Commitment breakdown: Kanaan Carlyle chooses Stanford
Stanford landed its first commitment of the 2023 class on Wednesday, when four-star guard Kanaan Carlyle announced his commitment to the Cardinal. The No. 23 prospect in the 2023 Rivals150, Carlyle chose Stanford over a long list of options that included a number of closer-to-home SEC schools. Below, Rivals.com has a detailed look at what Jerod Haase’s program is getting.
WHAT STANFORD IS GETTING
A score-first guard capable of getting buckets in a number of different ways, Carlyle was recently named most outstanding player of the 2021 Beach Ball classic. His wingspan allows him to play bigger than his 6-foot-1 frame and he handles the ball as well as any guard in the country. Carlyle has the quickness and motor to be a high-level defender at the next level. He’s capable of scoring in bunches and is never afraid to put it up, which sometimes leads to inefficiency. That said, he can completely take over a game from a scoring standpoint when shots are falling, which they have been recently. His motor is elite, and the tools necessary for him to become a college star are there in spades. The next step for Carlyle will be cutting down on bad shots and continuing to limit turnovers.
HOW THE CARDINAL PULLED IT OFF
The allure of Stanford's education doesn’t need explaining, but this recruiting victory was just as much about relationships as it was about that. More specifically, it was about the bond Carlyle and his camp built with Stanford assistant Robert Ehsan, while he was between jobs following his tenure as the head coach at UAB. When Ehsan landed at Stanford, he had already positioned himself well with the four-star guard and helped head coach Jerod Haase and company seal the deal despite interest from a number of closer-to-home programs.
WHAT IT MEANS FOR THE CARDINAL:
Starting off the 2023 class with one of the top 25 prospects in the class is about as good as the Cardinal staff could ask for. With Carlyle being a higher profile prospect that will be playing in the Nike EYBL, don’t be surprised if he’s the type of commitment that could get the ball rolling for a huge class for Stanford. With the Pac-12 being top heavy this year, there is an opportunity for the Cardinal to gain some momentum on the court to aid in its efforts in the 2023 class.
IN HIS WORDS:
“It was amazing out there. Coach [Jerod] Haase and the whole coaching staff was great. They showed me a lot of love when I was out there. The way they play fits me.” – Kanaan Carlyle to Rivals.com
COACH’S CORNER
"Kanaan is an elite competitor. He can change the game in a multitude of ways, and that's what makes him special. Many kids can score and help a team win, some can play defense and help a team win, He’s one of a select few that can do both. He can score 25 while guarding the other team’s best player. It's only a handful of guys that can truly do that." – Julian Barfield, who coaches Carlyle on The Skill Factory grassroots team.