College Basketball Recruiting

Former Harvard guard Bryce Aiken announced Thursday he will play for Seton Hall next season as a graduate transfer:

Aiken is from nearby Elizabeth, New Jersey and was considered the No. 3 player in the state out of high school, per 247Sports' composite rankings.  

The 6'0" player averaged 16.7 points per game this past season with the Crimson but a foot injury limited him to just seven games. The injury gives him the ability to play games in a fifth collegiate season after entering school in 2016.

Staying on the court has been a problem for Aiken throughout his career, dealing with knee problems the previous two seasons. It's limited him to just 39 total games over the past three campaigns.

He's been a difference-maker when healthy, however, averaging at least 14 points per game in each of his four years in school. He was at his best in 2018-19 when he averaged 22.2 points per game, which would have tied for the best in the Ivy League if he played enough games to qualify.

The guard also knocked down 39.8 percent of his three-point looks that year and is a 34.7 career shooter from the outside.

This made him a hot commodity on the transfer market, especially considering he will be eligible to play next season. He eventually chose Seton Hall over Maryland, Michigan and Iowa State.

"[I] was going back and forth between Maryland and Seton Hall, I really love Maryland. But ultimately my heart just chose to stay home," Aiken told Adam Zagoria of NJ.com. "I followed my heart this time around and I knew where I wanted to be for my final year and it was important for me to be home and be able to share this experience with my friends and my family, along with the state of New Jersey."

Seton Hall is coming off a big 2019-20 season with a 21-9 overall record while earning a share of the Big East regular-season title with a 13-5 conference record.

Aiken can help replace seniors Myles Powell and Quincy McKnight as the squad tries to remain a top contender next season.

Small forward Jace Howard is walking on at Michigan to suit up for his father, Juwan Howard, and the Wolverines, according to the Michigan Insider's Josh Henschke.

Howard, a 3-star recruit in the 2020 class, ranks 57th at his position and 348th overall in 247Sports' composite rankings.

He announced his intention to play for Michigan in January:

Juwan Howard initially offered scholarships to his two sons. Jett Howard is a 4-star recruit in the 2022 class.

With Jace walking on, the Wolverines might have another scholarship to hand out for what is already a strong group arriving for the 2020-21 season. Michigan is fourth in 247Sports' composite team rankings. Isaiah Todd, the No. 2 power forward, is the crown jewel.

MLive.com's Andrew Kahn wrote in March, however, the program was having trouble making the math work in terms of its returning and incoming players:

"The future includes a five-man recruiting class, though only one is signed. If the others, including 5-star Isaiah Todd, stay true to their pledge, Michigan would be one over the scholarship limit. And Michigan is still in the mix for a different 5-star, Joshua Christopher, in addition to potential graduate transfers."

Jace will still have the opportunity to follow in his father's footsteps and represent the Maize and Blue. Juwan starred for the Wolverines during the Fab Five era, helping them reach back-to-back national title games in 1992 and 1993.

The 47-year-old returned to his alma mater in May 2019 to replace John Beilein.

"Obviously, in May when my father got the job, it was a life-changing experience and I had to put it in perspective," Jace said to Henschke in January. "This could really happen. Throughout the whole recruiting process, it was always in the back of my mind, 'Is this the place I'm going to end up?' It happened."

Small forward Josh Hall is likely attending NC State next year, as has been the plan all along. He's just taking a small detour on his way.

The 6'9", 190-pound 4-star recruit has announced his intention to declare for the NBA draft while maintaining his college eligibility. In a tweet posted Monday night, Hall thanked NC State coach Kevin Keatts and said he wants to gain experience at the "highest level" and compete against the best.

Players are allowed to declare for the NBA if they are at least 19 years old, but to maintain NCAA eligibility, they must withdraw from the pool by June 15—10 days before the 2020 draft is scheduled to take place.

This has become a rather routine option for undergrad athletes who are looking for feedback from professional clubs and their scouts as players. Athletes can then take that information as they decide whether to stay in the draft or return to college for another year. Rarely do high school prospects declare for the NBA before spending a year in college because of the age restriction.

More recently, top recruits like LaMelo Ball and RJ Hampton have decided to forgo a college career in favor of playing professionally overseas.

Hall is listed as the No. 2 high school player in North Carolina behind 5-star Michigan recruit Isaiah Todd. His commitment helped the Wolfpack put together the third-ranked class in the ACC and the eighth-best class in the country.

Aside from the small forward, Keatts earned commitments from 4-star guard Cam Hayes and 3-star forward Nick Farrar. Hall is unquestionably the top prize for NC State this summer, and while it remains likely he still arrives on campus in the fall, it's no longer a certainty.

Making things more difficult for Hall is the fact that the NBA may not host its annual player combine in Chicago this summer because of the coronavirus pandemic. As team facilities remain closed and scouts are left reviewing game film, there may not be an opportunity for players to directly speak to coaching staffs outside of a web meeting.

