Wednesday's Leftovers: Dishing on Memphis, Virginia, more
We have some questions left over from the Twitter Tuesday mailbag, including how Memphis, Michigan State and Virginia fare in the 2020 class and where JT Thor could end up.
Jalen Green, and I don’t think that it is close. Now, Matthew Murrell can't be crossed off the list, as the four-star guard from Memphis could be lured to play for the Tigers, since practically all of the top-ranked Memphis natives have been since Penny Hardaway was hired last year. However, Murrell's former high school coach was just named an assistant coach at Vanderbilt so that could add another layer to his recruitment.
Cade Cunningham just released his top 10, with Memphis included. However, the Tigers, despite all of their recent success on the recruiting trail, are not thought to be much of a suitor for him. Greg Brown is most likely bound for North Carolina or Texas, but Memphis has intrigued him, as have Auburn and Baylor, the latter a program he visited last Wednesday.
One other players to keep an eye on is Dalen Terry, who we caught up with last week. He is heavily intrigued by the situation at Memphis, and he said Hardaway was a player he modeled his game after while growing up.
Michigan State is in a great spot in the 2020 class and already holds the commitment of top 50 junior Jalen Terry. From there, the Spartans could land a number of players, including a few of the prospects that you mentioned.
Of the group, Isaiah Jackson, Scooby Johnson and Cam'Ron Fletcher seem to be the best bets. Jackson just returned to his native state of Michigan for his final year of high school ball, which could definitely work in the favor of the Spartans. Johnson was thought to be a heavy MSU lean this winter, and while a commitment did not take place the Spartans do remain involved. Fletcher, too, has been connected with the Spartans, but I side more toward Missouri becoming his ultimate landing spot.
N’Faly Dante could reclassify into the 2019 class, and MSU is involved, though I do not like its chances compared to others. Bryce Thompson is far from a decision but the Spartans do have a connection to him, thanks to Thompson’s father and recruiting coordinator Doug Wojcik. If Thompson decides to move outside of his Oklahoma locale, then Michigan State would have a great shot.
Also, be sure to keep tabs on Caleb Lohner and his high school teammate, Mady Sissoko, as Michigan State has a great chance with both, along with Jayden Stone, who just visited campus last week, though I do like Auburn’s chances with him.
Look for Virginia to take the extra scholarship into the 2020 class only if they can't strike with the commitment of Cormac Ryan. The Stanford transfer would be a sit-one/play-three prospect who could fill a variety of holes in UVA’s backcourt after seeing his eligibility begin again in the fall of 2020. Landing his commitment will not come easy, as Ryan, who garnered plenty of NBA interest last season, is a coveted transfer this spring, with Notre Dame and Villanova among those in pursuit.
If the scholarship were to roll over into the 2020 class, Virginia could go a variety of ways with it. The Cavaliers are in a great spot for four-star guard Reece Beekman and they sit in the final three for Keon Johnson while also remaining a strong contender for five-star Walker Kessler’s commitment. They have also made up some ground with top 50 wing Jabri Abdur-Rahim. Henry Coleman and Mark Williams are two other local products that the Cavaliers are in a good spot with, as the 2020 class might be one of Tony Bennett’s best since arriving in Charlottesville.
J.T. Thor is one of the most talented and versatile prospects in the 2021 class, and it seems that each week another prominent program enters his recruitment. The situation must play out a bit more before a leader emerges.
The five-star sophomore visited New Mexico over the weekend, and earlier this month he was on campus at Maryland. Kansas also hosted Thor earlier this spring and that is where he will end up if the Jayhawks prioritize him and continue to recruit him thoroughly. The Jayhawks are a favorite of Thor’s and seeing that he has the chance to reclassify into the 2020 class - an option that Thor currently remains on the fence about - Kansas might be able to have Thor on campus this time next year. However, Maryland has made quality strides with him, and he also holds offers from other programs, including Arizona State, LSU, Miami, NC State and Pitt.