Tag: 2024 basketball recruiting

Florida basketball staying close with nearby 4-star power forward

One of the top basketball recruits in the class of 2024, power forward Ryan Jones, plays locally and is getting closer with Florida’s coaching staff.

The Rock School (Gainesville, Florida) power forward [autotag]Ryan Jones[/autotag] made another stop by the Swamp earlier this month and left impressed by Todd Golden’s coaching staff, according to Gators Online.

“Every time I go, I feel more comfortable since the new coaching staff came there,” Jones said. “It was just all-around great. They treated me like I’m already on the team. Great coaches.”

Associate coach Carlin Hartman has been Jones’ lead recruiter at UF. His son plays at The Rock School as well, which forms a second natural connection to the program — the first being proximity. The goal is to commit by the early signing period in November, and Jones is prepared to move into the official visit phase of his recruitment.

Florida is set to host him on Sept. 16, but LSU will get him a week after that. Earlier trips to Xavier on Aug. 3 and Virginia Tech on Sept. 2 are also on the schedule. Jones isn’t closing the door on adding more schools to the list, but those are the four he’s looking at the closest right now.

Jones is a good student (3.9 GPA) looking to further his education and find a mentor while going to school for basketball. Florida is one of the best public universities in the country, and Hartman is standing out as a coaching connection early.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5 category=1738]

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

Both Michigan State basketball commits featured in new ESPN 100

Both members of MSU’s 2024 recruiting class were featured in the new ESPN 100

ESPN basketball recruiting rankings are some of the most highly regarded in the industry and as we turn the recruiting calendar officially to the 2024 cycle, ESPN has reevaluated their rankings in the 2024 class.

In the new batch of rankings that has just been released, both of Michigan State’s 2024 basketball commits, Kur Teng and Jesse McCulloch, were featured in the top 100.

Teng has checked in at No. 44, while McCulloch sits at No. 98.

Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan state news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow Cory Linsner on Twitter @Cory_Linsner.

[lawrence-auto-related count=1]

Florida inching closer No. 2 spot in On3 recruiting team rankings

Florida’s latest addition to the 2024 recruiting class has the Gators even closer to taking over a top-two spot in On3’s team rankings.

Florida’s recent frenzy of additions to the 2024 recruiting class has the Gators ranked No. 3 in the On3 recruiting rankings.

The latest commitment, four-star IMG Academy wide receiver Jerrae Hawkins, put Florida’s total score up to 92.940, which is just 0.188 points away from overtaking Ohio State as the No. 2 class in the country. The way the algorithm works right now, Florida needs to add one of the top-158 players on the On3 industry ranking to move into second place.

Adding a player like Mainland (Daytona Beach, Florida) safety Zay Mincey would do the trick, but the Buckeyes are working on adding some more talent to its class as well. Eventually, the algorithm will evolve to include more than the top-12 players in each class, which could change things slightly.

Ahead of both Florida and Ohio State is none other than the two-time reigning national champion Georgia Bulldogs. The ‘Dawgs have a score of 94.547, which will be tough to catch. The biggest difference is that Florida hasn’t landed a five-star commitment yet.

Billy Napier and his recruiting staff finished the 2023 recruiting cycle ranked No. 13 overall by On3. The loss of Jaden Rashada pushed the Gators out of the top 10, but Napier has a chance to finish in the top five this time around.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5 category=1739]

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

Top-100 PF looking to take an official visit to Florida

Four-star power forward Ryan Jones Jr. is no stranger to the nearby University of Florida, and now he has a date set for an official visit with the Gators.

The Florida Gators men’s basketball program already has two players committed in the recruiting class of 2024, but Todd Golden and Co. aren’t slowing down on the recruiting trail just yet.

There is a four-star power forward that plays nearby at The Rock School in Gainesville, Florida — [autotag]Ryan Jones Jr[/autotag]. — and he now has an official visit set up with the local program, according to Gators Online. Florida will host him over the weekend of Sept. 15, which is a good recruiting weekend with the football hosting Tennessee.

Of course, Jones expects to return to the Swamp before September. His high school 10 minutes away and he’s been by plenty of times over the past few months, according to 247Sports. He could be back on campus as soon as Thursday, per the report.

