What we learned about Texas hoops recruiting in Las Vegas
LAS VEGAS, Nevada – As the final evaluation period for college coaches and the AAU season for players nears its end, the hoops recruiting season will turn to a new part of the calendar. Soon, many top prospects will release narrowed lists, schedule visits, and work towards making a decision during the first November signing period. Meanwhile, coaches, after getting their final look at their targets in person and gathering more info about what schools are their main competitors, will make lists of their own, prioritize targets, and project their recruiting class.
In Las Vegas, the Texas staff was present throughout the three main events. What did we learn after some hoops time in Sin City? Our four main takeaways about the Longhorns’ 2018 hoops recruiting:
TEXAS WILL HOST A LOT OF PROPSECTS DURING THE FALL
Already, the following 2018 prospects told OB or Rivals.com they’re planning on taking an official visit to Texas:
Quentin Grimes
Jared Butler
Keldon Johnson
Gerald Liddell
Kaden Archie
Recent Texas offer Jaxson Hayes, an intriguing 6-10 big, named Texas as a school he wants to visit too, although he didn’t know if it would be an official or unofficial visit. Brock Cunningham, a local product from Austin Westlake, missed the adidas Summer Championships in Las Vegas because he was sick, but he’s another that is very likely to take an official visit to Texas. Unless he’s content with the unofficial visits he’s already taken and probably will take in the future. Another candidate likely to take an official visit to Texas is Kamaka Hepa, a highly skilled and smart forward that took an unofficial visit to Texas earlier this summer. He recently said that Texas, Washington, Gonzaga and USC are the four schools standing out the most.
It should be a busy fall as Texas hosts targets for official visits.
BUT THE LONGHORNS ONLY HAVE ONE OPEN SCHOLARSHIP CURRENTLY…
Yes, the list above is a big one already, and could grow. So, Texas fans might be asking how Shaka Smart and his staff are going to make this work with so many interested targets and only one open scholarship currently.
Mohamed Bamba is going to be a one-and-done, and has a legitimate chance to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft. After testing the NBA Draft waters after his freshman season, it’s very likely that Andrew Jones jumps all the way in after the upcoming season. That brings the number to three scholarships for Texas, and we believe the 2018 recruiting class could end up being more than three. In fact, it’s more likely than not. Since the 2012 season, one player has transferred from Texas each season. So, it’s fair to project attrition after this season. Transfers are common everywhere in college basketball because available minutes often trump everything.
HOW WILL TEXAS CONSTRUCT ITS CLASS?
Fortunately for the Longhorns, they’re in need of wing/forward-types and in a down year both in the state and nationally, that position is one that has some quality talent and depth. Liddell, Johnson, and Cunningham fit the mold of wings and possibly small-ball fours, and Archie has the size and defensive ability to profile as both a combo guard and a wing. And if Texas wants a point-forward, Hepa fits that role about as well as anyone in the 2018 class. That position is something Smart places a lot of value in, and for the first time, he has one of those guys this season in Dylan Osetkowski.
But Texas probably needs a big, doesn’t it? Bamba will move on. Osetkowski is going to be really good, and it’s not crazy to think he could play himself into a pro discussion, although it would be a surprise if he doesn’t play a senior season at Texas. That would leave Texas with James Banks, Royce Hamm, and Jericho Sims in addition to Osetkowski. Banks is the only true center-type among that group. Sims, who sources told us is up to 235 pounds, could profile there too, especially as basketball moves farther away from traditional centers and more towards positionless, small basketball. But even if he does, you could definitely make the case Texas needs to take another big body.
HOOPS INSIDER TEAM NOTES: BAMBA BETTER THAN ADVERTISED?
Right now, the only bigs Texas is recruiting are David McCormack and Hayes. After speaking with McCormack in Las Vegas, it’s clear nearly every big school in the country is trying to get into his recruitment, and although he stated he still hears from Texas, the Longhorns didn’t have much of a presence at his games. His recruitment is one of the toughest ones to figure out. Enter Hayes, who is rising rapidly, recently received a Texas offer, and attracted Smart and Texas assistants while he played. Before the summer AAU season, he had zero offers. Now, he has 24. He’s 6-10 and projects to be 7-0 in college. A former football player that outgrew receiver after going from 6-0 to 6-10 in a couple years, Hayes, a native of Cincinnati, shows some of that dual-sport talent in his mobility and solid handle, passing ability, and shooting form and touch thanks to his time spent as a smaller guard and wing. He’s more of a long-term college prospect than instant impact player, but investing in that body and talent could pay big dividends down the road.
Of course, there’s the question about point guards too, or combo guards that could legitimately give a team minutes at point. Obviously, Grimes, a five-star prospect that’s connected on 11-of-24 three-pointers thus far in Las Vegas, is a take if Texas can get him. At one point, Smart, Jai Lucas, and Darrin Horn were all watching Grimes and Basketball University. So were John Calipari, Sean Miller, and Bill Self. Butler is planning on taking official visits to Texas, Alabama, and Virginia, and stated those three are clearly standing out above the rest. Smart watched him Thursday, and he visited Texas earlier this summer. Will Texas elect to add a player that can handle the ball as a lead guard with Matt Coleman and Elijah Long on campus? Fortunately for the Longhorns, they have options.
TEXAS IS ALREADY DOING A LOT OF WORK IN THE 2019 AND 2020 CLASSES
The 2019 class in Texas is loaded, and Texas made it a point during the evaluation periods to get an up-close look. The Longhorn staff watched RM5 Elite each time it hit the floor. Point guard De’Vion Harmon and five-star combo guard Tyrese Maxey already project to be priority targets for Texas in 2019. Maxey could end up being a top 10 overall prospect nationally, and is one of the best competitors in the country. Jalen Wilson and Grant Sherfield of Marcus Smart YGC36 had UT’s attention in Las Vegas too, and Wilson has been one of the best players we’ve seen this summer. He’s a big-time wing talent that can knock down triples or put it on the floor for a tough bucket in the paint. Austin Westlake big Will Baker has been terrific in Las Vegas. Through three games, he’s averaging 20.9 points (59.0 percent shooting), 9.0 rebounds, is a perfect 14-of-14 at the free throw line, and hit a pick-and-pop three right in front of Smart and Lucas Thursday evening.
GO INSIDE THE WAR ROOM FOR MORE INFO ON TEXAS HOOPS RECRUITING
As for the 2020 class, Texas watched Greg Brown (Vandegrift) throughout the GASO last weekend, and Lucas was at both of R.J. Hampton’s games Thursday. Both look like locks to be five-star prospects, and Hampton, an elite point guard with good feel for the position, visited Texas about a month ago.
If the Longhorns put together a good season on the hardwood this year, they’ve positioned themselves to capitalize on two upcoming, in-state classes that will produce some elite talent.