College Basketball Recruiting

If Marcus Bagley is ever going to join his brother Marvin in the NBA, it will be after a stop at Arizona State.

The younger Bagley is a member of the 2020 recruiting class and announced he picked the Sun Devils on Monday:

https://twitter.com/bagleymarcus23/status/1155910168338583552

Jeff Borzello of ESPN.com noted Bagley chose Arizona State as part of a final three that included Arizona and California. While the 6’7" and 220-pound forward is partially known for being the younger brother of a Sacramento Kings player, he has already turned heads as a college prospect in his own right.

According to 247Sports’ composite rankings, he is a 4-star prospect and the No. 50 overall player, No. 14 small forward and No. 8 player from the state of California in his class. 

Borzello pointed out there is an Arizona State connection beyond the fact Marvin played nearby at Corona del Sol high school in Tempe, Arizona. Bagley's grandfather, Joe Caldwell, played at Arizona State and had his number retired by the Pac-12 school before he laced it up for the Detroit Pistons and St. Louis/Atlanta Hawks in the NBA.

The ESPN report called Arizona State a "heavy favorite down the stretch" for Bagley and noted Arizona never officially extended a scholarship offer.

Bagley's length and versatility make him stand out as someone who can play multiple positions and handle the ball from a forward spot. He possesses the athleticism to attack the basket but is also capable of scoring with his jumper and can bother perimeter shooters with his length on the defensive end.

Josh Gershon of 247Sports called Bagley's "pure scoring ability" his best trait on the floor because he "can efficiently score from all three levels."

Arizona State hasn't made it past the second round of the NCAA men's basketball tournament since the 1994-95 campaign but is trending in the right direction under head coach Bobby Hurley. It made back-to-back Big Dances the last two years, marking the first time it accomplished such a feat since 1980 and 1981.

Landing playmakers like Bagley is a surefire way to ensure the program's improvement continues.

Virginia continues to fill its 2020 class with the addition of Jabri Abdur-Rahim, who announced his decision on Twitter Wednesday:

https://twitter.com/jabri404/status/1149091230082486272

"I felt most comfortable with the staff and I felt they would best prepare me to win on the college level and achieve my ultimate goal of playing in the NBA," he said, per Jeff Borzello of ESPN. 

The small forward is the son of former NBA star Shareef Abdur-Rahim, but he is a top prospect in his own right. Jabri is considered a 4-star talent, rated the No. 11 player in the country at his position and the No. 44 overall player in the 2020 class, per 247Sports.

2020 prospect Jabri Adbur-Rahim has committed to Virginia, per his Twitter page. Huge pickup for the defending national champions.

— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) July 10, 2019

At 6'5", he has good size to play the wing in college and could potentially switch to guard if he makes the NBA. Regardless of where he lines up, he has showed he can be a high-level scorer who can drive into the lane and finish with consistency.

Perhaps more importantly for the Cavaliers, he is also an active defender who averaged 1.7 blocks and 1.0 steals per game this past season, per 247Sports.

If the Blair Academy product can add more strength and improve his outside shot, he could be a star at the next level. Of course, expectations are high as he tries to live up to his family name.

Shareef was a 12-year NBA veteran and one-time All-Star and is currently the president of the NBA's G-League.

Virginia is coming off a national championship but head coach Tony Bennett has remained aggressive on the recruiting trail, already getting commitments from three players in the 2020 class. Along with Abdur-Rahim, Reece Beekman and Carson McCorkle help create the No. 1 class in the country.

Eugene Omoruyi is heading to Eugene, Oregon.

The former Rutgers forward announced his decision to transfer to Oregon by posting a photo wearing a No. 1 Ducks uniform to his Instagram Monday night. 

Omoruyi also took to Instagram to announce his intention to transfer from Rutgers on May 28 and entered the transfer portal. He then reportedly visited Oregon on Saturday, according to CBS Sports' Jon Rothstein. 

The Ontario, Canada native played three seasons at Rutgers and led the team last season in points per game (13.8) and rebounds (7.2). 

