Tag: Official visits

Wisconsin basketball set for critical recruiting weekend when Badger football hosts Alabama

Wisconsin football’s game vs. Alabama means more than just a win or loss in the standings:

Wisconsin basketball is lining up a substantial weekend of official visits for Sept. 14 — the same weekend that Badger football hosts top-ranked Alabama.

Greg Gard’s program already has visits with top-ranked recruits Davion Hannah, Amari Allen and Tommy Ahneman scheduled for that weekend.

Related: Big Ten basketball teams ranked by returning production entering 2024-25 season

Hannah, first, is the No. 29 overall player in the class of 2025, No. 4 combo guard and the No. 3 recruit from the state of Missouri. He is originally a Wisconsin native, though recently transferred to Link Academy in Branson, Missouri for his senior high school season. The 6’5″ guard is quickly ascending toward being one of the best players in the entire cycle.

Allen, next, is ranked as the No. 100 player in the class, No. 18 small forward and the No. 13 recruit from the state of Florida. Like Hannah, Allen is technically an in-state prospect who transferred elsewhere for his final high school season. In his case, that is IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida.

Wisconsin’s chances at landing either of the top recruits dropped with their respective decisions to transfer to national basketball powers. But they remain in-state prospects with whom the Badgers figure to have longstanding relationships with.

Ahneman, finally, is the No. 87 player in the class of 2025, No. 12 center and No. 1 recruit from the state of Minnesota. Wisconsin is one of the four programs with an official visit scheduled, along with Minnesota, Notre Dame and Nebraska.

Gard and his staff are clearly banking on an impressive showing from the Badger football program when Alabama visits Camp Randall. It will have the three top-100 recruits on campus at the same time, looking to make a strong impression before their respective college recruitments hit the national stage.

 

Wisconsin’s class of 2025 currently ranks No. 7 in the nation with commitments from two in-state standouts: four-star SG Zach Kinziger and three-star C Will Garlock.

A commitment from any of the three big-time visitors from the Sept. 14 weekend would cement the program’s class among the best in the nation — and provide another vote of confidence in Gard as a recruiter.

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LSU set to host first official visitor of the football season

The Tigers are looking to sway yet another blue-chip prospect, this time an edge rusher from out west.

This Saturday morning, the LSU Tigers welcome the Tennessee Volunteers into town for a huge SEC matchup. The Volunteers aren’t the only ones LSU is hosting, though, as the Tigers will welcome their first official visitor of the 2022 season.

[autotag]Tausili Akana[/autotag], a 2023 four-star EDGE from Lehi, Utah, and Skyridge High School, will be in town to check out LSU. Coach [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] currently has 22 commits for the 2023 class, led by five-star wide receiver [autotag]Shelton Sampson Jr.[/autotag]

Akana has an SEC-heavy list of possible landing spots. He is currently Crystal Balled to Oklahoma (a future SEC school), and Texas (another future SEC school) is the favorite to land him per On3.

Brian Kelly has done an incredible job so far recruiting against the best teams in the country. He will hope Akana falls in love with the Bayou this weekend.

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Texas to host a number of top prospects against Alabama this weekend

Here is a look at some of the biggest names making the trip to Austin for the Alabama game.

Steve Sarkisian and the Texas staff are enjoying plenty of success on the recruiting trail this cycle. Continue reading “Texas to host a number of top prospects against Alabama this weekend”

Texas to host five-star TE Duce Robinson this weekend

The top tight end prospect in the nation will take a visit to Texas this weekend.

The nation’s top tight end prospect is making the trip to Austin this weekend for an official visit.

Five-star Duce Robinson is ranked by 247Sports composite as the No. 1 prospect in the state of Arizona and a top 20 overall player in the class of 2023.

Robinson is a two-sport star who excels on both the football field and the baseball diamond. His 6-foot-6 frame and exceptional athletism make him a potential difference-maker at the next level. Alabama, Georgia, Texas and USC are currently the top schools in the mix for Robinson.

