Entering the final stretch of days within the July evaluation calendar, there is no better time to get to some of your questions for this week’s #TwitterTuesday. All eyes are on some of the top targets in the 2020 class. We assess how Kentucky might fare, the legitimate suitors for Greg Brown, the chances of top-60 junior Hunter Sallis staying home for college and what Auburn’s recent commitment brings to the floor.
I don’t, but then again, is it ever a safe idea to bet against a motivated John Calipari? He has heard the critics in recent months in his recruiting defeats. But I don’t see all three settling on UK primarily because of the giant sacrifices each would have to make.
Sure, UK has found ways to make it work in the past, but Josh Christopher, BJ Boston and Jalen Green, all in the same class, may be difficult. First, practically its entire perimeter core would have to leave campus after this season to find available minutes. Also, defeating the group of contenders for each of the three prospects will not come easy.
UK just offered Christopher and there is some ground to make up with Arizona State, California and Missouri. Boston is the likeliest Kentucky pledge of the three and his visit to UK this week should only help their cause. Lastly, they are in a good spot with Green, but they also must defeat what is becoming a major thorn in their side in Memphis, along with a slew of others.
I do believe Kentucky can get it done because it is Calipari, the greatest salesman in the sport, leading the program, but I will say that they land two of the three, with Christopher and Boston being the duo that suit up for the Wildcats next fall.
Much of the talk with Greg Brown has revolved around North Carolina and Texas, which is fairly accurate. The Tar Heels have been a strong landing spot for the explosive athlete and with UT, the local program, no one has developed a stronger relationship with Brown and his family than Shaka Smart.
However, Memphis is a major dark horse thanks to the relationship that Penny Hardaway and Mike Miller has cultivated with him and his family. Don’t be surprised if they receive an official visit from him. Baylor has done just as good of a job in recruiting Brown compared to anyone else and should not be discounted in the race for him, and neither should Auburn, who could put together potentially a top-five class this fall.
Still, Texas and UNC are the likeliest destinations for Brown, but if anyone can grab him besides the two, watch for Memphis as they have found some traction in the pursuit of the top-10 standout from Texas.
I will round it out to 60-percent. Hunter Sallis, the top 2021 Nebraska prospect, already holds offers from Creighton and Nebraska. He told Rivals.com last week that he speaks often with Fred Hoiberg, but that he is also on Creighton’s campus ever so often for games during the college season or to play pick-up with their team. The comfort factor and relationships that are forged with Sallis seem to be fairly important whenever it comes to selecting a college, which is why each has a good chance with Nebraska the likeliest at the time being.
However, Sallis is wide open with his recruitment. Kansas State has recruited him pretty heavily and so has Iowa State, a program that might be my choice for who he would commit to today if he felt the need to end his recruitment. He is intrigued by some of the west coast schools, including Oregon, but a college decision remains some time away.
I don’t think he was overlooked, seeing he suited up for a nationally ranked Hillcrest Prep program this winter and was just playing at the Nike Peach Jam last week, so he has definitely been seen. Rather, there have been questions regarding just how skilled he is, how well he can shoot it and how affective he might be within the half-court offense at the high-major level.
None of that is to take away from how athletic, explosive, instinctive and versatile Cambridge is. A 6-foot-6 prospect that can play either forward position, I am not entirely sure just how much usage that he will get early on but he will make for an impact in some form.
He is one of the best athletes that I have ever covered and thanks to the energy that he exerts, his production within the open floor and the value that he exhibits on the defensive end, Cambridge should find a way to improve Auburn’s chances of success in one way or another during his freshman campaign.
