The recruiting rumor mill never stops, and the last few weeks have brought with them a wave of innuendo and rumors. Top prospects are moving closer to college commitments and the buzz about where they might land is growing quickly.
This week, Rivals national analyst Rob Cassidy shares some of the rumors surrounding the recruitment of four high-profile prospects.
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OREGON MAKING MOVES WITH GRADY WINTERS
One of last year’s biggest bullish investors, four-star forward Grady Winters has seen its list of offers grow over the past few months. Grady recently narrowed its list to nine shows, but information from Rivals suggests Oregon may be the current favorite of the bunch, making Grady’s Oct. 12 visit to Eugene a pivotal moment.
Grady grew up in Lake Oswego, Oregon and was a fan of Oregon Statebut that all changed when he became a recruitable athlete and more familiar with the Oregon program.
Michigan, Colorado It is Oklahoma It’s the other schools in the bottom nine that are worth monitoring closely. Still, it appears the race is the Ducks’ to lose at this point.
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ILLINOIS TRENDS FOR BRANDON LEE
Four-star guard Brandon Lee has well-established ties with the Illinois program. Illini assistant coach Orlando Antigua played with Lee’s father, Marqueta standout turned NBA player Butch Lee, in the Puerto Rican league. Antigua and Brandon Lee have already built a strong relationship and now it appears the Illini are quickly closing in on the East Coast-based guard.
Lee plans to arrive on campus in Champaign this month for a trip that will be pivotal in his recruitment. Seton Hall is the most notable competitor still in contention, but most expect Lee to eventually suit up for Antigua and head coach Underwood brand on the road.
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KOA PEAT CAN REMAIN IN STATE
Arizona-based forward Koa Peat has many options. North Caroline, Duke, UCLA, Baylor, Texas It is Houston are certified serious players when it comes to turf, but there has been a significant buzz growing in the state Arizona lately.
Pete, who has spent his entire life in the Grand Canyon State, plays high school basketball just 100 miles from Tucson and has visited the campus on several occasions. He plans to make an official visit in the fall before announcing a decision.
North Carolina appears to be the biggest threat to oust Peat from state power, but the Wildcat team had a huge advantage when it came to solidifying its relationship with the five-star offensive lineman. Houston and Texas shouldn’t be ruled out either, but it appears Arizona would be the betting favorite for now if the odds existed.
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BYU A GROWING THREAT TO LAND AJ DYBANTSA
General Perspective #1 AJ Dybantsa it narrowed its list to include just seven shows. Kansas, Kansas State, BYU, Baylor, Alabama, Auburn and North Carolina are the programs still standing to land the five-star wing. Conspicuous in their absence are blue-blood options such as Kentucky, Duke, UConnbut the most intriguing conversation surrounding Dybantsa’s roster reduction concerns which program can project itself as a leader.
The buzz around BYU has been building for months and has only gotten louder following Dybantsa’s recent transfer to Utah Prep. Hiring a new head coach Young Kevin has energized the fan base and donors in Provo, which appears to have resulted in a big boost for top-ranked Dybantsa, who plans to decide in February. Rumors of a massive fundraising effort in an attempt to attract future professionals to Provo are difficult to confirm, but they seem based in reality if you listen to whispers coming from people in the know.
Obviously, it won’t be easy for Young to hold off on more storied programs and more talented coaching staffs, but the Cougars shouldn’t be overlooked as they are clearly one of the most serious players in the Dybantsa sweepstakes and could very well have the necessary capital to actually land his commitment. .