Texas has the opportunity to make a strong impression while hosting Robinson this weekend and the rest of the season. Longhorns’ tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders seems like he will be a focal point of the offense this season. Watching Sanders perform at a high level can not hurt Texas’ chances with Robinson.

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LSU to host top-75 2023 basketball recruit next month

Kaden Cooper will be on campus from Sept. 8-10. He also has visits set for Alabama and Kansas in September.

LSU basketball coach [autotag]Matt McMahon[/autotag] is looking to build on his 2023 recruiting class after landing his first commitment earlier this month in four-star Louisiana prospect [autotag]Corey Chest[/autotag].

He and the Tigers in the mix for another top 2023 recruit in [autotag]Kaden Cooper[/autotag], a small forward from Ada, Oklahoma, who plays for The Skills Factory. Cooper is the No. 57 overall player in the country, per the 247Sports Composite, and he will be taking an official visit to LSU this fall from Sept. 8-10. He will also take trips to Kansas (Sept. 1-3) and Alabama (Sept. 22-24).

The news was initially reported on Twitter by 24/7 High School Hoops.

Cooper picked up an offer from LSU in April, and in July, he released a top 10 that also includes Gonzaga, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Kansas State, Kansas, Texas, Alabama, Memphis, and Georgia Tech. Cooper has already taken official visits this summer to Spokane to see the Zags and to Norman to meet with the Sooners.

“The LSU coaches and I have a really great bond and I’ve had a great time understanding how they see me and what they expect from me, which is to come in and kill,” he told On3. “Talking about their visit is an exciting thing.”

LSU is not without competition for the blue-chip prospect, and it will have to beat out some geographically closer schools like the Oklahoma teams, Kansas and Texas, but it seems to be squarely in the mix here. If McMahon can hit on just one or two more of his top targets, this could be a special class for the Tigers in spite of the slow start.

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4-star offensive lineman sets official visit to LSU

Blue-chip prospect D.J. Chester will be on campus this weekend.

[autotag]DJ Chester[/autotag], a blue-chip offensive lineman from Georgia, has set an official visit with LSU and will head to Baton Rouge this weekend.

Rebuilding the offensive line has been a priority for the Tigers for some time now. According to the 247Sports composite rankings, Chester is the 18th best tackle in the class of 2023 and ranks 187th overall.

Chester recently took a visit to Auburn, which remains heavily involved in his recruitment. As it stands, coach Bryan Harsin’s team could be considered the favorite, though the race is far from over.

LSU’s class of 2023 sits at five commitments, but it has yet to nab any offensive or defensive lineman. Chester would be a big get for coach [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] and offensive line coach [autotag]Brad Davis[/autotag].

The Tigers landed a decent offensive line class last cycle, but that will have to continue if they want to get back to where they should be.

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Recently offered 2023 receiver sets official visit date with LSU

The Tigers offered Kyle Parker during an unofficial visit last weekend.

LSU may be getting in the game late for three-star Lovejoy (Lucas, Texas) receiver [autotag]Kyle Parker[/autotag], but it’s quickly gaining some momentum in his recruitment.

The Tigers hosted Parker, a 5-foot-10 receiver who is ranked as the No. 613 overall prospect in the country per the 247Sports Composite, this weekend, and while on campus, he picked up an offer. It seems he wants to see more, as he has set a return trip for this coming weekend, which will count as one of his official visits. That news was reported by On3’s Billy Embody.

After his second trip to Baton Rouge in as many weeks, Parker will also visit Oklahoma State, Louisville and Texas. The Longhorns are currently considered the favorite for him, but that could change in the coming weeks. Parker told Embody that he grew up watching LSU and said it was a meaningful offer for him.

“I loved getting this offer,” Parker said. “LSU is the college I grew up watching. I have a lot of family in Louisiana so it’s been one that I’ve been wanting to get.

“I had been talking to (receivers) coach (Cortez) Hankton for like two weeks and he wanted to see me in person. So, I came to see him and put some work in this weekend. He said he loved the way I ran my routes and can see me at LSU helping the team out in many different ways. I think coach Hankton is definitely a good coach. He’s coming off a National Championship at Georgia and knows what he’s doing at the wide receiver position.”

