've been going for runs."
Offensively, he needs to develop a more consistent three-point shot to better fit the modern game.
Brown, a Minnesota native, is one of the most college-ready players in the 2021 class, and his ability to make an instant impact should put him on the fast track toward the NBA.
He told Adam Jardyof theColumbus Dispatchin April about the key factors in his college choice: "The relationship with the players and the style of play because that's where I'm going to be next year, and I want the best relationship with the coaches and the best help to get me to the next level."
Brown is a significant addition for Scott Drew and the Bears, who finished last season at 26-4 and ranked fifth in the AP Top 25 poll. Although it's too early to identify the exact role he'll fill when the 2021-22 college basketball season tips off, it'd be a major surprise if Brown is not a high-end contributor by the end of his freshman campaign.
While it may end up being a short stay at Baylor, his arrival bolsters the program's short-term outlook.
5-Star Center Recruit Moussa Cisse Commits to Penny Hardaway, Memphis over FSU
Jul 15, 2020
Official March Madness 2020 tournament basketballs are seen in a store room at the CHI Health Center Arena, in Omaha, Neb., Monday, March 16, 2020. Omaha was to host a first and second round in the NCAA college basketball Division I tournament, which was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)
Moussa Cisse has chosen to stay home as the Memphis, Tennessee, native will be joining head coach Penny Hardaway's Memphis Tigers.
"Coach Penny Hardaway is a legend and can help me develop my game and take it to the next level. He has a lot of influence in the league. I've been in Memphis for a year now and everyone is telling me to stay. With all this stuff we're facing with the pandemic, I didn't get to go visit any other schools except Florida State. I'm getting a lot of love from the fans."
He also said he received an endorsement from former teammate Precious Achiuwa, who spent last year with the Tigers.
Cisse, who plays ball at Lausanne Collegiate School in Memphis, was ranked as the ninth-best 2020 prospect in the 247Sports composite rankings. The native of Guinea is among 27 5-star recruits.
Though he was originally part of the 2021 class, Cisse told Givony in May that he reclassified as a member of the class of 2020, making the 220-pound shot-blocker eligible to play NCAA basketball in the 2020-21 season. He'll also be eligible for the 2021 NBA draft.
He had 16 offers, with the finalists including LSU, Georgia, Georgetown, Kentucky and Florida State. But the arrow pointed toward Memphis, with 247Sports' prediction leaning in that direction prior to the announcement.
Jerry Meyer, who is 247Sports' director of college basketball scouting, compared Cisse to Washington Wizards big man Thomas Bryant and offered the following report in January:
"Has a slender build with a long wingspan. Plays with energy and chip on his shoulder. Is a mobile athlete who will chase down the ball. Quality finisher around the rim. Is a tremendous rebounder. Limited in his offensive skill set at this point. Tough defender who is a top-level shot-blocker. First-rounder on length, athleticism and energy. Must develop offensive skills to be an impact NBA player."
Meyer also wrote that he believed Cisse would be a first-round NBA draft pick.
5-Star PG Cade Cunningham to Stay at Oklahoma State Despite 2021 Postseason Ban
Jun 22, 2020
Montverde Academy's Cade Cunningham #1 shoots a free throw against IMG Academy during a high school basketball game at the Hoophall Classic, Sunday, January 19, 2020, in Springfield, MA. Montverde won the game. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)
The No. 1 overall recruit in the class of 2020, Cade Cunningham, will keep his commitment to Oklahoma State.
Cunningham announced his decision in a video posted on Twitter:
The news comes in the wake of OK State receiving a postseason ban for the 2020-21 campaign as part of its punishments for the NCAA violations committed by former Cowboys assistant men's basketball coach Lamont Evans, one of the coaches investigated by the FBI in its anti-corruption probe into college sports.
The school is also facing three years of probation, the loss of three scholarships between now and the 2022-23 season and a $10,000 fine. Oklahoma State has appealed the ruling.
