Who’s Got Next? is a weekly column by Sean Moran, the RTC recruiting guru. Once a week he will bring you an overview of what’s going on in the complex world of recruiting, from who is signing where among the seniors to discussing the recruitment of the top uncommitted players in the country. We also encourage you to check out his contributions at The Intentional Foul dedicated to recruiting coverage and analysis. You can also follow Sean at his Twitter account @Seanmohoops for up-to-date news from the high school and college hoops scene. If you have any suggestions as to areas we are missing or different things you would like to see, please let us know at rushthecourt@yahoo.com.
Note: Scout.com used for all player rankings.
The 38th annual McDonald’s All-American game tips off at the United Center in Chicago tonight at 8:00 PM ET. With the Final Four just around the corner, this star-studded game provides an inside look at the players that will impact the college game as freshmen next season. For example, there are four freshmen on each of the Duke and Kentucky rosters that participated in this game last year. While the diehard recruitnik already knows all about the players who populate the East and West teams, here is a high-level overview of what to watch for tonight for those who are more focused on the college game.
No. 1 Recruiting Class
Arizona currently has the No. 1 recruiting class but only one of its four signees is playing in the game. Kentucky is ranked No. 2 and it only has one player playing as well. What gives? For starters, Arizona has signed three five-star prospects but only shooting guard Allonzo Trier is playing in the game. Trier is an electric scorer who is certain to get his fair share of points tonight. The other future desert Wildcats are small forward Ray Smith, who is the No. 15 prospect in the country, 6’5” point guard Justin Simon (No. 20) and 6’11” forward Chance Comanche (No. 44). Power forward Ivan Rabb (No. 5) has also narrowed his choice down to California and Arizona. As for Kentucky, combo guard Isaiah Briscoe (No. 18) is the lone representative in this year’s game and the physical New Jersey product will do his best tonight by attacking the basket and creating for his teammates. The crown jewel of the Kentucky recruiting class is currently the No. 3 recruit in 6’11” forward Skal Labissiere. The Haitan native has immense long-term potential but he also has the NCAA interested in his background. Guard Charles Matthews, who is not currently ranked in the top 50, rounds out the class. Once the Final Four is over and several current Wildcats announce their NBA decisions, expect this class to grow by several more names and for Kentucky to once again lay claim to the top recruiting class in the nation.
Unsigned Players
A common refrain from both parents and NBA scouts attending the McDonald’s All-American practices was that it is in the best interests of the players to wait as long as they could before making a commitment. That way the families would have an opportunity to see what was going on with the coaching carousel in addition to learning which players are declaring for the NBA. As a result in this shift of thinking, there are a record number of unsigned seniors in this year’s class. Keep an eye on the below names.
East Team.
- Jaylen Brown – Brown is a 6’7” small forward from Georgia who is ranked either No. 1 or No. 2 by most major scouting services. An easy comparison would be to that of Arizona’s Stanley Johnson, a first team All-Pac-12 performer as a freshman this season. Stronger than most wings, Brown can outmuscle players on his way to the basket and is exceptionally tough to stop in transition. Brown has taken official visits to Kentucky, Kansas, UCLA, North Carolina and Michigan, and has also visited Georgia Tech, Georgia and California.
- Cheick Diallo – The No. 10 player in the country is a 6’9” defensive force and shot-blocking machine. Diallo is raw on the offensive end but competes with great motor on the glass. Diallo is being actively recruited by Kansas, Iowa State, Pittsburgh, Kentucky and St. John’s.
- Thomas Bryant – Bryant stands 6’10” and is from the same West Virginia high school (Huntington Prep) that produced Andrew Wiggins. Just like Diallo, Bryant plays with his motor running at a very high level. He runs the floor well and is active in the post on both ends of the floor. Despite only being ranked No. 33 nationally, Bryant had an impressive week in giving Diallo fits while knocking in some outside jump shots. Indiana seems to be recruiting Bryant the hardest, but he has also received interest from Syracuse, Missouri, Kentucky and Kansas.
