Twitter Tuesday: Memphis, Oklahoma State, IU, Moussa Cisse
We are in the middle of a busy week on the commitment front with some of the top prospects coming off the board. Ziaire Williams and Josh Christopher are the latest to commit with another group ready to do just the same in the coming days. In this week’s #TwitterTuesday, we tale a closer look at the upcoming decisions from Jalen Green and Greg Brown, Oklahoma State’s scholarship count, who Dayton and Florida are prioritizing and much more.
I don’t see that happening, primarily because I expect Jalen Green to commit to Memphis on Friday, though my confidence is waning some. But say that he does choose Auburn or the professional relam, the latter a path that is becoming a stronger option by the day, and Greg Brown, a week later, picks Auburn or Texas, then Memphis will be in a spot that they didn’t expect to be in.
The Tigers missing on its two priority recruits would sting. Sure, they would still have a top-four team in the AAC thanks to their returning talent and an offseason of continuity but, without a transcendent talent like Green and/or Brown, Memphis' ceiling would be lowered greatly.
Furthermore, Memphis would still need to add at least one more player before it can complete its roster for next season. The Tigers could pour further time into the recruitment of Karim Mane, who doesn’t seem to be in much of a rush to end his recruitment, or make an even greater push for Will Jeffress. The transfer route is another avenue they could explore, and Memphis is among the finalists for Purdue big man Matt Haarms. Finally, the Tigers remain a top landing spot for top-10 junior Moussa Cisse, who could reclassify later this summer.
First off, I would cut Mike Boynton and his staff some slack. Oklahoma State has a top-five class in America and will enroll the nation’s best senior prospect in the fall. J.T. Thor’s decision to pick Auburn over Oklahoma State may leave a sour taste in Pokes’ fans mouths, but taking a broader look at things, there is more than enough talent on paper for Oklahoma State to compete for a Big 12 title next season. Those chances were only enhanced with yesterday’s commitment from Donovan Williams.
Granted, Thor would have taken some of the pressure on Cade Cunningham but I also wonder whether that would have been a good fit. Thor is someone that is really good with the ball in his hands, but so is Cunningham. Throw in Isaac Likekele, who is another jumbo guard-wing, and what you have is three talented players that need the ball in their hands to be at their best. Thor may have raised their ceiling for what they could accomplish but Williams might have addressed the Pokes' bigger need: shot-making.
Oklahoma State now sits without an open scholarship. There are questions surrounding Montreal Pena and whether he will be eligible to compete in the fall. In the meantime, look for the Cowboys to remain proactive in monitoring the Transfer Portal and also doing the leg work with four-star junior Adama Sanogo, who could reclassify later this summer.
For one, unless there is a surprise transfer this spring or if Andrew Nembhard or Keyontae Johnson enters the NBA Draft, then Florida is full on scholarships for next season.
If Nembhard and Lewis return, they, along with Scottie Lewis, are likely to enter the 2021 NBA Draft, which would open three scholarships that will need to be filled. It should be noted that, at this time, the Gators will not have a graduating senior on its roster next year.
I feel good about where Florida stands with Kowacie Reeves, a four-star wing from Georgia, and wouldn’t be surprised if he ended his recruitment this spring or summer. Deebo Coleman is another guard that UF is high on. The Gators have also ramped up their pursuit with Alex Fudge, while Lynn Kidd is someone that they have continued to recruit despite him leaving the local Rock School for IMG Academy last fall.
Enrolling a top-25 class this fall and with Anthony Duruji and Tyree Appleby now eligible to play, the Gators do not lack for depth or talent. Primarily losing just Kerry Blackshear from last year’s group, it wouldn’t come as a surprise if they were to redshirt someone in order to keep most happy and to lessen the amount of underclassmen on its roster in the coming years.
Indiana now sits with two solid commitments in the 2021 class, though Khristian Lander could opt to enroll this fall, more good news could be ahead for the Hoosiers.
The program still needs to find a high-level scoring wing, like Aminu Mohammed, and a versatile forward in the mold of Trey Kaufman. Of the two, I feel like Kaufman is the most likely to commit to Indiana.
I am not sure if Kaufman's pledge is imminent but the Hoosiers are in a great spot for the four-star forward. That doesn’t take away from the chances that someone like Louisville or Xavier might have, but IU is the favorite and have continued to place a heavy priority on Kaufman.
For Mohammed, Georgetown, Kansas State, Louisville and Maryland are among his other top suitors. The Cards might be slightly out in front compared to all others but IU has a chance, which could also be said for Blake Wesley.
I’ll take your second question first. Moussa Cisse will more than likely reclassify into the 2020 class. It has been challenging getting everything lined up for him to be eligible to compete in the fall due to the ongoing pandemic, but chances remain promising that we will see Cisse on a college hardwood next season.
Where that is remains up for debate. I stand firm on my prediction that Cisse will end up at LSU. The Tigers have never brought the five-star to campus and might not have the chance due to the coronavirus, but they have laid the proper groundwork with him that would allow for Cisse to become a Tiger. Kentucky is not out of the picture, either, nor is Florida State, Georgetown, Georgia or Memphis, as each staff believes they have some type of chance with the elite shot blocker.