The FBI Probe's Potentially Crazy Impact On College Basketball Recruiting
The FBI Probe's Potentially Crazy Impact On College Basketball Recruiting
An inside look at the impact the FBI investigation will have on college basketball recruiting with some prominent 2018 prospects.
For anyone wondering how the FBI probe into college basketball would impact recruiting, a few of the nation's top prospects have already made the decisions to decommit from programs, and a good number of high-profile players could be next.
The first domino to fall and big-time prospect to back out of his commitment on Wednesday was Wheeler (GA) star big man and 2018 Flo40 No. 24 E.J. Montgomery, who had pledged to Auburn over a year ago.
This leaves the Tigers with zero commitments in 2018 and opens the door for several high-major schools to recruit the 6-foot-9 power forward after he fielded offers from the likes of Florida, Florida State, Georgia Tech, and NC State early in the process.
If losing head coach Rick Pitino and athletics director Tom Jurich wasn't enough, the Cardinals will have to replace a star duo of now decommitted guards in Flo40 No. 37 Anfernee Simons from IMG Academy (FL) and Courtney Ramey from Webster Groves (MO).
[tweet url="https://twitter.com/AnferneeSimons/status/913098180081995777" hide_media="0" hide_thread="1"]
Both Simons, a 6-foot-2 elite scoring guard, and Ramey, a 6-foot-3 point, will most certainly get some serious high-major offers in the near future.
The only really hope here for Louisville is to rebound to potentially build a nice class while also keeping in-state prospect David Johnson for 2019.
With assistant coaches from Arizona, Auburn, Oklahoma State, and USC facing charges of fraud and corruption, the possibility for more prospects to follow in decommitting is higher than usual. Or, if new schools emerge, things could get really interesting.
ARIZONA
2018 Commitments:
Flo40 No. 14 Jahvon Quinerly
Flo40 No. 27 Shareef O'Neal
Brandon Williams
Easily the program with the highest profile in the bribery scandal, the Wildcats currently have a stellar class for 2018 including Flo40 No. 14 Jahvon Quinerly, No. 27 Shareef O'Neal, and Crespi (CA) point guard Brandon Williams.
How much did Emanuel "Book" Richardson play a part in the recruitment and relationship of and with these prospects? Will they leave now because he is gone? Will they decommit just due to the allegations?
That could be asked about any of these schools, and all eyes will be on these 2018 Wildcats to see what they will do next.
Not to mention, Arizona head coach Sean Miller is heavily involved in several high-ranked players, including No. 1 R.J. Barrett and No. 4 Bol Bol.
OKLAHOMA STATE
2018 Commitments:
Antwann Jones Jr.
Just when everyone thought the Cowboys got off to a great start in this class by landing Oak Ridge (FL) shooting guard Antwann Jones Jr., Oklahoma State assistant coach Lamont Evans was arrested in the scandal, which raises concerns whether or not Jones will stick to his pledge or pursue other offers given the situation, especially since he committed just two weeks ago.
USC
2018 Commitments:
Flo40 No. 30 Taeshon Cherry
Kevin Porter
J'Raan Brooks
Trojans head coach Andy Enfield has had a nice run on the recruiting trail in recent years, and that continued to start the 2018 class. Securing Flo40 No. 30 Taeshon Cherry and strong Seattle prospects Kevin Porter (Rainier Beach) and J'Raan Brooks (Garfield) before the end of the summer was impressive, but this could all change things now that Tony Bland was one of the coaches arrested.
Only time will tell which prospects stay or go, but the impact the whole situation will have on basketball recruiting will likely extend much further beyond this week and perhaps with several more programs.
It's only going to get worse before it gets better, and there is no doubt things might get even crazier, too.
THE FIRST DOMINO TO FALL
The first domino to fall and big-time prospect to back out of his commitment on Wednesday was Wheeler (GA) star big man and 2018 Flo40 No. 24 E.J. Montgomery, who had pledged to Auburn over a year ago.
This leaves the Tigers with zero commitments in 2018 and opens the door for several high-major schools to recruit the 6-foot-9 power forward after he fielded offers from the likes of Florida, Florida State, Georgia Tech, and NC State early in the process.
LOUISVILLE LOSES IT ALL
If losing head coach Rick Pitino and athletics director Tom Jurich wasn't enough, the Cardinals will have to replace a star duo of now decommitted guards in Flo40 No. 37 Anfernee Simons from IMG Academy (FL) and Courtney Ramey from Webster Groves (MO).
[tweet url="https://twitter.com/AnferneeSimons/status/913098180081995777" hide_media="0" hide_thread="1"]
Both Simons, a 6-foot-2 elite scoring guard, and Ramey, a 6-foot-3 point, will most certainly get some serious high-major offers in the near future.
The only really hope here for Louisville is to rebound to potentially build a nice class while also keeping in-state prospect David Johnson for 2019.
HOW MANY MORE WILL FOLLOW?
With assistant coaches from Arizona, Auburn, Oklahoma State, and USC facing charges of fraud and corruption, the possibility for more prospects to follow in decommitting is higher than usual. Or, if new schools emerge, things could get really interesting.
ARIZONA
2018 Commitments:
Flo40 No. 14 Jahvon Quinerly
Flo40 No. 27 Shareef O'Neal
Brandon Williams
Easily the program with the highest profile in the bribery scandal, the Wildcats currently have a stellar class for 2018 including Flo40 No. 14 Jahvon Quinerly, No. 27 Shareef O'Neal, and Crespi (CA) point guard Brandon Williams.
How much did Emanuel "Book" Richardson play a part in the recruitment and relationship of and with these prospects? Will they leave now because he is gone? Will they decommit just due to the allegations?
That could be asked about any of these schools, and all eyes will be on these 2018 Wildcats to see what they will do next.
Not to mention, Arizona head coach Sean Miller is heavily involved in several high-ranked players, including No. 1 R.J. Barrett and No. 4 Bol Bol.
OKLAHOMA STATE
2018 Commitments:
Antwann Jones Jr.
Just when everyone thought the Cowboys got off to a great start in this class by landing Oak Ridge (FL) shooting guard Antwann Jones Jr., Oklahoma State assistant coach Lamont Evans was arrested in the scandal, which raises concerns whether or not Jones will stick to his pledge or pursue other offers given the situation, especially since he committed just two weeks ago.
USC
2018 Commitments:
Flo40 No. 30 Taeshon Cherry
Kevin Porter
J'Raan Brooks
Trojans head coach Andy Enfield has had a nice run on the recruiting trail in recent years, and that continued to start the 2018 class. Securing Flo40 No. 30 Taeshon Cherry and strong Seattle prospects Kevin Porter (Rainier Beach) and J'Raan Brooks (Garfield) before the end of the summer was impressive, but this could all change things now that Tony Bland was one of the coaches arrested.
Only time will tell which prospects stay or go, but the impact the whole situation will have on basketball recruiting will likely extend much further beyond this week and perhaps with several more programs.
It's only going to get worse before it gets better, and there is no doubt things might get even crazier, too.