In this week’s Twitter Tuesday mailbag, Rivals.com Basketball Analyst Corey Evans discusses the recruitment of Jonathan Kuminga, looks at how Pitt will likely complete its 2020 class, evaluates Memphis’ most recent addition and more.
*****
Starting Five: Key weekend decisions and who's next?
2020 Rankings: Rivals150 | Team | Position
2021 Rankings: Rivals150 | Position
2022 Rankings: Top 75
*****
Yes, and while I do not think that a commitment is imminent, Jonathan Kuminga is set to reveal his final five in the coming days. This might translate to a more sped up decision timeline which could be related to a potential move into the 2020 class.
There is still work to be done in order for Kuminga to reclassify into the 2020 class but that process has been made easier by the NCAA's recent change in eligibility requirements due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Back to his recruitment, it remains a guessing game. No one knows which program is the team to beat. Auburn, if it misses on Greg Brown later this week, added in with its whiff on Jalen Green, could push the Tigers to go all in on Kuminga. Georgia is the most recent program to host him for an unofficial visit, Texas Tech is the place where his older brother attends, while Duke, Florida State, Kentucky and LSU should also be monitored. I would expect his final five to come from those schools noted.
The new G League path that Green is taking this fall could also be something that intrigues Kuminga. Time will tell, but there is a chance that we don’t see Kuminga on a college hardwood at all.
*****
William Jeffress. The late signing period began last Wednesday and some had hoped to hear of news regarding the four-star forward. That hasn’t come just yet but I would be on the lookout in the coming days.
Jeffress, a Rivals150 prospect that reclassified into the 2020 class this winter, has not been overly public regarding his college suitors but I am fairly confident that Pitt is not just among his finalists, but actually the leader for him.
Stanford is also in the mix but the Cardinal taking Ziaire Williams earlier this month, could undercut their chances. Memphis, Northwestern and Vanderbilt should also be monitored, but the Panthers might offer the most comfortable situation and the closest proximity to home.
If Jeffress is in the stable, Pitt would have one more scholarship to give. No one is forcing Jeff Capel to use it and I believe that, unless a transfer emerges or he gains any traction with Karim Mane, that the Panthers will stand pat and roll over the scholarship for their 2021 class efforts.
*****
We know by now that Landers Nolley is a Memphis commit, but we don’t know if he will play in the fall.
Say that Nolley gets the go-ahead and isn’t forced to sit out next season. He immediately gives Memphis a 6-foot-7 small forward that has the ball skills to play some 2-guard, but has the size to even slide down a spot to the small ball power forward role. I would love to see him next to D.J. Jeffries. They seem to be complementary pieces and have the size and skillsets that would allow for them to toggle between either forward position at any given time.
Much has been said recently about Memphis' struggles, and the program's latest miss on Jalen Green didn’t help such talk. However, this is a team that returns practically all of its production from last season, should finally be healthy and have tremendous continuity.
Sure, Green would have helped but the Tigers still have a legitimate nine-man rotation that is deep, talented and should make the NCAA Tournament next season.
*****
I wrote last week that Harrison Ingram was leaning toward Stanford so what gives with my latest FutureCast selection for Purdue? Well, things remain fluid with the five-star junior and while I do not expect a commitment anytime soon, my informed speculation is that the Boilermakers are in a better spot than previously believed.
Now, that could definitely change between now and his decision. I am expecting Ingram to produce another cut list in the coming days. That might not be a final five but, if I had to guess, Purdue, Stanford, Memphis, North Carolina and Texas A&M will make whatever list he releases.
Ingram is really strong student in the classroom which is why Purdue and Stanford are in a good spot. He is intrigued by the blueblood realm which has led to North Carolina's involvement. Ingram has family in the Memphis area and, lastly, is very good friends with Aggies’ commits Manny Obaseki and Jaxson Robinson.
Others could definitely enter the fray, too, but don’t be surprised that, when it comes time to commit, Ingram is choosing between the Cardinal and Boilermakers.
*****
No. If anything, I might tell them to hold off from committing. Regardless of whether a transfer is immediately eligible or not, he still takes up one of the 13 scholarships available. I am expecting another wave of transfers to become public if the one-time transfer rule is put into place this summer but, for now, transfers should have little impact on whether a high school prospect commits to a school or not. Rather, it might even open greater pathways towards playing time as a freshman if some sit one, play one transfers are allowed to play this fall instead of the in the fall of 2021.
I get that the current times are very uncertain but unless a junior knows the college that he wants to attend, it is never a good idea to just commit because you want to beat someone to a scholarship. No one has a great pulse on whether there will be a travel season this summer or not but why end your recruitment now when your options should be even greater later in the year?
We have seen a handful of top 2021 prospects commit during the pandemic but none did so in favor of programs that were not involved prior to the shutdown. The best route is to keep all avenues open, weigh every option and see what evaluation methods would be permissible later in the year, which is why I could see the late signing period next spring being more hectic compared to past years thanks to later commitments and more prolonged recruitments.
*****
That is a great question and one that won’t be answered if or when those prospects actually make a leap into the 2020 class. However, if Moussa Diabate and Franck Kepnang are going to reclassify, they probably would make that move regardless of whether these new regulations were in place.
For those that haven't seen, the NCAA has relaxed the qualification criteria for prospects enrolling for the 2020-21 academic year.
Maybe these changes push Diabate or Kepnang to move into the 2020 class but, really, the other prospects that haven’t gotten the attention up until now that could soon come to light as late year reclassification targets.
