Recruiting Notebook: High Major Players Update
The top ranked play of 2018, Javonte Smart, once again lead the charge as far as recruitment goes. He was the first player from Louisiana, regardless of level, to commit for 2018. He is considered a top 20 player, as well as one of the absolute best point guards in the nation and as a result could pick anywhere in the country that he wanted to go. He had high major offers from Kansas, Baylor, and Ohio State, but ultimately chose to stay in state and join Coach Will Wade at LSU. LSU has also recently picked up a commitment from another 2018 #15 prospect in PF Naz Reid of New Jersey, but it doesn’t look like the Tigers are stopping there. They are also in the race for 6’7 PF Darius Days from Florida, the 55th prospect in the nation, as well as Josh LeBlanc, whose recruiting we will get to now.
LeBlanc is a 6’7 SF/PF tweener that goes to Madison Prep, who is currently ranked as the 68th best recruit in the country. He had a foot injury that sidelined him for most of the grassroots season two years ago, but came back this year with a vengeance. He lead Louisiana Elite in points, rebounds, and blocks, and took home defensive player of the year for the Under Armour circuit. He tallied a total of 20 scholarship offers, but cut his list of potential schools down to Arkansas, Georgetown, LSU, and Texas A&M. He has already taken official visits to Arkansas, Georgetown, and Texas A&M, and has saved his official visit to LSU for last, which according to sources is supposedly scheduled for next week. He plans to make his official announcement on November 12th. As of now, all things seem to be trending the Tigers way, and as of now it looks like Coach Wade and LSU has a great shot at keeping the two best players from Louisiana.
Right behind Smart and LeBlanc is 6’3 PG Jared Butler of Riverside, currently ranked as the 91st recruit. He is another top player from Louisiana that was injured during his 16u season, and as a result flew under the radar as far as his recruitment was concerned. But once again, he came back this past grassroots season, and lit up the EYBL while playing for MEBO Elite out of Mississippi. His pro potential is as high as anyone’s in the state, because of his incredible ability to shoot the ball and his high basketball IQ. He has picked up a ton of high major offers, but cut his list down to six in August. His decision is down to Texas, Wichita St., USC, Alabama, Baylor, and Virginia. He has begun taking official visits, starting with Virginia and Alabama, as well as Baylor this past weekend. As of now, I would say that Alabama and Texas have the highest chance of signing him, but you can’t rule out Virginia, as well as Baylor due them reeling in Riverside basketball studs in the past.
Behind those three is 6’3 combo guard Greg Williams of Lafayette Christian, who spent the past season on the same Grassroots team as Javonte Smart, playing for Houston Hoops of the Nike EYBL. He is currently ranked as the 113th prospect in the country, and was able to pick up some major offers this summer. His top offers include Florida, St. Johns, West Virginia, Texas, and Houston. He has kept his recruitment quite secretive, and hasn’t ruled out any schools as of yet, but Florida and West Virginia should have the inside track, because his game and athletic ability fit in so well with what both those schools are trying to do.