Kayden Mingo has been climbing the rankings over the course of a year, which has resulted in increased attention from college coaches and a growing list of scholarship offers. The four-star guard has yet to officially narrow down his roster, but information emerging from the situation suggests a loose pecking order is beginning to take hold.
Below, Rivals national analyst Rob Cassidy tries to rank the early candidates for Mingo’s pledge as the Long Island Lutheran High School star begins scheduling fall visits.
1. PENN STATE
The club’s first leader, Penn State extended one of Mingos’ first scholarship offers and appears likely to receive his first official visit in September. How this trip goes will likely set the pace for the rest of the four-star’s recruitment.
The Nittany Lions have been recruiting Mingo longer than anyone else and will now look to close the deal once they get the New York star on campus. Since Mingo is still a few visits away from making a decision, Penn State’s place atop this list isn’t set in stone, but fans should feel some semblance of optimism heading into the fall.
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2. NOTRE DAME
The Irish are said to be following in Penn State’s footsteps ahead of a visit from those in the know and could very well take down the Nittany Lions once they get Mingo on campus. the sides hope the visit will take place on a football weekend this fall.
Micah ShrewsberryThe Irish are in a solid position here and could very well challenge Penn State as Mingo embarks on the final step of his process. Notre Dame should be seen as a serious threat in the future.
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3. VIRGINIA TECH
The Hokies have felt like a fringe player since offering Mingo in December. Mingo often mentions the program in interviews and plans to visit the campus at an undetermined time.
It seems possible for the Hokies to crack the top two with a solid visiting weekend, but that trip needs to be officially scheduled before optimism can grow. For now, Tech appears to be in a solid third place.
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4. XAVIER
Another possible visiting destination, Xavier has been strengthening itself lately and inserting itself in the midst of the hustle and bustle. The Musketeers have quickly moved up the list of potential suitors for Mingo and now appear to be on the hunt for an official visit.
What will happen when Xavier puts Mingo on campus is anyone’s guess as head coach Sean Miller continues to make rapid advances with the guard as well as his inner circle. For now, however, much work remains.
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5. AWAKEN FOREST
It doesn’t seem like Awake Forest has the courage to win this draft, but people close to Mingo say he plans to visit in the future. If a campus tour actually happens, the Demon Deacons could see some upward mobility on this roster.
Yet, Steve Forbes‘ it seems very unlikely that the program will be the last team standing when all is said and done.
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Editor’s note: This article first appeared in Rivals.com, the leader in college football and basketball recruiting coverage. Be the first to know and follow your teams by signing up here.