Despite potentially not having a chance to compete for a national title next year, Cunningham decided to stay in Stillwater.
The 6'6" point guard is the top overall prospect in 247Sports' composite rankings, so being able to keep him is a huge win for the Cowboys.
As for what Oklahoma State fans can expect to see from the Texas native, 247Sports' Evan Daniels broke down his game in the following scouting report:
"Cunningham is a big, strong lead guard with fine speed and good athleticism. What sets Cunningham apart at the position is his feel, vision and basketball IQ. He sees the game well, is an elite passer and consistently makes the right reads. Cunningham is a good finisher at the rim because of his size, strength and touch. Defensively there's potential, as he moves well laterally, has an impressive motor and can guard all three perimeter positions. The next step in his development is improving his mid and long-range shooting. There's a lot of upside because of his combination of physical tools, skill set and feel for the position."
With the Oklahoma State news, here's a quick look at what makes 6-7 guard Cade Cunningham the top prospect in the 2021 draft. Checks almost every box as a prospect. Excellent size + length, great feel, plays both ends, strong resumé between USA basketball, Montverde and EYBL. pic.twitter.com/GKGHJALPzr
There were options available for Cunningham, including a transfer to a different school or going pro by taking part in the G League Select Team that other top prospects like Jalen Green (No. 3) and Isaiah Todd (No. 19) have signed up for.
I’m told Cade Cunningham never seriously considered the G-League program. He turned down $500K plus months ago, did it again despite fact Oklahoma State isn’t likely to be able to play in NCAA tournament. Cowboys still appealing NCAA decision.
Ultimately, though, Cunningham will play for a school he's clearly comfortable with, especially with his brother, Cannen, hired as assistant coach in 2019, and can develop his skills on the court to become a potential top pick in the 2021 NBA draft.
2021 Top Recruit Jonathan Kuminga's List Includes Duke, Kentucky, NBA G League
May 22, 2020
College basketball recruit Jonathan Kuminga announced his list of potential landing spots Friday, with four schools and the NBA G League making the cut.
According to Evan Daniels of 247Sports, Kuminga revealed that Duke, Kentucky, Auburn, Texas Tech and the G League are in the running.
Kuminga is a native of the Congo who moved to the United States in order to pursue basketball. He attends The Patrick School in Hillside, New Jersey, and is listed by 247Sports as a 5-star prospect and the No. 1 overall recruit in the 2021 class.
Kuminga is also considering reclassifying from 2021 to 2020, and his brother Joel Ntambwe told Daniels that the G League offer "could be for this year."
The G League is quickly becoming a popular option for top high school recruits since they can spend one year in the league, make money and receive quality preparation for the NBA. Per ESPN'sAdrian Wojnarowski, the G League professional pathway program will pay elite prospects $500,000 or more.
Big-time college basketball may get more eyes on prospects, but since so many of the top prospects enter the NBA draft after one season anyway, playing for free without any intention of getting a degree isn't an attractive option for everyone.
If Kuminga does choose the G League for either this season or next season, he will join a handful of other well-known prospects, including Jalen Green, Daishen Nix, Isaiah Todd and Kai Sotto.
Kuminga already has ideal size at 6'8" and 210 pounds, and his versatility would likely play well immediately in either the college ranks or the G League.
According to 247Sports'Brian Snow, the forward has top-flight length and athleticism that allow him to compare favorably to Orlando Magic's Jonathan Isaac. Snow believes Kuminga is on track to eventually be a first-round pick in the NBA draft.
In terms of his college or professional playing choice, 247Sports recruiting expertChris Fisherpredicted that Texas Tech will land Kuminga.
Kuminga would be a major coup not only for a Red Raiders team that played in the national championship game two seasons ago, but for any school or league that is able to land him.
Brandon Boston Is Ready for the Spotlight
May 19, 2020
Sierra Canyon's Brandon Boston Jr. #3 in action against Paul VI during a high school basketball game at the Hoophall Classic, Monday, January 20, 2020, in Springfield, MA. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)
Brandon Boston feels like the plot of his life could make for a good movie one day.
