Published Feb 10, 2017
Conference Call: Former five-stars still in college
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Corey Evans  •  Basketball Recruiting
Basketball Analyst
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The Corey Evans Conference Call returns with an examination of the 11 five-star prospects outside the freshmen and sophomore classes who are still suiting up in college ranks and have not yet made the leap into the NBA like some of their former elite peers.

MORE: Duke/UNC recruiting battles

ACC

There are still three five-star prospects suiting up on a college hardwood that originally committed to an ACC member. The oldest of the bunch is not with his original program as Rodney Purvis, the 12th-ranked prospect in the 2012 class, is finishing out his college career at UConn after starting his career with N.C. State . His numbers are not too shabby this year, though his efficiency remains a major hurdle as he has made just over one-third of his shots from the floor and is on a team that has underachieved.

Justin Jackson, ranked 11th overall in his class, has shown the strides that many have wanted out of the Texas native. He is leading the Tar Heels in scoring this year while knocking down nearly 40 percent of his perimeter tries, both of which are career highs. Alongside Jackson is Theo Pinson, another top-25 prospect that hasn’t panned out as many had thought. Sure, he has bettered his scoring, rebound and assist numbers in an injury-riddled season, but Pinson may be in for the long haul in Chapel Hill while Jackson could be ready to put his name into the NBA Draft in June.

BIG EAST

The Big East has had great success in recent years on the playing floor, but the league as a whole hasn’t been one to compete for five-star talent. The only elite Big East recruit that remains within the college ranks is Isaac Copeland, though he is not with a league affiliate anymore. He decided to transfer to Nebraska earlier this year, as the former Georgetown forward couldn’t find his footing on the Hilltop. After averaging 11 points and five rebounds per game last year, Copeland's production has diminished so far this season. He's averaging just over five points and three rebounds per game.

BIG TEN

Two players once labeled as five-star prospects remain within the Big Ten this winter. Zak Irvin has had a solid year all around, averaging more than 14 points, four rebounds and three assists per game while improving his three-point percentage for the first time since his freshman campaign. Irvin’s versatility could make him a second-round pick in this year’s NBA Draft, though his original ranking may have been a little too high.

Right with Irvin is James Blackmon, one of the top recruits of the Tom Crean era in Bloomington. The former No. 22 prospect in the class of 2013 was putting together an excellent season prior to a lower leg injury a few weeks ago. Ever since, Indiana has seen an up-and-down campaign, displaying just how valuable the star two-guard is. Averaging more than 18 points and five boards on nearly 50-percent shooting from the field, Blackmon might one day make for a solid NBA weapon, but he should be regarded as a premier scoring option at the college level.

PAC-12

The lone five-star prospect within a Pac-12 program this year comes from a member of the 2013 class. Isaac Hamilton, a 6-foot-3 shooting guard that has prospered as an efficient scoring option during his final season in Westwood this winter, is a nice cog within the beast that is UCLA’s offense. He's knocking down better than 37 percent of his perimeter tries while pitching in over 15 points, three boards and three assists per game. Hamilton may not have the upside that his brothers Daniel and Jordan displayed, but he sure has made for an excellent college ballplayer. His ability to score and distribute has enabled UCLA to remain among the elite, though his NBA aspirations may not be as great compared with those ranked near him back in 2013.

SEC

Just like the ACC, the SEC has kept three of its five-star prospects from the 2012 to 2014 classes within its league. Two remain on the same team down in Gainesville. Outside of the elite duo at Florida, Robert Hubbs is finishing out his own career at Tennessee. Hubbs has improved his scoring, rebounds, assists and field goal percentage numbers every year in Knoxville. However, he is currently shooting just over 15 percent from three-point range, something that will remain a hurdle for him when making a case for the NBA.

Ahead of Hubbs in the 2013 class by 13 spots was Kasey Hill, one of the most explosive guards that the high school level has seen in some time. The same deficiencies that he had faced entering college remain, as Hill cannot consistently make a perimeter shot - he is knocking down short of 20 percent of his three-point attempts. However, Hill’s showing on Saturday during his team’s win over Kentucky displayed what could still be in store. Next to him is Devin Robinson, a 6-foot-8 forward that still has plenty of NBA aspirations. Robinson brings versatility and the what-could-be to the floor. He fits the new era small ball power forward slot as someone who can make shots beyond the arc but also defend various positions.

OTHER

Outside of the power six conferences, UNLV has the lone five-star recruit still in the college realm this winter. After turning down Georgetown, Indiana and Maryland, Dwayne Morgan took his talents to the desert, but things haven’t gone as planned. Turmoil has hit the UNLV program, and after a coaching change Morgan showed progress, averaging nine points and seven rebounds. However, he remained an inefficient scorer and is now lost for the year due to shoulder and hip injuries. The Baltimore native's versatility and potential remains, but his hopes of a one- or two-and-done college career have been put to bed.

MORE UNLV: Rebel-Net.com