In the today's Twitter Tuesday mailbag, Rivals.com Basketball Analyst Corey Evans digs into the situation in Stillwater, discusses Moussa Cisse's decision to delay his commitment, examine Indiana’s frontcourt options and more.
Starting Five: Minott shows why stock on rise in Orlando
2020 Rankings: Rivals150 | Team | Position
2021 Rankings: Rivals150 | Position
2022 Rankings: Top 75
The work that Mike Boynton and his staff have done over the past 10 days may be even more impressive than their 2020 recruiting efforts that led to a top-five class.
It was widely expected for Oklahoma State to be hit with a number of departures in the wake of the NCAA's sanctions, but that has not happened. This goes to show the strength of the culture Boynton has built within the Cowboys program.
Right now, it appears that everyone will be returning to Stillwater, but there could be one or two that decide to transfer before all is said and done. More importantly, based on what I have heard, the expectation right now is that Cade Cunningham will still be enrolling.
Oklahoma State players are scheduled to return to campus next Monday in preparation for offseason workouts. While much could play out in the coming days, Boynton looks to have made it through the abyss and will bring in a group that could compete for a league title and, if the program's appeal is granted, make noise next March.
Indiana wouldn’t mind taking two forwards in the 2021 class, that is on top of what they already have in tow in three-star center Logan Duncomb. I, along with a few others, have placed FutureCast selections for IU on both Mason Miller and Trey Kaufman. Chances are the Hoosiers will only nab one of the two, but they are definitely among the top suitors for each.
Archie Miller wants a skilled and versatile forward that can play a variety of positions in the half-court and Miller and Kaufman fit that bill exactly. Of the two, I am going to say that Indiana lands Kaufman, but the program's odds improved with Miller a few weeks ago following the resignation of his father, Mike Miller, from the Memphis staff.
It is rather unlikely now that Miller picks the Tigers and, with his father’s connections to IU assistant Tom Ostrom, who spent time on staff at Florida when Miller was playing for the Gators, the Hoosiers have a great connection that many others don’t. Miller’s recruitment is just beginning with more likely to enter the picture thanks to his father’s departure from the college coaching profession. Count Creighton, Florida, Ohio State and TCU as strong competitors alongside Indiana for the four-star’s commitment.
I still am not willing to budge off my FutureCast selection for Moussa Cisse that has the five-star headed to LSU. Sure, you can read into Cisse’s decision to hold on from committing but for now, all signs remain pointed towards LSU.
Now, the fact that Cisse is living in the Memphis area in the lead up to his college enrollment could definitely help Penny Hardaway’s chances. Cisse is also friends with Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant. However, LSU has developed strong in-roads and relationships with Cisse, so unless something drastic changes, he will be headed to Baton Rouge in the coming weeks. The question is more about when he will commit than to who.
It's no longer a surprise when Florida State wins the recruitment of a five-star prospect. In fact, it's become a somewhat consistent occurrence. I don’t expect that to change in the 2021 class and, with the early commitment of Bryce McGowens, the Seminoles are off to a great start.
As always, Leonard Hamilton will be placing a heavy value on the frontcourt. The Seminoles are in much better spot for Efton Reid than others presume and, if he does not reclassify, Florida State could be one of the final programs standing. Keep an eye on Michael Foster if he doesn’t go the G League route, and also Cesare Edwards, an emerging big man from South Carolina and former travel teammate of McGowens
However, the Seminoles might be in the best position with Alex Tchikou, a top-25 forward that some have compared to former Seminoles standout Jon Isaac. Josh Minott could be the next in line to take on a point-forward role that Scottie Barnes is expect to fill this season. James Graham and Jeremy Sochan are two others from the Midwest that FSU is involved deeply with.
In the backcourt, FSU was the first to offer and prioritize James White, who could be the program's next find from the Peach State filling a role that Devin Vassell enjoyed the past two years. Jalen Warley included Florida State in his final 10 last week, and Matthew Cleveland is a wing-scorer that would fit the bill, too, if White doesn’t beat him first to their offer.
Regarding the lead guard spot, all is not lost for Providence despite its miss on Bobby Pettiford last week. The Friars have handed out offers to Tyler Whitney-Sidney and Bensley Joseph, though no one is forcing Ed Cooley to take a guard in the 2021 class. They will not graduate anyone from its backcourt and are more about completing its roster with a rangy, athletic forward and shot maker.
In the frontcourt, Rafael Castro and Gianni Thompson each hold PC offers. Thompson is not far off from his commitment after he recently cut his list to a group of seven with the Friars making the cut.
Providence could go a number of ways with its 2021 class, but if you told Cooley that a group of Thompson, Taylor and/or Joseph would be the collection that he would finish with, he would walk away a happy man.