The 6'7" forward wants to be a filmmaker one day, and he often thinks about ideas for movies and television shows, which he writes down or types up. And there may not be a better place for him to start than his own story: A promising, hard-working player moves with his family from his childhood home in Georgia to Los Angeles, where he emerges from a star-studded roster of celebrity teammates to become a top-10 national prospect only to see his crowning moment—a journey to the California state championship—taken from him by forces beyond his control.
In this case, a global pandemic.
Casting his part wouldn't be hard. He'd tap his little cousin for the role. But he would have to find others to play his teammates at Sierra Canyon.
"They would have to be bulky," he says about who would play teammate Shy Odom. "Shy is a big dude. Bronny, they'd have to be funny, have a lot of energy and always want to play."
It's April, and Boston has been sheltering in place at his house in Los Angeles for the past two months after his senior season ended abruptly because of the COVID-19 pandemic. In a Zoom virtual meeting, he swivels back and forth in an office chair, wearing a bright blue Kentucky long-sleeve shirt, the kind he might be wearing when he arrives on campus at some point this fall. He's talking about how much he looks up to LeBron James, Bronny's dad, and about the experience of playing last season on a team with a who's who of NBA progeny, from Bronny James to Zaire Wade, top-five-ranked Stanford commit Ziaire Williams and Amari Bailey, who's ranked eighth in the class of 2022.
Sierra Canyon's games were televised on ESPN, and he and his teammates traveled the country (and the world) to play in front of packed arenas. Cameras followed them everywhere.
Brandon Boston had helped lead Sierra Canyon to a 30-4 record and a spot in the California state championship before the coronavirus pandemic ended the season after a stunning win in the regional final.
His mind circles back to the movie of his life and how his last game against Etiwanda High School had felt like a heroic climax. The crowd, the energy, stepped up when the game was on the line.
Down 13 points in the final three minutes, Sierra Canyon clawed its way back any way it could. Bronny was diving on the floor. Odom was snagging rebounds and taking elbows to the face. Bailey was running through the lane and straight to the basket like a freight train.
And then Brandon had his moment.
With 1:29 left, he unleashed a crossover move with a hesitation jab step to get his defender off-balance. Then he pulled up from the three-point line for a game-tying jumper to bring the score to 61-61.
A mid-range jumper from Williams a little more than a minute later secured the comeback victory, along with a place in Brandon's memory. In the locker room afterward, he watched his teammates celebrate and cry tears of relief and joy. It's a moment he wishes he could relive.
"We practiced all year for a game like that, and to come out with wins like that, I was speechless," he said. "I couldn't believe that happened.
"I play to win, play to put on a show," he said later. "I want fans to know that I was the best player when they leave the building."
In big-time moments, Boston says something comes over him, a feeling.
Every hooper has his or her own antics, whether it's Steph Curry's three-finger gesture when he nails a three or Lance Stephenson's dance moves.
Boston has his, too.
And after falling to the ground following his game-tying three versus Etiwanda, Boston stayed on the floor and celebrated by extending his right arm out while keeping his left elbow bent inward. Placing his fingers on imaginary strings, he began strumming his own electric guitar.
With the game on the line, Boston looked like a rock star in the making.
It was Brandon Sr. who put the ball in his son's hands when BJ, as most know him, was only three years old. Some days, early in the morning, he'd take his young son to their local YMCA, or outside to go shoot around in their front driveway. He would have him run through dribbling drills in the basement, where Brandon Sr. would make BJ wear anti-grip gloves to control the ball. He'd show him figure eights, looping the ball around and through each of his small legs.
BJ grew up in Atlanta, specifically the north side (or Nawf, for those familiar with Migos lexicon), in an upwardly mobile neighborhood. Brandon Sr., who is originally from Pittsburgh, came from a tough upbringing and wanted more for his son. When he noticed BJ's attraction to basketball, he dedicated himself to helping his son develop his game. Midway through BJ's freshman year at Norcross High School in Georgia, he took BJ to his first workout with Chuck and Michael Pack, twin brothers who run Double Trouble Training and have been working with BJ for the past four years.
