Tag: 2022 basketball recruiting

BREAKING: 5-star PF has decommitted from Florida basketball

Not the best start to the Golden era.

Five-star power forward Malik Reneau told On3 that he has decommitted from Florida and has received his release from his letter of intent on Tuesday.

It’s not surprising that he wants to reopen his recruitment after the coaching change this offseason. Former coach Mike White now leads the Georgia Bulldogs while the Gators hired San Francisco’s Todd Golden to replace him.

Reneau was Florida’s highest-ranked commit in the 2022 class, coming in as the 29th-best overall player, according to the On3 consensus rankings. He also sits as the fifth-best at his position.

“First and foremost I want to thank the community of #GatorNation for all of the love and support they have given me,” he said in a statement. “With everything that has transpired at the University of Florida, I have decided to reopen my recruitment.”

It’s a tough blow for Golden as he tried to keep the class together, but he still has two commits left in four-star power forward Jalen Reed and three-star combo guard Denzel Aberdeen.

Before he awarded his pledge to Florida, the final group of schools he considered was Miami, Memphis and Florida State.

[mm-video type=video id=01fyrvxst8ckm63vjg9n playlist_id=01eqbz250mdknqvm5z player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01fyrvxst8ckm63vjg9n/01fyrvxst8ckm63vjg9n-e7d294c6e9762d5e10807497ad10b61d.jpg]

[listicle id=80329]

[listicle id=80239]

Follow us @GatorsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

Let us know your thoughts, comment on this story below. Join the conversation today.

Here’s why this 4-star combo guard is considering Florida

Florida’s 2022 recruiting class could look pretty strong if Mike White can land this 4-star.

Four-star combo guard Judah Mintz decommitted from the University of Pittsburgh in November during the early signing period. Mike White wanted Mintz before his commitment to the Panthers, and that hasn’t changed now that he’s back on the market.

Mintz said that Florida, Tennessee and Xavier are standing out as potential locations to visit to 247Sports. That’s some decent competition for Florida to overcome, but UF may have the upper hand right now. Mintz is looking to play a specific kind of basketball in college, and he wants good people on the court with him too. Florida checks off both of those boxes.

“They wanted me before I committed originally,” Mintz said, “and they really fit my style of play. They get up and down the court. I know Jalen Reed and Malik Reneau already and they are going there right now.”

Reneau is one of the country’s elite power forwards and Reed is a top 100 power forward with a bit more size. Three-star Denzel Aberdeen is the sole guard in the class right now, so adding Mintz would work out fine. Mintz says that some teams have talked to him about running the point guard position in college, but he sees himself as more of a combo guard. Ultimately, he’s willing to make the switch if it means getting to play at an elite university.

Mintz plans to finish up his season and make some visits during winter break. He wants to have his mind made up before Geico Nationals, so those visits will be crucial when it comes time for his final decision.

Florida currently has the No. 20 recruiting class in the nation. Mintz would bump Florida up enough to contend for a top-10 or top-15 class with one more big signing.

Follow us @GatorsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

Florida basketball’s 2022 recruiting class cracks the SI All-American Top 25

Florida’s class ranks in the top 25 after the early signing period and the best since 2019.

Gators coach Mike White has had some disappointing finishes during his time at Florida, but one of his biggest strengths as a coach is recruiting. He signed yet another very talented class during the early signing period on Wednesday, and he’s not done yet, as there are several other players the team could target before the normal national signing day in April.

Still, as things currently stand, Florida has a top 25 class, according to the Sports Illustrated All-American recruiting rankings. It ranks 20th, to be exact, and the class is headlined by the signing of consensus five star Malik Reneau, a power forward from basketball factory Montverde Academy, the same school that produced top Gators signees Andrew Nembhard and Omar Payne.

In addition to Reneau, who is the No. 25 player in the nation per the 247Sports Composite, Florida signed power forward Jalen Reed, a four-star recruit who also ranks in the top 100 (No. 89). UF also added Denzel Aberdeen, a three-star combo guard who stands at 6-foot-4-inches and ranks No. 193 in the nation.

The Gators could still add another couple of players to the class, but it already ranks as White’s highest since his top-10 class in 2019. This is yet another talented haul, and it could rise in the rankings even more before the final signing period.

[lawrence-related id=60785,60745,60684,60658, 58446]

[listicle id=56483]

Follow us @GatorsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

This 5-star PF signed with Florida on Early Signing Day

The future of Gators basketball looks bright after five-star Malik Reneau signed his letter of intent to play at Florida.

A day after the Florida men’s basketball team kicked off its season with a win, five-star power forward Malik Reneau signed his letter of intent to play for the Gators.

Reneau is ranked No. 25 on the 247Sports Composite list and is the centerpiece of Mike White‘s 2022 recruiting class. Florida has three seniors starting in the frontcourt, so it’s easy to see Reneau making an impact right away. He told 247Sports that he chose Florida because of the relationship he’s developed with the coaching staff, and he seems eager to get to work in Gainesville.