The league has not made a determination on what the offseason will look like and remains committed to resuming the season in some form this summer.

As for Hall, he can still speak with NBA personnel and receive feedback on his game.

Recruit rankings via 247Sports.

Columbia transfer Patrick Tape has reportedly reopened his recruitment less than two weeks after making a verbal commitment to Duke. 

Evan Daniels of 247Sports reported the update Thursday and noted the 6'10", 232-pound forward, who's eligible to play during the 2020-21 college basketball season, also received interest from Georgetown, Maryland, Ohio State and Syracuse before his initial choice of the Blue Devils.

Tape averaged 11.3 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.3 blocks while shooting 66.7 percent from the field across 27 appearances (21 starts) for the Lions during the 2018-19 campaign. He sat out this past season after suffering a toe injury.

The Charlotte native said having a chance to play close to his hometown and for Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski were the key factors in his decision.

"[It was] really just being close to home and having my family come see me, the excellent tradition they have there and the opportunity to play for the best coach of all time," Tape told ESPN's Jeff Borzello.

USC was another school in the running for the graduate transfer, per Borzello.

Tape said he had a couple goals in mind after deciding to leave Columbia.

"[When I left], my goals were to play at a high level, make the NCAA tournament, hopefully play pro and get into urban planning," he told reporters. "I thought I would get high-major interest, but Duke is a different level."

It's unclear whether Duke will remain under consideration.

Tape's decision comes after the NCAA announced Wednesday the "recruiting dead period" has been extended through at least May 31 because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Patrick Tape was an unranked prospect from Charlotte, North Carolina when he committed to Columbia out of high school. After proving himself in the Ivy League, he's heading back to his home state to finish his college career with Duke: 

The senior forward announced his decision to transfer on Tuesday night, netting coach Mike Krzyzewski and the Blue Devils a 6'10" big man who averaged 11.3 points, 5.9 rebounds and shot 66.7 percent from the field during the 2018-19 season. 

The move makes sense for multiple reasons. Namely the fact that Duke is looking to reload while Columbia remains at the bottom of the Ivy League. The Lions went just 6-24 last season, picking up one conference win along the way, while Tape sat out the year.

Despite that, the forward has played exceptionally well against some of the tougher competition on Columbia's schedule in the past. As a junior, Tape posted 18 points and four rebounds against Northwestern, 15 points and four rebounds against Rutgers, 17 points and three rebounds against Boston College and 22 points and 12 rebounds against Harvard. 

It was quite a step up from a sophomore season in which he averaged just 4.4 points in 17.2 minutes per game. 

Now he'll join an incoming class at Duke that's already ranked No. 2 in the nation behind Kentucky, according to 247 Sports. The Blue Devils had previously picked up commitments from three five-stars in forward Jalen Johnson and guards Jeremy Roach and DJ Steward—along with three four-stars in big men Mark Williams, Jaemyn Brakefield and Henry Coleman. 

Aside from seniors Javin DeLaurier and Jack White, Duke is preparing to lose freshmen Wendell Moore Jr., Vernon Carey Jr. and Cassius Stanley to the NBA this offseason, along with others who may declare without an agent.

Adding Tape to the mix will give Coach K another embarrassment of riches that's sure to be the envy of most ACC teams yet again. 

Concerns about the coronavirus will prevent coaches from recruiting players for the next four weeks, the NCAA announced Friday:

CBS Sports' Jon Rothstein first reported the news.

The coronavirus pandemic has already forced the NCAA to cancel all remaining winter and spring championships, including the men's and women's basketball tournaments.

A number of colleges have either canceled or postponed their pro days for players to work out in front of NFL scouts leading up to the draft April 23. Michigan and Penn State canceled their pro days, scheduled for Friday and Tuesday, respectively.

Per ESPN's Field Yates, the University of Alabama is prohibiting any NFL personnel from visiting the school until March 30 and rescheduled its pro day from March 24 to April 9.

Under official NCAA rules, March 1-April 14 is a "quiet period" in FBS recruiting. Men's college basketball normally has an open recruiting period through March 31 (aside from a Dec. 24-26 "dead period"), followed by a quiet period April 1 and dead period April 2-9.

Mayfair High School point guard Dior Johnson—who is sixth overall among boys high school basketball recruits in the class of 2022, according to 247Sports' composite rankings—has committed to Syracuse.

Evan Daniels of 247Sports provided the exclusive on the 5-star guard, who is listed as the top floor general in the class. The Lakewood, California, native also announced his decision on Twitter on Friday:

The 6'3" Johnson discussed his decision with Daniels:

"I picked Syracuse because I've been around those coaches since seventh grade.

"I was 12, I played for City Rocks with [head coach Jim Boeheim's son and current Syracuse guard] Buddy Boeheim played at the time. I was always around the Syracuse guys, like all of the time, it's his son so they’re around practice and everything. They always have had big interest in me even since I was really young."

Per 247Sports, Johnson had 16 offers, including ones from St. John's, LSU and Arizona State.