It was on a Saturday at a local Lifetime Fitness gym in Atlanta. Chuck remembers meeting Brandon Sr. and liking his vibe right away, how he radiated energy. Meanwhile, BJ, who was an unranked prospect his freshman year, was on the shy side and a little quiet at first. Chuck had heard his name around the ATL, but he wasn't a top-notch player yet.
"I knew who he was a little bit; he definitely wasn't a high-profile player by any means at the time," Chuck said in a phone interview.
To get a feel for him and see where he was at athletically, Chuck tested his strengths and weaknesses during the workout. They ran through ball-handling drills, wearing the same grip gloves Brandon Sr. made BJ wear as a kid, as well as full-court transition layups and shooting. Chuck saw a lanky kid, still growing into his size. He couldn't even dunk at the time.
But what stood out to Chuck was how BJ came to their next workouts having retained what he was learning. He paid attention, focused on the feedback and applied it quickly. By their fifth workout, Chuck wanted to see what kind of player BJ wanted to be.
"Yo, what's your goals or whatever?" Chuck asked him during warm-ups. What he heard back was that BJ wanted to be more, a lot more.
"He said he wanted to be McDonald's All-American," Chuck recalled. "He had three years left at Norcross, so he wanted to win three state championships, and to definitely be the NBA's top player. ... He told me by 25-26, he should be the best player in the world."
So they all pushed him, both his father and his trainers. Sometimes to the point where he'd cry, or refuse to work out at all. It wasn't a sign of defeat, but a frustration with the process, with understanding that potential takes time to develop. But the workouts began to pay off, and by his sophomore year, ESPN ranked him No. 15 overall and the No. 6 shooting guard in the country.
As the attention grew, his trainers felt that humbling him was just as important within his training.
"He got so much praise from everyone else, so my brother and I, we never told him 'good job,'" Chuck admitted. "If he had 35 points or something, we would say, 'Bro, you had two turnovers, you missed this rebound, you missed this from the passing lane.' He understood it came from a good spot."
Brandon Sr. kept him just as accountable, not allowing his son to go to work out if his room wasn't clean or his homework wasn't done. Brandon Sr. declined to be interviewed for this story because he wanted his son to speak for himself.
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"His dad came from a more tough area," Chuck said. "I think through that, his dad just tried to put BJ in the best situation to learn and have a good life. I think he set him on the right track and just pushed him.
"Some people are like, 'Let me talk to B,' but BJ always says, 'Go talk to my dad. My dad will handle it.' His dad oversees everything, makes sure no one is out to hurt him or do anything bad. ... I hope one day when I have a son, I'm something like that."
His mother, Alissa, also played a big role in BJ's development. She greeted him with breakfast and a smile when he'd return home from a workout at 7 a.m. BJ grew to appreciate her energy, how she supported him when he was unranked and felt like everyone was doubting him. When he was 16, he convinced a local tattoo artist to give him his first ink. BJ chose his mom's favorite bible scripture, Jeremiah 29:11.
"'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'"
In time, Chuck started to see a turning point in BJ's maturity and how he conducted himself around other people. He was always laughing and joking around, and as he became more notable, he didn't shy away from the attention.
During one of their workouts, a group of people playing on the other end of the court noticed him. Rather than ignore them or brush them off, BJ stopped the workout to talk to them.
"They all just came over, 'Oh my God, that's BJ!'" Chuck said. "He could have been, like, 'No, I'm not taking a picture,' but he just stopped and talked to them. That probably made their day. BJ is really people-oriented. People love being around him."
It was BJ's energy that caught the eye of Kentucky head coach John Calipari.