“Coach White has been to the NCAA tournament and been to the Sweet 16,” Reneau said. “So for me, it’s just helping get over the hump and helping coach White get that national championship. I want to go in and impact the team at a high level and help the team win basketball games.”

Another reason Reneau wanted to come to Florida was the school’s track record with players at his position. He said that White allowed “good fours to stretch the court” after observing White’s usage of Keyontae Johnson before the injury.

Brandon Jenkins of 247Sports described Reneau as “all business and fundamentals on the hardwood,” which is music to any coach’s ears. He looks to be a versatile forward for the Gators that can hurt teams from both inside and outside of the paint.

Reneau is the No. 3 ranked power forward in the country. Julian Phillips, the No. 2 ranked power forward, signed with LSU on Wednesday too. The two will be battling it out in the SEC next year.

[lawrence-related id=60745,60684,60658,59326,59179]

[listicle id=56483]

Follow us @GatorsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

Florida basketball lands top 100 prospect Jalen Reed

Florida basketball just got a little bit better with the commitment of Top 100 prospect Jalen Reed.

2022 four-star power forward Jalen Reed will be playing his college basketball at Florida, according to 247Sports.

The Gators beat out Arizona State, Maryland, Oklahoma and Ole Miss for the 6-foot-10-inch, 220-pounder. Reed is the No. 93 overall prospect in the 2022 Composite Rankings and thinks he can help Florida right off the bat.

“I feel like I bring a lot of versatility as well as my size as well,” Reed said. “Being my height and being able to do what I can with the ball, I feel like I can really make an immediate impact on the program.”

Reed visited all five of his top schools over the summer, but a short trip to Gainesville in July made all the difference for him. Head coach Mike White and assistant coach Akeem Miskdeen developed a strong enough relationship to land the Southern California Academy recruit.

“I really feel like I get along with the coaching staff well,” Reed said. “I feel like we will build a lifelong relationship and I trust them to help me develop and keep getting better.”

Reed hopes to make a deep run in the tournament and ultimately bring a championship back to Florida. A late-bloomer, Reed should only continue to improve as time goes on. He was previously ranked No. 97 on the composite but moved up four spots in the last month.

The Gators have two other commits in their 2022 class, five-star power forward Malik Reneau and three-star combo guard Denzel Aberdeen. Following Reed’s commitment, Florida should move up from No. 37 to No. 13 in 247Sports’ team rankings.

[lawrence-related id=58471,58200,58446,58124,58084]

[listicle id=56483]

Follow us @GatorsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

Five-star SF Dillon Mitchell commits to Texas over Florida State and Tennessee

Another five-star in the 2022 class for Chris Beard!

College basketball is just around the corner and Chris Beard has the Texas program moving in the right direction. On the court, they were ranked No. 5 in the AP poll and picked second in the preseason Big 12 poll.

Off the court, recruiting has never been better. Beard is in the hunt for some of the top prospects in the country, attracting them to Austin.

On Monday evening, another top 30 prospect announced he would become a future Longhorn.

Five-star small forward Dillon Mitchell announced his commitment to Texas via Twitter. He picked the Longhorns over home-state Florida State and old Texas head coach Rick Barnes’ Tennessee.

Other offers included Auburn, Florida, Illinois, and Virginia Tech.

Mitchell is the second commitment in Texas’ 2022 class. Five-star point guard Arterio Morris out of Kimball High School in Dallas has been locked in since July 17.

It will be the first time since the 2016 recruiting class Texas has signed two five-star prospects (Jarrett Allen and Andrew Jones) on the 247Sports composite.

Kelly Oubre is the player comparison for Mitchell from 247Sports’ Jerry Meyer. His athleticism is seen as the biggest upside, being an electric player up and down the court. Texas will have to mold him into a better offensive player but Mitchell’s defense seems to already be up to par, if not better.

Texas got Mitchell’s final official visit, hosting him on Oct. 17. Florida State and Tennessee got their shots back in the summer, as did eventually cut Ohio State.

On the 247Sports composite, Mitchell is the No. 28 overall player and No. 9 within the state of Florida. At the small forward position, he ranks as the No. 8 prospect.

Contact/Follow us @LonghornsWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas news, notes, and opinions.

Texas receives crystal ball prediction for elite five-star forward Dillon Mitchell

Chris Beard and the Texas Longhorns are in the mix for another top level talent in Dillon Mitchell.

Chris Beard is still at the beginning stages of his tenure as Texas men’s basketball head coach, and even without a single game played, he’s managing to attract top talent to the Forty Acres.

After many thought that five-star forward Dillon Mitchell out of powerhouse Montverde Academy was bound to commit to Florida State, Beard and his staff convinced the top-30 prospect to take a visit to Texas.

The official visit on Oct. 15 visit seemingly went well for the Longhorns, as Mitchell has now had two 247sports crystal ball predictions inserted in favor of Texas.