Jones would be a big pickup for Florida, which already has four-star center John Bol (No. 28 nationally) and Isaiah Brown (No. 121) under commitment. Jones comes in at No. 68 on the On3 industry ranking, which uses a weighted average from all four major recruiting services.

ESPN is the highest on Jones, ranking him the 45th-best player in the class. On3 is the least impressed at No. 124 nationally and No. 26 among power forwards.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5 category=1739]

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

Gators to host 4-star FSU wide receiver commit on official visit

Florida and Florida State are always battling for the same recruits, and a verbal commitment isn’t going to stop either side from recruiting a player it really wants.

Dunbar (Fort Myers, Florida) wide receiver [autotag]Tawaski Abrams[/autotag] committed to Florida State University back in January, but the Florida Gators never stopped recruiting the in-state, blue-chip recruit.

That persistence has paid off, though, as Abrams is now planning to take an official visit to the Swamp over the weekend of June 16, according to Swamp247’s Blake Alderman.

The changes on Florida’s coaching staff have played a role in Abrams’ increased interest in the program. Billy Gonzalez wasn’t around when the Gators offered Abrams, but the two have been in consistent communication with each other since he joined the staff.

“I talk to him pretty much every day building a good connection with him,” Abrams said to Alderman. “He wants me to play for him. He loves the speed. That is what most coaches like about me. He tells me I remind him of Kadarius Toney.”

That player comparison will have Florida fans drooling over Abrams, but he’s still a future Seminole for now. The On3 recruiting prediction machine still favors FSU heavily at 95.8% odds to sign him Abrams, but things could change after an official visit.

Abrams is a consensus four-star recruit that’s ranked No. 254 overall on the 247Sports composite. He’s also ranked No. 36 among wide receivers in the class of 2024.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5 category=1739]

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

Michigan State basketball is in heavy pursuit of 5-star shooting guard

MSU is heavily in the mix for a 5-star shooting guard in the 2024 recruiting class

5-star shooting guard Isaiah Elohim is narrowing down his recruitment and starting to figure out which schools are going to make it down the long haul. Michigan State appears to be in that mix.

Elohim revealed to 24/7 High School Hoops that six schools are reaching out to him the most: UCLA, Kansas, Arkansas, Kansas State, USC and MSU.

Elohim ranks as a 5-star prospect and the No. 16 overall prospect according to 247Sports.

Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan state news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow Cory Linsner on Twitter @Cory_Linsner.

Florida basketball misses out on top 2024 PG target

The Florida Gators missed out on their top point guard target in the 2024 class despite some strong relationships with the staff.

Florida basketball has had its eyes on [autotag]Dedan Thomas Jr[/autotag]. for a while now, but the Liberty (Henderson, Nevada) point guard is staying home after announcing his commitment to UNLV on Sunday.

“I stayed home because I felt the most comfortable,” he said to On3’s Joe Tipton. “I got a special feeling about the school that I didn’t get anywhere else.”

The Gators were considered frontrunners in this race because of the connections the coaching staff has had to him for several years. Todd Golden saw him at a camp over two years ago and associate head coach Carlin Hartman is the father of one of Thomas’ former teammates.

Those connections didn’t pay off, though, and the top-25 recruit decided to play his college ball a little closer to home instead.

Missing out on Thomas is a significant loss for Todd Golden and Co. on the recruiting trail. Houston was the other program in play, but Thomas did announce a top six that feature Arizona, Gonzaga and UCLA.

247Sports ranked Thomas No. 22 overall in the nation and No. 3 among point guards in the class of 2024. He’s also considered the top recruit out of Nevada.

Golden and his recruiting staff will now have to pivot and try and add another player in the class of 2024.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5 category=1740]

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

Florida basketball earns first 2024 commitment from in-state SG

Florida’s first basketball commitment from the class of 2024 is an in-state shooting guard with strong defense.

Orlando Christian Prep shooting guard [autotag]Isaiah Brown[/autotag] is the first class of 2024 recruit to announce his commitment to the University of Florida’s basketball program.

Brown was looking at Georgia, Missouri Tulsa and VCU among other programs, according to 247Sports, but Florida’s efforts on the recruiting trail were too strong to deny.

“Their play style is great,” Brown said. “It fits in right with how I play. They really wanted me to be a Florida Gator and I felt that.”