"When I'm watching young people play, I'm watching how they impact the game in a positive way, their body language, their spirit about them on the court," Calipari said in a phone interview. "How they dominate the game before three or four minutes of a game, I'm watching. I want to know if they can dominate well. BJ, he ends up being able to dominate both defensively, blocking shots, making plays, and then he can dominate the game offensively, too."
Boston's maturity, along with his floor-stretching range, earned him an offer from Kentucky's John Calipari before he began classes at Sierra Canyon for his senior year.
By his junior year at Norcross, BJ had established himself as a top-10 prospect with offers from almost every premier program in the country, including Duke, Kansas and Ohio State. But BJ wanted a program that would keep it real with him and his family. That's what he got from the Kentucky coaching staff when he visited in July.
"They told me ... what I was going to expect when I come to the campus," BJ said. "Just come in, be prepared for Coach Cal to be yelling and for me every day in practice, be prepared to work hard."
Calipari was intrigued with how BJ carried himself during his visit, a maturity that he felt was a reflection of his upbringing. He laughed with Brandon Sr. about their Pittsburgh connection, how the city has a certain way about it, the "ins and downtowns and the crick."
"I think [BJ] wanted what we're about," Calipari said. "He didn't need anything handed to him. He didn't need to be promised, to say, 'You're going to take this many shots, and here's everything we're going to do.' ... I don't think he wanted that. I think that's [why], at the end of the day, everybody wanted him."
BJ committed to Kentucky on the spot.
"I want him to teach me how to be a pro," he said. "What things I need to do and what I need to get there."
BJ soon decided his first steps couldn't wait for Lexington. For his senior season, he hatched a plan to leave Norcross and head to McEachern High School, a public school about 35 miles west in Powder Springs, Georgia, to team up with Auburn commit Sharife Cooper.
"Sharife, that's my brother," Boston said. "It would have been crazy."
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The two had joined forces on the AAU circuit the prior summer, playing on the AOT Running Rebels. Together, they were an eyebrow-raising offensive threat, dishing lobs and no-look passes to each other so in sync, it was as though they were always on the same wavelength. Boston saw them selling out gyms at every game.
"I was gonna go there at first, honestly. But I don't think that would have benefited my whole family."
During a visit to Los Angeles with his father, BJ checked out Sierra Canyon, a private school in the nearby suburb of Chatsworth. He immediately liked the outdoorsy vibe of the campus, but he also felt the school would benefit his sister, Brandi.
He knew she looked up to him and that a private school like Sierra Canyon could have her around successful people who knew not only what they wanted to do, but how to get there. Visions of past alumni were hard to ignore, names like Kendall and Kylie Jenner, Willow Smith, Ireland Baldwin—all celebrities with brands, platforms and their own businesses.
"I really came for my family," he said. "Growing up with the kids that go to Sierra Canyon, it's just a different environment and better schooling. I think it was good for them to come out here."
BJ also would get the benefit of added exposure while growing accustomed to the larger arenas he will experience at the next level and playing alongside other stars.
The next year, he and his entire family moved with him to Los Angeles, a change that the family appears to have embraced. His sister, as BJ hoped, has made new friends and adopted new hobbies, like volleyball and dance. And BJ has gotten used to the West Coast vibe.
"It reminds me of High School Musical," he said about the school. "It's just like a movie 'cause it's different than where I came from."
Before the season started, BJ found himself on a 23-hour flight to China with his newest teammates. They went to five different cities, tried new types of cuisine and visited outdoor hot tubs and huge malls. BJ didn't speak Mandarin, so at times, it felt like all he had were his new teammates to talk to.
BJ and his sister, Brandi, from early in his high school career at Norcross.
They brought that connection to the court. BJ found himself becoming a vocal leader and holding his younger teammates accountable. They came to take practice as though it was a game.
"We're all competitive," Boston said. "We all want to win, we all talk trash and we're all pretty good. ... Playing with those good guys, I feel like competing every day in practice made me a better player, made me want to work hard and play with other good players.