The Tigers may face an uphill battle, but if they can capitalize on back-to-back visits with Parker, they could become a major player here late in the process.

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5-star quarterback target locks in June official visit to LSU

Jaden Rashada has set official visit dates to both LSU and an SEC rival.

LSU’s recruitment of the 2023 quarterbacks continues to get more interesting as another five-star will be visiting campus.

According to 247Sports, [autotag]Jaden Rashada[/autotag] — a five-star recruit from Pittsburg, California — will be taking an official visit from June 6-8. He also has one lined up with division rival Texas A&M several days prior.

LSU’s quarterback targets in 2023 could now be down to three players: Rashada, [autotag]Dante Moore[/autotag] and [autotag]Rickie Collins[/autotag]. Moore, a Michigan prospect, is uncommitted while Collins, a Baton Rouge native, is currently committed to Purdue, but his recruitment is far from over.

LSU doesn’t appear to be a serious contender for [autotag]Arch Manning[/autotag] and Louisiana native [autotag]Eli Holstein[/autotag] recently committed to Alabama.

247Sports has Rashada as the fifth-best quarterback in the class of 2023. His scouting report mentions his poise in the pocket and ability to add touch to throws.

LSU is still probably fighting an uphill battle here, and I don’t think the Tigers are the favorite, but they appear to be right in the thick of it. If [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] and staff can pull this off, it would be a big win.

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Five-star LB Anthony Hill sets summer visit schedule

Texas will get a summer visit from the top linebacker in the state.

Five-star linebacker Anthony Hill will be all over the place this summer. The Denton Ryan product announced he is set to visit some of the premier programs around the country.

Hill will check out Oklahoma, Alabama, USC, Texas and Texas A&M this summer. Each school was named in Hill’s top six back on Feb. 14.

Recruiting analyst Gabe Brooks sees Hill as a future NFL athlete in his scouting report:

Capable of consistent sideline-to-sideline pursuit with proven blitzing ability. Tone-setter for an FBS-loaded Texas 5A D-I state championship defense as only a sophomore. Produced good numbers despite playing on a unit with a lot of mouths to feed, so to speak. Adequate in-space athleticism in coverage but at his best playing downhill. Owns valuable offensive reps as a short-yardage battering ram with the ball. Shows promising pass-rush instincts despite primary role being off-ball. Main question is position in the long term, but physical tools suggest highest ceiling as an edge player. Regardless, one of the most dynamic defensive prospects in Texas and the country for his class through the 2020 season. Projects as an impact high-major starter with long-term early-round NFL Draft potential.

Texas has built a strong connection with Denton Ryan High School over the years which will play to the Horns advantage in this recruitment. Fighting off the other big names who are battling for Hill’s commitment will be no easy task.

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Top 2023 quarterback Arch Manning plans to visit LSU

Arch Manning Watch continues as the No. 1 recruit said he plans to visit Baton Rouge this fall.

LSU continues to stay in the mix for Isidore Newman (New Orleans) quarterback [autotag]Arch Manning[/autotag] — the No. 1 overall recruit in the 2023 class — and the Tigers got some good news on Monday night.

According to a report from the Lafayette Daily Advertiser’s Koki Riley, Manning intends to take an official visit to LSU at some point this fall and hope to catch a game at Death Valley.

“Coach (Brian) Kelly knows how to win … he’s won everywhere he goes pretty much,” Manning said. “I have a former teammate, Bo (Bordelon), so he’s going up there this summer and I want to check him out, see how he does in practice and I’ll probably go up there for a game.”

Manning also said he plans to visit Florida at some point in the future. He has already taken visits to Georgia, Alabama and Texas in the past.

The nephew of NFL legends Peyton and Eli, Manning threw for 1,913 yards and 26 touchdowns last season to go with six touchdowns on the ground. Due to his prominence, he’s being recruited nationally by nearly every top program in the country, but LSU will look to reap the benefit of being the in-state school and land one of the top quarterback prospects in recent years.

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