Fastbreak Friday: And away we go! KU, IU highlight visit weekends
Fastbreak Friday is back and we examine the busy weekend visitors from across the country. We explore the wide-scale view of all of the visits of note on the basketball recruiting front for college basketball. Labor Day Weekend is the official start of the college football season, thus opening the door for a nationwide all-systems-go for visitors.
Let's start the break. Shall we?
CAMPUS OF THE WEEKEND: Kansas
Kansas will host three top-100 guys in the 2024 class during Labor Day weekend. News recently started to trickle out that 2024 big man Derik Queen would be heading to Lawrence in addition to shooting guards Jalil Bethea and Jared Harris.
Kansas already has a commitment from top-rated center Flory Bidunga. Thus, making Queen’s visit interesting.
If I had to lean in any direction for one of the best available bigs in the 2024 class, I’d still favor Maryland to land Queen, but, if anyone’s going to beat out the Terrapins, Bill Self and the Jayhawks have to be heavy favorites. There aren’t many coaches who use their bigs as well as Self. While Kansas already has a commitment from Bidunga—who currently ranks as the best big in the class—Self has shown that he’s more than willing to get some schematics in order for two big rotations.
CAMPUS OF THE WEEKEND, cont.: Indiana
Ohio State comes to Bloomington for a gridiron game and you better believe the Indiana basketball staff is ready for such an early semester big weekend.
The Hoosiers are wasting no time with the class of 2025.
Jalen Haralson, one of the premier prospects in the nation regardless of class, will be on campus. The in-state prospect from the class of 2025 is the most important in-state prospect so far in the Mike Woodson era.
Malachi Moreno, another promising prospect from the class of 2025. The top 50 center from Kentucky lives just under three hours away from the IU campus.
JUSTIN YOUNG’S VISITOR TO WATCH: Jeremiah Johnson, Oklahoma State. The Oklahoma native is one of my favorite combo guards in the class of 2024 nationally. He shined at Wasatch Academy last year and has now relocated to PHH Prep in metro Phoenix. Johnson is consistent, big-game experienced and the kind of guard who has had success in a Mike Boynton system.
JOSH TEC’S VISITOR TO WATCH: Asa Newell, G-League Ignite. Visiting the G-League still sounds strange, but it’s proven to be a more-than-viable option for prospects to take to reach the NBA. Whenever a player visits with Ignite, it should be taken seriously. One of the better available prospects in the class, 6-foot-9 forward Asa Newell is reportedly taking a visit there this weekend. While he has college visits scheduled, the possibility of him taking this alternate route is very much on the table.
JUSTIN BYERLY’S VISITOR TO WATCH: Jaeden Mustaf, Maryland. Taking a visit to where his dad starred at back in the early 90’s before becoming the 17th pick in the NBA Draft. The younger Mustaf who has recently signed with Overtime Elite spent this past travel season playing with Boo Williams and has shot up college recruiting lists.
GARRETT TUCKER’S VISITORS TO WATCH: Bishop Boswell, Wake Forest. It’s a big weekend for the Demon Deacons as they will play host to Boswell yet again. The 6-foot-4 in-state point guard has been a top target for Steve Forbes’ staff for a long time, so expect them to roll out the red carpet. Boswell also has a close relationship with Jayden “Juke” Harris from their time playing together with CP3 on the travel circuit. Keep an eye on this one going forward.
Trent Burns, Missouri. Let’s be honest, anytime a 7-foot-3 prospect steps foot on campus, he’s literally a “big visitor.” But why is Burns a visitor to watch this weekend? Because of the Dennis Gates effect, of course. Dating back to his days at Florida State, Gates has had success with 7-footers. Burns could be the next big man that Gates and C.Y. Young add to the stable at Missouri.
PEACH STATE TRIPPERS
Josh Hill, Xavier - Keep a close eye on this one. The promising big man from Wheeler has been a target for the Musketeers for a while now. They’ll finally get a chance to get him on campus officially and have him mingle with the current team.
Gicarri Harris, Miami - The Grayson guard continues his fall visit tour, making a stop in the ACC again. He visited Georgia Tech last weekend and now Miami gets a shot.
Micah Smith, James Madison - The visit tour continues for the versatile forward from Sandy Creek. He was on the campus of Bradley last weekend. This weekend he’ll spend time with Mark Byington and staff in Virginia.
THIS WEEKENDS NOTABLE VISITORS:
Asa Newell - G League Ignite |
Austin Swartz - Georgia |
Bishop Boswell - Wake Forest |
Brody Kozlowski - SDSU |
Chase McCarty - Houston |
Christian Alston - Abilene Christian |
Curtis Givens -Texas |
Darrion Sutton - Georgia Tech |
Derik Queen, Kansas |
Gicarri Harris - Miami |
Jaeden Mustaf - Maryland |
Jaiden Glover - Seton Hall |
Jalen Haralson - Indiana |
Jalil Bethea - Kansas |
Jared Harris - Kansas |
Jase Richardson - Alabama |
Jeremiah Johnson - Oklahoma State |
Jordan Tillery - Georgia Southern |
Josh Hill - Xavier |
Julen Iturbe - Lehigh |
Khani Rooths - Virginia Tech |
Malachi Moreno - Indiana |
Malcolm Thomas - Florida State |
Micah Smith - James Madison |
R'Chaun King - Alabama State |
Trent Burns - Missouri |