Ben Gregg may be out of the limelight compared to others near him in the Rivals150, but that doesn’t diminish his abilities. The 6-foot-9, 210-pound power forward brings loads of production and match-up issues to the floor, which is why some of the best along the West Coast have made him a priority.
An ideal shot-maker out of the frontcourt that opens up driving lanes for his guards and makes it rather difficult to game plan against, Gregg has seen a number of suitors enter his recruitment. He has spoken very little about who is involved to date, but that doesn’t mean that a group of schools aren't in a great spot to land the four-star prospect, who will commit on Sept. 9.
Below, we rank the contenders for his commitment.
MORE: Three-Point Play | Wednesday's Mailbag
2021 Rankings: Rivals150 | Position
2022 Rankings: Top 75
*****
*****
OREGON
The Ducks have become tough to beat for in-state talent. While most of the talk this summer has centered around another Oregon product that brings comparable traits to the floor - Nathan Bittle - Gregg is also a heavily targeted prospect for Dana Altman and his staff. Gregg lives less than a two-hour drive from the Eugene campus, and Oregon is not expected to lose much from its frontcourt after the season. The Ducks will also enroll Isaac Johnson next fall after he completes his LDS mission. Regardless, when someone is as talented and as good of a fit for Altman’s offense as Gregg is, then he will be a priority.
*****
ARIZONA
Arizona will lose Ira Lee after the season, and while the Wildcats have primarily gone the international route when it comes to constructing their future rosters, Sean Miller and his staff have gotten back to prioritizing the best along the West Coast, which includes Gregg. The Wildcats made the final lists for Nathan Bittle and Paolo Banchero and they are a program to watch in regards to DaRon Holmes, but Gregg is another player they could lure to campus. He fits Miller’s style of play to a tee because he can be used as a perimeter based four-man, and Gregg would have plenty of playmakers surrounding him next year if he were to pick the Wildcats. Arizona is definitely one to monitor with the four-star recruit.
*****
VIRGINIA
Virginia will have a few spots to fill in the frontcourt after the season with the graduations of Jay Huff and Sam Hauser, and that would allow for someone in the mold of Gregg to step in and make an immediate impact. While distance could be a factor and things have become more regional in light of the ongoing pandemic, UVA has piqued Gregg’s interest to the point that the Cavaliers are a legitimate contender for his commitment. The fit between prospect and program is evident, and so is the need. Tony Bennett going back to his Pacific Northwest ties is also a factor, and that is just another reason why the Wahoos are one of the select few teams to beat for the four-star talent.
*****
OREGON STATE
Not many have prioritized Gregg more than the local program, Oregon State. Just an hour-and-a-half drive from his home in Clackamas, Gregg would have a great shot to make an early impact and become the face of the program in Corvallis. Head coach Wayne Tinkle has had success in the past with players in the mold of Gregg, most recently with his son, do-it-all wing-forward Tres Tinkle.
Oregon State has some shoes to fill in the backcourt next season and the Beavers have yet to strike in the 2021 class. Landing someone with Gregg’s talent level would do wonders for the program for the next few years. The Beavers are not in the greatest of spots for the in-state product, but a strong few weeks leading up to his commitment could give them one of the top additions of the Tinkle era.
