With prospects across the country narrowing their lists and making verbal commitments, Rivals newswire has been buzzing lately. Today, national analyst Rob Cassidy looks ahead and examines a few prospects that might be coming off the board soon, making a couple of FutureCasts, and sharing other intel related to the recruitments of various in-demand players.
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FutureCast: Darius Acuff Jr. to Arkansas
Darius Acuff Jr. has been trending toward landing at Arkansas since John Calipari took over the program back in April. It looks like the five-star’s college recruitment might be in its final stages, with rumblings about a possible decision in July. There's no official word from Acuff or his camp about a decision date yet, but it certainly feels like things are heading that way.
The sooner a decision comes, the better for Arkansas, which is seen as the favorite to land the Michigan-born guard. However, there are still very real threats from Kansas and the in-state Wolverines.
Bonus FutureCast: Meleek Thomas to UConn
The defending champs, UConn, have taken the lead in the race to land five-star guard Meleek Thomas. Thomas has expressed hopes to commit before the start of his senior season in the Overtime Elite League, for which he left his Pittsburgh high school this summer.
While this recruitment doesn’t seem as open-and-shut as Acuff’s, Thomas’ June official visit to Storrs has generated serious buzz in the grassroots basketball world. It's important to remember that Thomas is very well-traveled from a campus-visit standpoint, so a quick change of momentum isn't out of the question. That said, UConn fans have plenty of reasons to feel optimistic.
A Pecking Order Emerging for Kayden Mingo
With Penn State set to receive Kayden Mingo’s first official visit this fall, the race to land the four-star guard’s commitment is heating up. Recent intel suggests that Penn State and Notre Dame are currently the leaders, but programs like Wake Forest, Xavier, and Virginia Tech are also in the mix and will be jockeying for position as they host Mingo this fall.
Interestingly, Mingo’s younger brother, Dylan Mingo, is a five-star prospect in the class of 2026. While the brothers are not a true package deal, they have discussed the possibility of playing together in college and will explore this following Kayden’s commitment.
Fears Moves into Class of 2024
Last week was quite eventful for four-star guard Jeremiah Fears. He announced both a decommitment from Illinois and a possible reclassification from 2025 to 2024 on back-to-back days. Rivals will list Fears as a member of the class of 2025 until he officially joins a program's 2024 class.
On that front, Fears has several developing options. Kentucky and Providence have made contact with the AZ Compass prep star. Despite having an available scholarship, Kentucky seems unlikely to add Fears due to its guard-heavy roster and Fears’ desire to play big minutes from day one. Providence would need to make room or find a creative way to add Fears to a roster that lacks an open scholarship, possibly through the use of NIL.
USC also offered Fears a scholarship following his decommitment from Illinois and should be monitored. Ole Miss and Michigan were among Fears’ finalists when he committed to the Illini, but it’s unclear how involved either will be this time around. Fears’ older brother, Jeremy Fears Jr., currently plays for Michigan State.
Fears, last ranked as the No. 31 prospect in the 2025 Rivals 150, is expected to remain in the top 50 even if he moves into the 2024 class.
Key Points to Watch:
- Darius Acuff Jr.'s Decision: Keep an eye out for a potential announcement in July. Arkansas is the favorite, but Kansas and Michigan are still in the mix.
- Meleek Thomas and UConn: Thomas' commitment could come before his senior season starts. His visit to UConn has generated significant buzz.
- Kayden Mingo's Official Visits: Penn State and Notre Dame are currently leading, but Wake Forest, Xavier, and Virginia Tech are also contenders.
- Jeremiah Fears' Reclassification: Fears' move to the 2024 class and his potential landing spots, including USC and possibly Providence, are worth monitoring.
The recruiting landscape is constantly shifting, and these developments highlight just how dynamic and unpredictable it can be. Fans and analysts alike will be watching closely as these top prospects make their decisions, potentially reshaping the future of college basketball programs nationwide.
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