West Team.
- Ivan Rabb – The No. 5 prospect nationally recently won a California state title with Oakland’s Bishop O’ Dowd High School, breaking the four-year run of Mater Dei. The 6’11” big man has whittled his list down to two Pac-12 schools, with local institution, California, and the school that has recruited him the hardest along with a strong connection to the Oakland Soldiers AAU program, Arizona, in the mix.
- Malik Newman – All of the other unsigned players have taken their official visits and then there is No. 8 guard Malik Newman, who has yet to take a single official visit. The premier scorer in high school basketball has been at the top of his class since a scintillating freshman season in his home state of Mississippi. His father, Horatio Webster, is a former Mississippi State standout and new head coach Ben Howland is pushing hard to reel in his first prized recruit. Other schools involved with Newman include Kentucky, Kansas, LSU, N.C. State and Ole Miss.
- Stephen Zimmerman – The 6’11” center comes in at No. 9 in the rankings and is also coming off his fourth straight state title at Bishop Gorman High School in Nevada. Zimmerman is a lanky big man who can run the floor and prefers to show off his touch from the midrange than pounding it down low. He took his official visits early last fall and is set to decide between a group that includes Arizona, UCLA, Kentucky, Kansas and UNLV.
- Caleb Swanigan – While a lot of players will be looking to have some fun and get a few easy baskets in tonight’s game, Swanigan will be knocking people out of the paint to get his. He isn’t as tall as some of the other big men but he is definitely the toughest. Swanigan used his relentless personality to make Team USA’s U-17 team and he attended a great number of college basketball games this season. Some of the schools that Swanigan is interested in include Kentucky, Arizona, Duke, California, Louisville and Purdue.
- Brandon Ingram – There hasn’t been a McDonald’s All-American who is this skinny since former North Carolina forward John Henson. The lanky small forward attended the same Kinston (NC) high school as former Tar Heel stars Jerry Stackhouse and Reggie Bullock. Following his fourth straight state title, Ingram has been the most impressive practice player leading up to the game. His shot has been on target and he is successfully using his length to disrupt things on the defensive end. Ingram is looking forward to the end of his recruitment and is expected to choose from North Carolina, Duke, N.C. State, UCLA, Kentucky and Kansas.
LSU’s Recruiting Class
LSU’s twin towers of Jarrell Martin and Jordan Mickey may be off to the NBA but the Tigers are set to bring in two of the top players in the country next season. ESPN and Rivals’ No. 1 player Ben Simmons committed to LSU very early in the process and the rest of us can’t wait to see what Bill Simmons’ “adopted son” can do in a point forward role with his superb passing ability. Simmons’ commitment was a big plus when it came time for Antonio Blakeney to make his own decision — after previously committing to Louisville, the No. 5 shooting guard decided to join the Tigers and in turn provides LSU faithful with some excitement to look forward to next year.
Top Individual Matchup
- The top matchup in tonight’s game will feature two small forwards going at it in Jaylen Brown (East) versus Brandon Ingram (West). Brown is the more highly-regarded player at this time but it was Ingram who tore it up in the practice sessions. Both players went at it last July at the Adidas Unrivaled camp in July and they will do so again tonight. Brown is a much stronger player than Ingram, but the slighter North Carolina product has better size and length.
- Future Maryland big man Diamond Stone is the premier big man on the East team and he will match up with a variety of five-star big men on the West team, including Zimmerman, Swanigan, Rabb, and Chase Jeter. Stone is the No. 4 player nationally and will get a chance to showcase his skills against a variety of talented opponents.
MVP Watch
Last year Jahlil Okafor (Duke) and Justin Jackson (North Carolina) split the MVP honors. This year, the top candidates from the East will be Brown, Simmons, Stone and Blakeney or Isaiah Briscoe. For the West, the favorites would have to be Newman or Ingram.