Brown led his team in scoring, averaging 18.6 points per game as a junior. The Warriors made the Florida High School Athletic Association’s Class 2A State final (after winning their district and region) but fell short in the championship game by one point.

In addition to scoring, Brown averaged 5.7 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.3 steals per game. His defense is strong for a two-guard and connected on 38.7 percent of his three-pointers. He should get even better as a senior this year, and could add a little more to his frame as well.

Brown is ranked No. 112 overall on the 247Sports composite, which uses a weighted average of the major recruiting services. He’s also ranked No. 22 among shooting guards and No. 11 among recruits from the Sunshine State.

UF moves up to No. 22 on 247Sports’ team rankings with Brown’s commitment.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5 category=1738]

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

Florida basketball makes latest cut for towering 5-star prospect

The Gators are among the contenders for this blue-chip 7-foot-2-inch center.

One of the top centers in the 2024 college basketball recruiting cycle released his list of seven schools and one development league on Friday via On3’s Joe Tipton. Five-star prospect [autotag]John Bol[/autotag] out of Wichita (Kansas) Sunrise Christian included the Florida Gators among his preferred destinations.

Other institutions the 7-foot-2-inch, 190-pound paint player included on his list were the Michigan Wolverines, Missouri Tigers, Texas Longhorns, UConn Huskies, USC Trojans, Wake Forest Demon Deacons, as well as the Overtime Elite league (OTE).

The rising high school senior has also received offers from the Nebraska Cornhuskers, Georgia Bulldogs, TCU Horned Frogs, Auburn Tigers, Texas Tech Red Raiders, Clemson Tigers, and many others.

Bol opened up to Tipton, offering the following on what he is looking for in his next step on the basketball court.

“I’ll look for a program that actually wants me,” he said. “Not as just a big, but a school that actually sees me and sees my potential and how much I can grow in this game. I can do more than just screen and run the floor, both of which I’m really good at, but I also want to play for a coach who sees the best for me. I want to keep growing and keep getting better.

“The culture of the team is something I will look at too. The team being together as a family. Sometimes, it can be hard for you as a player, like something happens at home, and you need a teammate or somebody there for you.”

Bol is rated at five stars and ranked No. 22 overall and No. 4 at his position nationally according to the 247Sports composite while the On3 industry ranking rates him at four stars and has him at Nos. 24 and 2, respectively. On3’s Recruiting Prediction Machine has

[lawrence-auto-related count=5 category=1365]

[mm-video type=video id=01h09q5z316qvmhymw8n playlist_id=01eqbz250mdknqvm5z player_id=01f5k5y2jb3twsvdg4 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01h09q5z316qvmhymw8n/01h09q5z316qvmhymw8n-cc7d094364b8efc8b2b0250916011c13.jpg]

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

LSU basketball lands first 2024 commitment in forward Devon Pryor

The three-star Houston prospect ranks just outside the national top 200, per On3.

LSU men’s basketball coach [autotag]Matt McMahon[/autotag] has added the first piece to his 2024 recruiting class.

On Tuesday, the Tigers landed a commitment from three-star forward [autotag]Devon Pryor[/autotag], a 6-foot-7 prospect from PSAT-XEA Academy in Houston. Though he hails from Texas, Pryor’s father is from Shreveport, and he grew up in a household of LSU fans.

The wing player is rated as a three-star by On3 and 247Sports, though he’s unranked by ESPN and Rivals. Per the On3 Industry Ranking, he’s the No. 204 overall player and No. 44 small forward in the 2024 class.

Still, he had a number of power conference offers including Texas A&M, Oklahoma State, Colorado, Virginia Tech and others.

LSU only signed two players in a 2023 class that ranked just 48th nationally. With Pryor’s addition, the 2024 class now ranks 33rd. McMahon needs to add more, but landing the Houston prospect is a good start.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1390]

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

Follow Tyler to continue the conversation on Twitter: @TylerNettuno

[mm-video type=video id=01gzck1r17jdt5ftsj18 playlist_id=01eqbz5s7cf4w69e0n player_id=01f1jz1vgtfhzk6ner image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01gzck1r17jdt5ftsj18/01gzck1r17jdt5ftsj18-40699b2e017bdc0e75adf983536e7a7b.jpg]