"I don’t have anything against the Blue Bloods, but I’m the kind of guy who wants to go to a school where I can play against them and beat them," Johnson said in a first-person piece for Sports Illustrated.

Boeheim is putting together a loaded class of 2022, with 4-star shooting guard Chance Westry already committing to the Orange. Westry is ranked 28th overall.

Syracuse is the only school to have two top-100 commits from the class thus far.

Josh Gershon of 247Sports provided the following scouting report on Johnson on July 19:

Good size and length to go with sturdy frame that should carry plenty of strength. Impressive skill set given athletic ability. Has handle and vision to play on the ball, while he is an efficient enough shooter/scorer to play off it. Will be able to guard the one and two at next level. Talent-wise he is a no-brainer elite prospect at this stage. Bounced around several high schools before sophomore year. Finding stability will be key, but has continued to progress regardless. Projects as high major priority recruit.

Syracuse offered him July 31. He unofficially visited the school last Saturday, when the team hosted Duke.

Johnson wasn't the only prized recruit visiting Syracuse that day. Five-star shooting guard Zion Cruz (class of 2022) and 4-star center Mac Etienne (class of 2021) were among those in Central New York, per Michael McAllister of 247Sports.

The future looks bright in Syracuse after Johnson's commitment, but for now, the Orange are 13-9 and 6-5 in ACC play as they look to wiggle their way into the NCAA tournament.

Jalen Green, a 5-star combo guard for Prolific Prep in Napa, California, denied the rumors that he was considering skipping school and going pro.

"I've been seeing that, and I want to let everyone know that, that is not an option," Green said Sunday about turning professional next season, per Evan Daniels of 247Sports. "I'm considering college only. I've been looking at things saying I'm going pro, but that's not the case, I am going to college."

That's good news for the college teams recruiting him. Green is considered the No. 3 prospect overall in the class of 2020, the No. 2 combo guard and the No. 2 player in the state of California, per 247Sports' composite ratings.

The 6'5" and 170-pound guard has visited Auburn, Florida State, Memphis, Oregon and USC, and said Sunday he expects to make a decision sometime in the spring.

"It's not going to be too late after the season," he said. "I don't want to say a certain time, because I don't want to give it away but it should be right after the season."

Green's comments came after he put up 26 points, five rebounds and five assists at the Hoophall Classic on Sunday, showcasing the talent that makes him one of the elite high school prospects in the nation.

Jerry Meyer of 247Sports broke down Green's game in his scouting report:

"Good length for a shooting guard who can handle. Plays with long strides. Needs to develop strength and put on some weight. Slasher with elusiveness and wiggle. Finishes above the rim and can make tough shots. A threat to score from deep as well. Effective going either direction, and has a nice pull-up jumper going left. Can distribute, but scoring is his forte. Potential to be a good defender and rebounder with his length, athleticism and motor. Projects as an NBA lottery pick."

There's little doubt that Green will be playing professionally in the future, given his exceptional athleticism and growing skill set. It just won't be next season.

The top high school boys basketball recruit in 2020 is already taking on some large comparisons before he even steps foot on a college campus.

Center Evan Mobley, 247Sports' top player in this year's class, is being heralded by some as a generational talent on par with two of the NBA's premier players over the last 20 years. Speaking to The Undefeated, his AAU coach, Etop Udo-Ema, called the Californian's game a "mixture of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Kevin Durant" and who can play like Kevin Garnett.

"He is as perfect a basketball player that I've ever seen," Mobley's high school coach, Ray Barefield, said. "We all know he's going to be in the NBA. When he picks up weight and if he's on the right team, he could be an All-Star with a big-time career."

The 6-11, 205-pound Mobley has committed to USC, where his father Eric is associate head coach and his brother Isaiah is a freshman power forward.

"He's a great defensive player who can change the course of any game," Udo-Ema said. "I've been coaching for 30 years and I've seen pretty much every top player that has been through Southern California, and if he develops, he can be better than any of them. Once he gets bigger and stronger, there is no ceiling for this kid."

Given his upbringing, it only makes sense. Mobley's father told The Undefeated he had his kids dribble basketballs as they recited the alphabet as toddlers.

Eric Mobley joined Andy Enfield's coaching staff at USC in March 2018 after running AAU teams in California. He played collegiately at Portland before landing at Cal Poly Pomona. 

In an era where top high school recruits are either going abroad to play professionally before they can enter the NBA—like LaMelo Ball and RJ Hampton—or sitting out their freshman season—like James Wiseman has chosen to do after starting the year with Memphis—Mobley is set to play for a Trojans team that will count him as one of its best recruits since O.J. Mayo and DeMar DeRozan.

Simply put, Mobley is exactly the type of player Enfield has been searching for at USC for some time now—especially as rival UCLA has trotted out college stars like Lonzo Ball, Kevin Looney and Shareef O'Neal.

If Mobley can play close to the level his current coaches are projecting, two of the Pac-12's marquee names might be able to reignite a rivalry that's long felt dormant.