Omoruyi is expected to sit out next season, per Stadium's Jeff Goodman:

Oregon has added UNM grad transfer Anthony Mathis and Rutgers transfer Eugene Omoruyi — who will likely sit. If Dana Altman can get UNLV grad transfer Shakur Juiston, should be NCAA tourney team despite getting crushed by NBA early entries.

— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) June 11, 2019

Last week, NJ.com's James Kratch spoke with Rutgers head coach Steve Pikiell about Omoruyi. 

"Gene was here three years and was great," Pikiell said. "But Gene wants to go to another school. You don't always have to agree, 18-to-22-year-olds have to make decisions. ... I think he thinks another place is better for him and that's his right." 

Once Omoruyi is eligible to take the floor, the appeal of finishing his collegiate career at Oregon instead of Rutgers is clear. 

Rutgers has not finished above .500 since the 2005-06 campaign, while the Ducks are coming off of a Sweet Sixteen run. Oregon head coach Dana Altman has led the program to nine consecutive winning seasons with NCAA tournament appearances, including the 2017 Final Four. 

The 6'7", 240-pound forward played in 93 games in three years for the Scarlet Knights, averaging 7.7 points and 4.7 rebounds. While the 2018-19 season saw Omoruyi post career-bests in points, rebounds and assists per game, he had consistently built a reputation as a stout defender throughout his Rutgers tenure.

That characteristic makes for a good fit in Altman's system, as the Ducks' defense propelled them deep into the NCAA tournament last season. 

After reclassifying to the 2019 class, 5-star guard RJ Hampton announced Tuesday that he will play professionally in New Zealand next season rather than playing collegiately.

Hampton said on ESPN's Get Up! that he will play for the New Zealand Breakers of the National Basketball League of Australia.

Hampton believes playing in New Zealand will best prepare him for the NBA:

"My No. 1 goal is to play in the NBA. I wanted to be an NBA player before I ever wanted to be a college player. This is about getting ready for the next level faster and more efficiently. Both of my parents went to college. My mom got her masters degree. Education is a big thing in our family, but this is about focusing 100 percent on basketball. You can always go back to college, but there's only a short window as an athlete where you can play professional basketball, and I want to take advantage of that. I think that challenging yourself on a daily basis is the best way to improve."

Matt Walsh, a partial owner of the Breakers, also commented on the signing:

"Signing a player of RJ's caliber is a monumental undertaking that we don't take lightly at the Breakers. His family has entrusted us with their son spending one of the most important years in his development in New Zealand, and we are going to do everything we can as an organization to ensure that he reaches his goal of being a high draft pick and prepare him as best as we can to come in ready to make an impact in the NBA."

Per 247Sports, Hampton is the No. 5 overall player, No. 2 combo guard and No. 1 player from the state of Texas in the 2019 class.

Hampton was considered one of the top players in the 2020 class, and this didn't change much when he decided to move up a class. He announced his decision to leave high school early in April:

Best 3 Years of my life, Little Elm will forever and always be home 🖤 Thank You. 14 Signing Out ✍🏾 pic.twitter.com/h0l9ZJ7BVD

— RJ (@RjHampton14) April 30, 2019

According to his father, Rod Hampton, the decision came after he dominated his competition during the spring. He averaged 28.8 points per game in the EYBL while also playing well for USA Basketball.

His father told Evan Daniels of 247Sports:

"Just his play at USA and not from what everyone else said, but it was my feeling as his dad. His play at USA and this weekend [at EYBL], it was stellar. You got bonafide pros in that league. In 24 months, 36 months you have bonafide pros from 2020 to 2022. ... He was a shining star. There was nobody that was better than him."

This type of advanced level of play should allow him to make a quick transition to the professional level even if he is a bit underage. Hampton noted how important it has been to watch Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic thrive in the NBA:

"Luka Doncic is one of my favorite players to watch. I started following him two years before he was drafted and watched at least 10 games of his this season. Seeing how he came into the NBA and being arguably the best rookie in the NBA shows you that you don't have to go to college to be successful. Playing professionally against men helped him get to where he is now. He's not the fastest or most athletic guy, but he gets where he wants on the floor and reads defenses better than almost any player in the NBA."

At 6'5", Hampton has great size for a guard with the type of elite handle that will allow him to spend most of his time on the ball. Although he could improve at being a true point guard, he does a great job of creating opportunities for himself while getting easy looks at the basket.

