Wednesday Leftovers: Oklahoma State, Pitt, Ziaire Williams
There were a few more pertinent questions to get to in this week’s Wednesday’s Leftovers, including how Oklahoma State fills out its 2020 class, Pitt's top targets, Ziaire Williams and more.
TWITTER TUESDAY MAILBAG: Auburn, Alabama, NC State, Indiana
2020 RANKINGS: Rivals150 | Team | Position
2021 RANKINGS: Rivals150
The easy answer would be Cade Cunningham, the second-ranked prospect in the 2020 class whose older brother was just hired as an assistant coach at Oklahoma State. While the easy assumption is that Cunningham will eventually land with the Cowboys, I don't think it's as much of a slam-dunk as some may think.
Cunningham has been rather adamant that he is open with his recruitment. We broke the news last week that he was down to a final five and he has remained consistent with his words that he will visit Florida, Kentucky, North Carolina, Oklahoma State and Washington before coming to a decision. By no means am I ruling out the Pokes as Cunningham's eventual landing spot, but there is a chance that he could surprise everyone and sign with one of his other finalists.
Five-star guard Bryce Thompson is worth keeping tabs on if Cunningham chooses Oklahoma State. Montreal Pena just visited campus earlier this month and could be a Cowboys lean, and the program also has a good shot at Jaylin Williams.
Pitt really wants a playmaking scorer in the 2020 class and also a big body down low that can impact the game, which has made R.J. Davis and John Hugley the Panthers' top two targets throughout the spring and summer months.
Pitt's primary competition for Davis is Georgetown, Indiana, Marquette and UCLA, while Hugley has yet to entirely narrow his list. Pitt is in good shape with both standouts, and landing the pair would be a tremendous win.
Puff Johnson would also be a big get, but Arizona and North Carolina might be difficult to beat. The Panthers will likely receive a visit from Jalen Bridges, have continued to recruit Zed Key and Andre Curbelo, sit in the final three for Noah Collier and are a sneaky contender for top-60 center Cliff Omoruyi.
I don't know who the Panthers end up landing, but I do expect Pitt to finish with a top-30 class.
No, and for two different reasons. First, just because Duke offered Ziaire Williams doesn’t mean that the five-star wing is a done-deal for the Blue Devils. I do like Duke's chances, but North Carolina has recruited Williams for more than a year, while the Blue Devils have been in the hunt for a month.
Second, the Tar Heels have already thrown out offers to a lot of the top wing prospects in the 2020 class. Greg Brown, Puff Johnson, Isaiah Todd, Earl Timberlake and Dawson Garcia are all wings or wing-forwards that are being actively recruited by North Carolina. The Tar Heels are going to strike out more often than they win when it comes to that group, but they do sit in a good spot for Brown, Johnson and Todd.
It would make a lot of sense for North Carolina to target Josh Hall. The in-state five-star prospect that will likely not sign until the spring but holds a number of impressive scholarship offers at this time.
You’re right. Villanova has been rather silent in the 2020 class with seemingly one offer out to a prospect, Jalen Green, that the Wildcats aren't even recruiting any longer.
The Wildcats do not have any scholarship seniors on their roster and they may not lose anyone early to the NBA Draft aside from maybe Bryan Antoine and Jeremiah Robinson-Earl.
Villanova does have Tulane sit-out transfer Caleb Daniels on the bench, and he could be viewed as a 2020 commitment as he won't be able to play until next fall.
From the high school ranks, Devin Askew is someone worth monitoring. The top-20 junior could potentially reclassify into the 2020 class later this year, though he has remained consistent that he will stick with his current 2021 class. While Louisville and Kentucky look to be the two favorites at the moment, VIllanova should have the chance to host the elite playmaker later this year on an official visit.
Georgia Tech: Could Josh Pastner put together a top-25 class this fall? K.D. Johnson, Deivon Smith and Jaden Walker remain in the Yellow Jackets' sight, as do Eugene Brown, Tristan Maxwell and Justin Thomas. They will receive P.J. Hall’s last official visit and have piqued the interest of Rongie Gordon.
Marquette: The Golden Eagles already hold the commitment of four-star forward Justin Lewis and are in a great spot for R.J. Davis. They will receive a visit from Myles Stute, have continued to track Osasere Ighodaro and are involved with Jamari Sibley, Coleman Hawkins and Gabe Madsen.
Providence: A boom-or-bust type of class with Providence where the program's early involvement with some of the summer’s top breakouts could pay dividends. Lance Ware is a top target, as is Earl Timberlake, Niels Lane, D.J. Gordon and others. If the Friars convert on some of these early offers, they could enjoy a tremendous 2020 class.