These programs will be stating their cases to important recruits.
basketballrecruiting.rivals.com
Interesting takes on a few recruits per the article:
3. NC STATE
44
NATIONAL
-
STATE
9
POSITION
DEIVON
SMITH
6'0" | 165 LBS | PG
GRAYSON
LOGANVILLE, GA
CLASS OF 2020
UNDECIDED
NC State will bring to campus two of its commits and is attempting to turn two official visitors into Wolfpack pledges, as well.
Nick Farrar committed to the program earlier this month, while junior guard
Terquavion Smith did the same earlier this year. Top in-state products,
Dontrez Styles,
JaDun Michael, Zaharee Maddox and
Carter Whitt will be on campus, as will top-25 junior
Quincy Allen. Those players will be taking unofficial visits to the ACC program. However, most of the attention will be focused on
John Hugley and
Deivon Smith. NC State received their first official visits, but are in the best spot for Smith. He will visit
Louisville next weekend and the prevailing thought is that the Wolfpack and Cardinals will vie for his signature, which will likely come in November. For Hugley,
Miami and
Pittare two to keep an eye on, though NC State has picked up ground in recent weeks.
5. PITTSBURGH
29
NATIONAL
-
STATE
7
POSITION
EARL
TIMBERLAKE
6'5" | 205 LBS | SF
DEMATHA
HYATTSVILLE, MD
CLASS OF 2020
UNDECIDED
Jeff Capel is hoping this fall will be different than last year, when the Panthers came up short with a number of their top targets. They did find a way to finish the year out strong, but it came with great anxiety. That anxiety could be erased this time around with pledges from players on campus this weekend.
Cliff Omoruyi, a top 60 prospect, will take an unofficial visit to Oakland. Pitt has been connected with Omoruyi often, but the Panthers remain in catch-up mode.
Earl Timberlake will be on an official visit. No one has a great feel with where he's leaning, but the Panthers have developed a great rapport with the versatile wing. Visits will likely be taken to
Alabama,
Miami,
North Carolina and
Seton Hall, and Providence and
South Carolinaalso remain involved. The likeliest visitor to commit is
Noah Collier, who is down to a final three and would be the ideal, run-and-jump 4-man for Capel and his staff.
Cal and
Clemsonare also in the mix take to land his services.
7. WEST VIRGINIA
93
NATIONAL
-
STATE
22
POSITION
JALEN
BRIDGES
6'7" | 205 LBS | SF
SCOTLAND PERFORMANCE INSTITUTE
SCOTLAND, PA
CLASS OF 2020
UNDECIDED
West Virginia already sits with the commitment of four-star big man
Isaiah Cottrell, and it will attempt to add another to its frontcourt this weekend. The top in-state prospect that will take a prep year this fall,
Jalen Bridges, begins his official visit tour. The Fairmont native will make the short drive to Morgantown and get an even better feel for what the Big 12 program has to offer.
Miami and
Xavier are the two to beat for Bridges, who has four other official visits scheduled for the fall before a signing is made in November. Bridges could definitely warm up to the in-state program, but
Tajj Thweatt is the more likely player to commit. The three-star forward out of New Jersey is down to a final four that also includes
Florida,
Penn Stateand Temple. Could the Mountaineers be on commitment watch this weekend? They are in a very good spot with the athletic and tough-nosed forward, and will be doing their best to double their 2020 class before Monday arrives.
So Miami leads with Bridges and Hugley while Timberlake has everyone guessing and some still believe Ware is going to Kentucky even though an official visit has not been scheduled. Not bad at all for Miami. Time to close the deal.
247sports.com
I agree we need more locals on the UM squad. I was disappointed in Mr. Carey in the decision he made. He could of build a legacy and held the torch here . Miami is becoming a hotbed destination for basketball. I met someone who runs the Miami Hoop Hall invitational. He did say that the City of Miami has a chance to become a factory just like Football and Baseball. You have a lot of legendary high school coaches relocating down because of great weather to coach these talent along with a lot of transfers in international kids. Plus it helps that some these local basketball players are getting exposure of its own because of the travel teams that come down to play in the summer.Very interesting on Lykes and McGusty . I like to see more of Bev , Wong Walker, Deng in lineups to see what we have in the future of UM basketball. I think this will play a role in what these recruits see in our style of play.