Even so, playing against older and more experienced competition overseas will be a major challenge for Hampton as he prepares himself for the NBA.

The Washington Huskies received excellent news Tuesday, as highly touted recruit Jaden McDaniels has committed to play college ball in Seattle:

🐶 pic.twitter.com/wr12lgZjBO

— Jmac (@Jmcdaniels7) May 22, 2019

Per 247Sports, he had narrowed his list down to Kentucky, San Diego State, Texas, UCLA and Washington.

Jaden's older brother, Jalen, played two seasons at San Diego State before declaring for the NBA draft this year. However, Jaden told Percy Allen of the Seattle Times in April that he is his "own person."

As his MaxPreps highlight reel shows, the 6'11" power forward has some game:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xS-HZnFDebU

His skill set was also on full display during a 51-point performance as a senior at Federal Way High School:

Jaden McDaniels WENT OFF last night and dropped 51 🚨 @Jmcdaniels7 pic.twitter.com/xVS5XdG9vA

— Overtime (@overtime) January 26, 2019

McDaniels opened up about his rise to stardom to Ballislife in December 2018, revealing he works out with Los Angeles Lakers forward Kyle Kuzma:

According to Matt Norlander of CBS Sports, McDaniels once viewed Kentucky as his dream school because of his admiration for former Wildcats star John Wall. However, things changed.

"I'm really just taking my time and finding the right school," McDaniels told Allen in April. "It's a big deal because that's where you going to spend the rest of your ... however long you're there. I just feel like I'm going to take my time, and when I feel like the time is right, that's when I'll probably make my decision."

The pull of playing close to home won out for the Washington native.

"That would be fun, just putting on for the city," McDaniels said in July 2018, per Ben Roberts of the Lexington Herald-Leader. "Everybody's telling me to go to U-Dub, stay in the purple and gold. But I don't know what I'm going to do yet."

Of course, it didn't hurt that travel teammates Marcus Tsohonis and RaeQuan Battle had already long committed to Washington. As McDaniels told Allen, Tsohonis and Isaiah Stewart each made recruiting pitches on behalf of the Huskies.

Boogie Ellis, who is the No. 37 overall prospect and the No. 6 combo guard in the 247Sports' Composite Rankings for the 2019 class, has committed to Memphis:

110% committed NEXT CHAPTER #GTG 🐆 pic.twitter.com/WiPNwfyBNi

— Boogie Ellis (@BoogieEllis) May 13, 2019

The 4-star guard out of Mission Bay High School in San Diego signed with Duke on Nov. 9 but was granted his release from the Blue Devils on May 2, according to Evan Daniels of 247Sports. 

Ellis wrote the following regarding the decision, per Michael Model of the Duke Chronicle:

"I would like to thank Duke University and the coaching staff for recruiting me," Ellis stated. "However, after much thought and discussion with my family, I have decided to ask for my release and re-open my recruitment."

It's unclear why Ellis specifically decided to move on from Duke, but the Blue Devil backcourt would have been crowded with him in the mix.

Namely, point guard Tre Jones announced on April 8 that would be returning for his sophomore year. He'll almost certainly return to his starting role, and 4-star 6'5" shooting guard Cassius Stanley will likely join him to form Duke's starting backcourt.

Therefore, Ellis was best served to head to a school where he could carve out more playing time.

Teams naturally lined up to recruit Ellis shortly after the choice to leave Duke, per Adam Zagoria of Sportsnet New York:

Washington, Georgetown, Virginia, Arizona, Oregon, Gonzaga, Kansas,memphis, UCLA and Vanderbilt have all reached out on Boogie Ellis

— Adam Zagoria (@AdamZagoria) May 2, 2019

247Sports' Director of College Basketball Scouting Jerry Meyer offered the following scouting report and provided a pro comparison to Orlando Magic floor general D.J. Augustin:

"Has average size for a point guard. Possesses quickness and slick ball handling. Can penetrate and make plays but greatest strength is shooting. Proficient from deep and in mid-range off the dribble and the catch. Capable of hounding the ball as an on-the-ball defender. Alert to snagging rebounds and quick to loose balls. All-around solid guard with NBA talent."

