Five-star junior RJ Hampton cuts his list to five
Five-star junior guard RJ Hampton has decided to trim his school list to a group of five for his destination in the fall of 2020, he told Rivals.com. A 6-foot-4 guard and one of the most gifted, talented and productive players in his class, Hampton will attend Duke, Kansas, Kentucky, Memphis or TCU.
Hampton took an official visit to Memphis in September, and he has been on the campuses of his other finalists in the past.
IN HIS OWN WORDS
Duke: “Coach K is amazing. Year after year, he puts his team in position to win the national championship. Learning the game from his perspective could make me a better ballplayer. Everything about the "Brotherhood" makes you want to play for Duke. He is going to put his guys around you so that you can be at your best.”
Kansas: “KU is college basketball. The atmosphere is second to none. Coach (Bill) Self is a Hall of Famer. They always push for the title and the development, (and) the strength and conditioning program is top-notch. There is a lot to like about Kansas.”
Kentucky: “It is Coach Cal (John Calipari) and the way that he treats his players. He demands a lot out of you and you have to really work, but he wants nothing but for them to succeed. They are always on the biggest stage and his track record of getting guys into the league is well documented.”
Memphis: “Playing for one of my idols would be great. Coach Penny (Hardaway) has revived the Memphis program and the staff is next level. It would be great being part of something special, and I could really flourish there within his system.”
TCU: “The TCU program is making strides year after year. Coach (Jamie) Dixon really lets his guards play. They recruit at a high level and the Big 12 is great basketball.”
WHAT'S NEXT & RIVALS' REACTION
Down to a final five with fewer calls and attention coming his way, do not expect for Hampton to come to a decision anytime soon. Like most heavily rated and coveted prospects, Hampton will likely wait until he has a greater grasp of the potential roster makeup of each of his finalists before considering his college destination.
Whichever program he does select, expect a do-it-all guard who has evolved into a more-than- solid playmaking agent who is at his best on the attack. He is a light-of-foot athlete who can score from each level, has a strong understanding of the game and the capacity to guard different spots in the backcourt, all adding up to what is a top-five, can't-miss prospect in the 2020 class.