While Boston admits he misses home at times—his friends, the food, the NAWFside vibes—he also recognized that Sierra Canyon was putting him in a position to deal with a new circumstance and make the best of it.
"Coming in here, I really got my mental health strong," Boston said. "[That's] a big part on the court. You gotta, like, stay in control and keep your emotions controlled. ... I think I handled it really well. I'm used to cameras being in your face. But here, they came all at once. Everybody was at every game, every game was sold out. It was crazy."
That mindset will help him deal with the incoming attention—and doubts—that are set to come his way at Kentucky. The Wildcats' entire starting five declared for the 2020 NBA draft, leaving Kentucky's incoming recruiting class with a sizable vacuum to fill.
"That class is a really strong class," Calipari said of a group that also includes top-60 prospects Terrence Clarke, Devin Askew, Isaiah Jackson and Cam'Ron Fletcher, who together comprise what is considered the No. 1 recruiting class in the country, per 247Sports. "We may not be the best team early, but if these kids come together, we have the talent, the length and the experience in some of the older kids [that] by the end of the year, this will be one of those teams."
Boston is confident his class can handle the quick transition.
"I feel like we're gonna shock a whole lot of people," Boston said. "A lot of people don't think we can do it, but I think we're going to shock a lot of people by winning games. I feel like the talent--our talent--is unmatched. And we all get along well, so I think we're going to jell ... when we get out there."
He can see himself bonding with his incoming teammates, just like he did at Sierra Canyon.
"I really think it's going to be like how this year was, times five," he said about the bonds he hopes to form with his new teammates at UK. "We're going to have a lot of fun."
Though Boston had gained plenty of attention when he played in Georgia, the crowds his Sierra Canyon team regularly drew offered him a preview of what his games might look like when he plays at Kentucky.
While other top recruits such as Jalen Green and Isaiah Todd have opted to skip out on college and join the G League, Boston is committed to his decision, one he feels is another step in his journey toward what he hopes lies ahead.
"When you talk over a five-year period, he's going to be one of those kids that we talk about," Calipari said.
While Boston thinks that conversation will center around his similarity to New Orleans forward Brandon Ingram ("just because we look alike"), he adds, "I gained a lot from Kevin Durant's game, too, [as well as] Jamal Crawford. I can really handle the ball."
Don't be mistaken: BJ has his own vibe. He's the type to hand himself the auxiliary cord to play music, still rocks skinny jeans and doesn't just think he could beat Durant; he knows he can.
"I could learn some things," he said about the chance to compete against Durant. "But I think I could take him."
That doesn't mean he wants to be the next KD, though.
"[I want] to be the next Brandon Boston, that's all I can ask for," he adds. "A player that's going to get after it, a player that is versatile, can do anything a coach asks me. Becoming the best player on the court."
To get there will be no small feat. He will have to roll with whatever punches the COVID-19 pandemic brings, will have to get to know yet another new team and have to fit into Kentucky's system. But he hasn't shown any sides of faltering or stumbling yet.
This is how a rock star makes it from one curtain call to the next show—from the stage at Sierra Canyon to Rupp Arena at Kentucky.
Deyscha Smith is a sportswriter based in Boston who writes for Boston.com and the Boston Globe. She can be reached via Twitter, @deyschasmith.
Longtime Sports Illustrated writer, author and host of The Dream Team Tapes podcast, Jack McCallum, joins The Full 48 with Howard Beck to discuss the final episodes of “The Last Dance,” Karl Malone, the Bryon Russell push-off, MJ and the Dream Team and more.
College Basketball Recruiting 2020: Latest Predictions for Chet Holmgren, More
May 16, 2020
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - JANUARY 04: Chet Holmgren #34 of Minnehaha Academy Red Hawks squares up with the ball while he's defended by Brandon Boston, Jr. #3 of Sierra Canyon Trailblazers in the second half of the game at Target Center on January 04, 2020 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)
The top college basketball recruits in the class of 2021 are beginning to narrow down their lists of suitors.