Ultimately, Duke's loss is Memphis' gain, as the Tigers bolstered what is already a promising recruiting class.

He will join center James Wiseman, power forward DJ Jeffries, shooting guard Lester Quinones, center Malcolm Dandridge and combo guard Damion Baugh. According to 247Sports, Wiseman is a 5-star prospect and the rest are 4-star players.

What's more, 3-star graduate transfer guard Rayjon Tucker is immediately eligible to play.

Memphis was just 22-14 and failed to reach the NCAA tournament in head coach Penny Hardaway's first season, but it hired him with this type of recruiting in mind. 

The Tigers figure to be national contenders and a frequent presence in the Top 25 rankings throughout the season on the back of this recruiting class, and Ellis gives them yet another piece to work with as they look to win the American Athletic Conference and re-establish themselves as Final Four threats. 

Small forward Johnny Juzang announced Friday he's decided to play college basketball at Kentucky. 

https://twitter.com/JohnnyJuzang/status/1126996031520960517

The 4-star prospect's commitment gives head coach John Calipari and the Wildcats the top 2019 recruiting class in 247Sports' composite rankings.

Juzang joins a star-studded incoming group for UK that also features 5-star prospects Tyrese Maxey, Kahlil Whitney and Keion Brooks as well as 4-star recruit Dontaie Allen. In addition, the Wildcats will welcome Nate Sestina as a transfer from Bucknell.

The Harvard-Westlake School (California) product was originally a member of the 2020 class before reclassifying in late April. He worked quickly to make a decision, narrowing his list to Kansas, Kentucky, Oregon and Virginia before choosing the Wildcats.

Calipari released a statement about the late addition to an already promising 2019 class, calling Juzang a "smart player who is really going to make us a different team next year."

"Johnny can really score the basketball. You're talking about a kid who has a college-ready body, which is why I was in full support of him reclassifying. When he told us he was doing it, I said let's do this. He can really shoot the basketball and has a great skill set, but what I love about him is his will to win, his fight and competitiveness. He likes to play physical and can shoot over the top of defenders, plus he's a very good rebounder for his age."

.@JohnnyJuzang wanted to be at Kentucky to be challenged. We wanted him here to watch him grow and compete. Why not get a head start?

After reclassifying a few weeks ago, Johnny has signed an NLI with us. He's officially a Wildcat!#DreamBIG #WhoWantsToBeNext pic.twitter.com/uwB5Fwzggg

— Kentucky Men’s Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) May 10, 2019

Juzang also made comments as part of UK's official announcement, noting he's not afraid of the competition on what's shaping up to become a title-contending roster.

"I want to be in an environment that challenges me, but also one that I can showcase my skill, fight and toughness," he said. "The opportunity to play for a Hall of Fame coach and shine on the biggest stage in college basketball in front of the greatest fans in the world is somewhat of a dream. I can't wait to get started."

Kentucky is tied with Virginia for the best odds to win the 2020 national championship at 7-1, per Vegas Insider. Duke and Michigan State (both 8-1) are the only other teams with a betting line below 10-1.

The rich got richer in the college basketball world on Tuesday when highly touted prospect Jeremy Roach committed to the Duke Blue Devils. 

https://twitter.com/Jeremyroach10/status/1126260695300018176

"I just felt like as soon as I went down there it was right for me," Roach said, per Evan Daniels of 247Sports. "It was just a gut feeling in everybody's stomach, even my sister, my brother, my dad and my mom. I went everywhere, I went to Kentucky and Villanova, I just didn't feel the same way I did at Duke."

Roach is a 5-star prospect and the No. 15 overall player and No. 2 point guard in the 2020 recruiting class, per 247Sports' composite rankings.

"I have a big relationship with them," Roach said when discussing the members of the Duke coaching staff who helped recruit him, per Daniels. "Coach [Jon] Scheyer, Coach [Nate] James and Coach K. I probably have the best relationship with Coach Scheyer of the assistant coaches."

Roach doesn't overwhelm opponents with his size (6'2", 165 lbs), but his 247Sports profile pointed to his ability to play through contact and score at the rim. He is also an impressive facilitator when defenders collapse on his penetration, and he's capable of guarding multiple positions as a versatile guard on the other end.

