ACC Basketball Recruiting Update

By: Mike McDaniel | Associate Editor

With the basketball season upon us once again, there are many ACC teams continuing their strong push out on the recruiting trails in advance of this coming season and beyond. Some top national prospects have committed to ACC schools, while others have conference powers under consideration as they inch closer to a decision. Let’s see what the teams across the conference have in store for us.

 

Bolden, a five-star 6’10” prospect, has yet to declare his plans for college ball, but has offers from every major program. Coach K has him on campus for a visit this weekend, in hopes that they can convince him to come play for the Blue Devils, who are already stacked with their 2016 recruiting class. This is definitely something to keep an eye on, as there is plenty of potential here for the rich to get richer.

 

Jones, a four-star guard out of Irving, Texas, has decided to push back his decision timeline after a bevy of impressive visits. While he is no closer to making a decision, visits to Arizona and Texas impressed him, which will make his decision that much tougher. Meanwhile, he is awaiting a visit to Louisville, which he says he will take soon, but a date has not yet been finalized. Another ACC school, Virginia Tech, has pushed hard for Jones as well, giving him an opportunity to play in the nation’s best basketball conference if he so chooses.

 

Thon Maker is one of the top players in the class of 2016, as he is ranked as a five-star prospect by nearly every recruiting service on the map. Maker, a 7’1″ mammoth, has received scholarship offer from every top program you can think of, while dark horse Notre Dame has made their pitch this week. While the Irish may not necessarily have the attractiveness of a Duke or a Kentucky, Notre Dame still has an impressive and improving basketball program, with some of the nation’s top academic programs to boot as well. 

 

 
 

Four-star guard Cassius Winston out of Detroit, Michigan is planning on making his college decision today, with Michigan State, Stanford, and Pittsburgh being the three finalist for the 6’0″ point guard’s services. Winston took his final visit to Michigan State this week, and they could very well be the leader in the clubhouse as we approach Winston’s choice this afternoon. For Pittsburgh, this could be a huge get to help replace guard James Robinson, who will graduate after this season.

 

Four-star, 6’7″ wing, Deandre Hunter, has committed to Tony Bennett and the Virginia Cavaliers. This is another solid get for the ‘Hoos, as they have kept momentum rolling with their verbal commitments of late. Hunter was also considering Miami, Maryland, and Villanova, among others.

 

Five-star point guard Dennis Smith is keeping it in-state for his college basketball, as the Fayetteville, North Carolina product has committed to NC State. Smith, a 6’2″ prospect, also had offers from Duke, North Carolina, Kentucky, Louisville, and Wake Forest. It looks like Mark Gottfried will have another outstanding point guard prospect to play in the coming years for his ball club.

 

 
 

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