The majority of the nation's top programs are vying for the signatures of Chet Holmgren, Jonathan Kuminga and Patrick Baldwin Jr. Kuminga is the top player in the class, but that honor could be bestowed upon Holmgren if the small forward reclassifies to the class of 2020.
Two of the 20 best players have made verbal commitments, and it could take a while for that number to grow since in-person visits have not been allowed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Latest Predictions For Top Prospects
Chet Holmgren, C, Minnehaha Academy (Minneapolis, MN)
Holmgren told 247Sports' Evan Daniels that he took official visits to Gonzaga and Ohio State and made an unofficial trip to Georgetown before travel restrictions were put in place.
A handful of other programs have met with the 7-footer from Minnesota in video conferences.
Minnesota faces a tough task to keep him in state because of how much interest he has received from elsewhere. Gonzaga, North Carolina and Ohio State are among the schools bidding for Holmgren that have had more success recently than the Golden Gophers.
However, Richard Pitino has shown the ability to keep a premier big man in state and develop him into a potential NBA draft pick. Pitino landed Daniel Oturu as a 4-star prospect in the class of 2018, and he turned into one of the most menacing paint players in Division I.
Holmgren is on a different level than Oturu was, and he would be the highest-ranked prospect landed in the Pitino era. The No. 2 prospect revealed the Golden Gophers are one of six programs that have been chasing him heavily lately.
It is going to take a tremendous effort by Pitino and his staff to fend off some of the best recruiters in the business, but they can win over Holmgren with the allure of achieving success in his home state.
Prediction: Holmgren remains home with Minnesota.
Jonathan Kuminga, SF, The Patrick School (Hillside, NJ)
Kuminga's recruitment is intriguing for a multitude of reasons.
He is the top prospect in the class of 2021, but he could gain immediate interest if he opts to reclassify to the class of 2020.
Kuminga gave ESPN's Paul Biancardi an update on where that process stands (h/t 247Sports' Adam Rowe):
"For me, right now, I would say 50/50. With everything is going on right now, I don't want to put myself in the type of situation where I don't know what I'm doing. So I've just got to be patient with it, sit down with my family and plan on everything."
The small forward's top 10 is headlined by Duke and Kentucky, and it also features rising programs like Texas Tech, Auburn and Memphis.
While most teams would welcome Kuminga with open arms if he reclassifies, it is tough to finalize a decision like that in the current state of affairs. Not only are in-person visits on hold, most rosters for next season have taken shape, and adjustments would have to be made to give Kuminga the proper amount of minutes.
Duke could have the inside track on Kuminga because he comes from the same high school as Kyrie Irving.
The Blue Devils have also pulled in two of the past four No. 1 prospects in Marvin Bagley III and RJ Barrett.
Kentucky has to be considered because of John Calipari's recruiting power, and it would not be surprising to see Memphis, Washington or Auburn try to draw in more top-tier talent, like they have in the past few years.
Prediction: Kuminga stays in class of 2021, signs with Duke.
Patrick Baldwin Jr., SF, Hamilton HS (Sussex, WI)
Duke and Kentucky could also be locked in a fight for Baldwin.
The Blue Devils and Wildcats were listed in the small forward's top-10 schools alongside North Carolina, Wisconsin and Virginia.
Mike Krzyzewski's team may hold an advantage over other programs because Baldwin has played with class of 2020 recruit Jalen Johnson. His recruiting experience could persuade Baldwin to land in Durham, North Carolina, as the cornerstone of another highly touted recruiting class.
Wisconsin could be considered if Baldwin wants to remain at home, but the Badgers have had trouble retaining the top players in their state of late. In the past five years, the Badgers have missed out on Tyler Herro, Joey Hauser, Tyrese Haliburton and Johnson.
If Duke lands Baldwin, it would continue its recent run atop the recruiting rankings. In an ideal situation, the Blue Devils could combine him with Kuminga to chase a national title.
Highly touted small forward Harrison Ingram announced his commitment to Stanford on Friday:
