Who is the most important commitment to date in 2021 and the most important target going forward? See that and more below.
More: Top 12 prospects in all of high school hoops
2020 Rankings: Rivals150 | Team | Position
2021 Rankings: Rivals150 | Position
2022 Rankings: Top 75
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WHAT’S ON MY MIND: Most impactful 2021 commitment so far and the most important target going forward
It’s been a slow time for basketball recruiting topics, so I wanted to take a look at where we currently stand with the 2021 class and which commitment really sticks out as a perfect match. I wasn’t necessarily looking for the highest-ranked prospect but rather one that could likely stick around for multiple years and put up big numbers on a good team.
The one that really jumps out to me happened about five months ago, and that’s Will McClendon choosing UCLA over several other high-major programs out west. I love this fit. In our most recent rankings update, the Las Vegas native moved up 10 spots for good reason. He’s a really gifted scorer and he’s really versatile with good size for the wing. Where he’s even a better fit is on the other end. Mick Cronin values defense and toughness in his program, and the four-star shooting guard checks both of those boxes with flying colors.
Going forward, the most important recruit for a particular school is one right in my neck of the woods. Georgia Tech needs Matthew Cleveland in a big way. The Yellow Jackets are still looking to land their first highly ranked local prospect under Josh Pastner, although they have done a terrific job on the transfer wire with players like James Banks, Jordan Usher and now Kyle Sturdivant. But Cleveland is a highly ranked recruit 15 minutes from Georgia Tech’s campus whose parents both are graduates of the school.
The Yellow Jackets finally have some momentum with the strong finish to this past season, finishing fifth in the league after being picked 12th. The NCAA cloud is also no longer hanging over the program. There is a clear path to playing time and an opportunity to make an impact for Cleveland, much like Josh Okogie did in Pastner’s first two years. The competition is stiff, but Cleveland's commitment for the Yellow Jackets would be huge on the court, and it’d be a huge boost locally on the recruiting trail.
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RECRUITING NOTE: Andrew Nembhard update
Andrew Nembhard had initially planned on entering the NBA Draft, but he recently decided to back out. However, he won’t be returning to Florida and has been exploring his options as a transfer. He’s narrowed his list down to Duke, Georgetown, Gonzaga, Memphis, Stanford and USC. There has been some buzz over the past couple weeks with Duke and Memphis, but my sources are hearing it could be down to Gonzaga and USC. I’d give Gonzaga the edge in this one as he closes in on a decision that will come out Monday. The 6-foot-4 guard who averaged 11.2 points and 5.6 assists this season will push for a waiver to play immediately at his new school.
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2021 COMMIT OF THE WEEK: Trey Patterson to Villanova
There isn’t a school that seems to get more players that are perfect fits than Villanova. Trey Patterson fits what the Wildcats are known for absolutely perfectly. Jay Wright does his best staying within the region with players who bring toughness and versatility to the table. Go ahead and take it to the bank that Patterson will be really productive for Villanova and probably win a ton of games.
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TRANSFER OF THE WEEK: Both Gach to Minnesota
Minnesota could be the winners of the 2020 transfer cycle after the addition of Both Gach earlier this week. After adding Drake transfer Liam Robbins and Western Michigan grad-transfer Brandon Johnson, the Gophers now potentially have three high-impact transfers coming in this year. Robbins and Gach will both need a waiver to play, but it’s certainly a possibility they suit up for Richard Pitino’s program this season.