Daniels noted he tore his ACL during his junior season but made USA Basketball's U17 team that won a gold medal at the FIBA U17 World Cup.

Tre Jones returned to Duke this offseason, but Roach could slide right into the point guard spot if the incumbent heads to the NBA following the 2019-20 campaign.

He is also the Blue Devils' first commit in the 2020 class and could set the tone for another talented group of recruits after Duke landed the No. 1 class in 2018 and No. 2 class in 2019, per 247Sports' composite rankings.

RJ Hampton, previously projected as one of the top prospects in the 2020 college basketball recruiting class, is set to reclassify as a 2019 recruit.

Rod Hampton, the 5-star combo guard's father, confirmed the switch to Evan Daniels of 247Sports and provided an update about the schools under consideration.

"It's going to be Kentucky, Kansas, Memphis and we took off Duke and added Texas Tech," he said.

Best 3 Years of my life, Little Elm will forever and always be home 🖤 Thank You. 14 Signing Out ✍🏾 pic.twitter.com/h0l9ZJ7BVD

— RJ (@RjHampton14) April 30, 2019

Rod Hampton told 247Sports his son felt there wasn't anything left to prove in high school after RJ competed in the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League this past weekend.

"He was a shining star," the elder Hampton said. "There was nobody that was better than him. He held his own. I just felt like if he was going then he needed to do it."

RJ has already visited Kansas, Kentucky and Memphis, per Daniels. While the prospect hasn't scheduled an official visit to Texas Tech, his father praised Red Raiders head coach Chris Beard.

"Beard is one of the great minds, and he—what he's done with less, and I'm thinking what can he do if he gets more," he added. "Beard was the first to call him when they could call juniors at midnight."

Hampton is listed as the No. 7 overall prospect in this year's class after the switch, according to 247Sports' composite rankings. He's also rated as the top recruit from Texas and the No. 2 combo guard behind Cole Anthony, who's already committed to UNC.

Neither the Little Elm High School standout nor his father provided a timetable for making a final school choice.

Blue-chip recruit Johnny Juzang narrowed down his final list of contenders to four schools.

Juzang, a 5-star talent, tweeted Sunday he's still considering the Kansas Jayhawks, Kentucky Wildcats, Oregon Ducks and Virginia Cavaliers.

Top 4 ! @TiptonEdits pic.twitter.com/3qcJWRgqhP

— Johnny Juzang (@JohnnyJuzang) April 28, 2019

The Studio City, California, native is the No. 21 player and No. 5 small forward in the 2019 recruiting class, per 247Sports' composite rankings. 

By now, most of the big names have committed to schools ahead of the 2019-20 season. Juzang is a special case because he confirmed Wednesday he intended to reclassify from the 2020 recruiting class to 2019.

I will be reclassifying to the class of 2019! pic.twitter.com/iW9GdGtNc0

— Johnny Juzang (@JohnnyJuzang) April 24, 2019

In 15 games as a junior at Harvard-Westlake High School, the 6'6" forward averaged 23.0 points, 8.5 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game, according to MaxPreps. He also shot 47.0 percent from the field and 31.3 percent from beyond the arc.

Prior to his decision to reclassify, ESPN.com's Adam Finkelstein highlighted Juzang as a player who can immediately help a team at the college level: "Juzang is one of the best shooters in the class and very skilled with the ball across the board. That means that even if he isn't the primary offensive weapon from day one, his ability to space the floor and stretch opposing defenses is likely to get him heavy minutes right away."

Of the four teams still in the race, Kansas would benefit the most from adding Juzang. The Jayhawks sit 60th in 247Sports' composite team rankings, with 4-star combo guard Issac McBride and 4-star small forward Christian Braun their only commitments so far.

Although Lagerald Vick was the only senior on the roster this past season, Kansas could be gutted by the 2019 NBA draft. Silvio De Sousa, Devon Dotson, Quentin Grimes and Dedric Lawson all entered the draft pool with college eligibility remaining.

Landing Juzang would be a shot in the arm for the Jayhawks in an otherwise underwhelming recruiting cycle so far.