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 recruitments 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.

Emmanuel Mudiay – The Point Guard of the Future

Larry Brown has SMU off to a strong 3-2 start in its inaugural season in the American Athletic Conference, but in all honesty the Mustangs are really looking forward to next season. That’s when five-star point guard Emmanuel Mudiay, arguably SMU’s best-ever recruit sets foot on the Dallas campus. The 6’4” point guard is currently ranked as the top point guard in the country and No. 3 player overall.

A native of Dallas, Mudiay surpassed Tyus Jones (#4 overall, #2 PG – 2014) as the top point guard in the country last summer due to his unique combination of size and speed. At 6’4” and 190 pounds, Mudiay possesses the physical attributes that NBA scouts love. He is extremely difficult to contain off the dribble and can finish above the rim or dish to teammates for easy baskets. Mudiay is not known for his outside shooting at this point, but so far during his senior season at Prime Prep (TX) he has shown some range in numerous high scoring outbursts. Mudiay’s size and athletic ability make for an easy comparison to John Wall. Given the comparison it was widely assumed that Mudiay would be next in line as a one-and-done point guard for John Calipari at Kentucky. Instead, he chose SMU over Kentucky, Baylor, Kansas, and Oklahoma State on August 24. Why the Mustangs? “He’s a Hall of Fame coach,” Mudiay said, referring to Brown. “He coaches Hall of Fame players. One day I want to play in the NBA. He’s coached at the highest level. I can learn a lot from him.” After six seasons of subpar play under former head coach Matt Doherty, the Mustangs have a newfound confidence which is showing up in the recruiting world. In the 2013 recruiting class, Brown landed five-star shooting guard Keith Frazier (#33 – 2013), another Dallas native. While Frazier is only averaging 5.9 points per game as a freshman, a backcourt of Mudiay and Frazier could develop into one of the top duos in the country next year. With only two seniors on the roster, the Mustangs are a relatively young team that should return its top scorers in Nic Moore and Markus Kennedy next season. SMU last made the NCAA Tournament way back in 1993, but that drought could be over very soon with its recent five-star recruits.

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