Mitchell offers good size at 6-foot-7, and also has the ability to score from inside or outside while also looking like a solid defender at the high school level.

Gaining a commitment from Mitchell would be huge for Texas who currently has another five-star in Arterio Morris as their lone commit in the 2022 recruiting class.

Based off the team that the Longhorns have assembled for this season with transfers such as Marcus Carr and Tre Mitchell, it is safe to say that Beard will be attracting high level talent that he did not get at Texas Tech, nor did Shaka Smart consistently land throughout his tenure at Texas.

Florida basketball picks up commitment from four-star forward

The four-star recruit is the No. 6 power forward in the 2022 class.

Florida basketball coach Mike White landed his first commitment in the 2022 recruiting class on Wednesday, and it was a big one. Four-star Montverde Academy power forward Malik Reneau, the No. 43 player in the country and No. 6 power forward according to the 247Sports Composite, announced his commitment on Twitter.

Reneau chose the Gators over offers from the likes of Florida State, Arkansas and Indiana. Here’s what 247Sports recruiting analyst Brandon Jenkins had to say in his scouting breakdown of Reneau.

Reneau is a southpaw four man with a solid build, great hands, and an equally impressive feel for the game. He is a team-oriented player who compliments those around him with his activity on the glass, inside scoring, and passing from the high to low posts. He is a decent vertical athlete who can make the occasional wow play but for the most part Reneau is all business and fundementals on the hardwood. With his great basketball IQ and ability to do whatever is needed for his team, Reneau tracks well as a high major all-purpose asset.

Though the guard play at UF under White has always been solid, from Kasey Hill to Chris Chiozza to Tre Mann, the team has struggled to find similarly impactful players in the frontcourt. When center Colin Castleton transferred in from Michigan this year, it revitalized the team’s play in the paint, both offensively and defensively.

As a strong rebounder with good inside scoring ability, Reneau is a very nice pickup for the Gators, and White will hope he’s the first cog in a stronger class than last year’s, which ranked just 78th in the nation after only signing one ranked recruit in Kowacie Reeves.

[lawrence-related id=50497,50270,50266,50098,48248]

[listicle id=46361]

Follow us @GatorsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

This top 100 recruit named Florida basketball in his top 4

One of the Gators top targets for 2022 has named Florida in his top four

Noah Clowney, a top 100 recruit according to both Rivals and 247Sports, cut his list of ten schools down to four on Wednesday: Alabama, Florida, Indiana and Virginia Tech.

Florida has zero commits for 2022 as it stands, and an athletic big who projects to split time between the four and five positions would be a great start for the Gators.

There’s plenty of time to convince Clowney as he’ll be taking official visits to all four schools over August and September. He then plans to mull over his decision until the early part of November. Clowney will visit Gainesville on Sept. 3.

Colin Castleton is likely to depart to the draft after this season and Clowney would be showing up at the perfect time to get minutes as a freshman if he chooses Florida. Opportunity may be what separates the Gators from some of the other schools vying for Clowney. That said, the coaching staff’s success is what impresses him most.

“Like with all the schools, they win. That’s what I like,” Clowney said to 247Sports. “They have a great coaching staff. It would be a nice area to play at. I haven’t seen their playing style yet, so they’ll show me all of that.”

Rivals ranks Clowney at No. 55 overall and as the tenth best center in the class of 2022. 247Sports has him a bit lower on the site’s industry-generated composite list but he still checks in at No. 73 nationally and No. 11 for power forwards. Both services have him listed as a four-star prospect.

[lawrence-related id=50270,50266,50098,48248,48810]

Follow us @GatorsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

In-state small forward has Florida basketball in top four

From eight schools down to four, Florida makes the cut for 2022 small forward Brice Sensabaugh.

Brice Sensabaugh, a three-star small forward according to Rivals and 247Sports, named Florida in his top four on Friday.

Joining the Gators in the top four are the Alabama Crimson Tide, the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets and the Ohio State Buckeyes. Florida head coach Mike White offered him in June after an unofficial visit to the school.

Florida has a small advantage over the others in that it’s Sensabaugh’s home state school. He plays high school ball just an hour and forty-five minutes away at Lake Highland Prep in Orlando.

“Florida obviously being close to home,” Sensabaugh said to ZAGSBLOG. “… I’ve known personally a couple people who’ve gone there and played basketball so I can learn from them and they can let me know what they have to offer. When I went there it was a great team. I got to watch practice so that was a great time as well and it was good to see.”

Sensabaugh missed his entire junior year with a torn meniscus and didn’t receive much recruiting attention as a result. He didn’t burst on the scene until July when he attended the Nike Peach Jam in Georgia. Offers flooded in and now he’s down to four.

247Sports has him as No. 253 nationally and No. 53 for small forwards but that is expected to jump up in the next update. Sensabaugh comes in a little higher on Rivals at No. 45 for small forwards.

[lawrence-related id=50266,50098,48248,47784,47044]

Follow us @GatorsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.