Conference Call: Most important weekend visitors
The dominoes continue to fall as more than half of the Rivals150 has already decided where they will be attending college next fall. Entering another jam-packed weekend of college football games, we take a look at the most important basketball visits in this week’s conference rundown and highlight potential commitments that could ensue.
MORE: Rival Views on Kansas, Florida, Miami, Illinois | Bossi's Best | Twitter Tuesday
ACC: MIAMI
Miami has been one of the sneakiest programs when it comes to snatching highly touted prospects that the Canes were believed to have no chances with. While they do sit in a decent spot with the upcoming slate of visitors, landing each would be a tremendous addition for Jim Larranaga’s bunch. They will attempt to tap back into the DMV region as Saddiq Bey makes the 1,000-mile trek south to Coral Gables. A 6-foot-5 small forward and the ultimate utility knife, Miami is most likely battling Pitt and Xavier for his signature this fall. He will be joined by Eric Ayala, a Delaware native playing his final year at IMG Academy.
BIG EAST: GEORGETOWN
The Hoyas dipped into the state of Texas earlier this month in picking up the commitment of Grayson Carter, a skilled and versatile power forward that remained under the radar for the local Big 12 programs. This weekend, Patrick Ewing will attempt to strike again in the Lone Star State as Jordan Phillips, a Rivals150 wing and travel teammate of Carter’s with Dallas Showtyme, will head to the Hilltop. Having already visited Fresno State and Arkansas, Phillips has one other trip lined up, that being a visit to Virginia Tech next weekend. The Hoyas are looking for a versatile wing with size, exactly what Phillips presents. Javian Fleming, an explosive big from Mississippi, also will visit Georgetown.
Creighton: Zach Harvey, Xavier Foster
Xavier: Shaq Carter
BIG TEN: MARYLAND
Maryland has been silent of late, but the Terps do sit with a strong 2018 class. Bolstered by the summer commitments of five-star big man Jalen Smith and do-it-all top-50 wing Aaron Wiggins, the Terps will look to make a statement this weekend. A five-star big man and the best long-term center prospect in the 2018 class, Moses Brown will begin his second official visit on Friday. Brown already visited Louisville to begin the month, and not much is known about which way he may be leaning. Maryland has done a great job of prioritizing him, dating back to his underclassman years. A 7-footer with gigantic upside and rim presence, Brown would become the gem of the Maryland’s 2018 recruiting class and would create major momentum heading into next weekend’s visit from five-star wing Keldon Johnson.
BIG 12: OKLAHOMA STATE
Mike Boynton received his first 2018 commitment on Monday as Rivals150 guard Antwann Jones pledged to Oklahoma State. Riding the momentum into the weekend, the primary focus will be on top-50 guard Elijah Weaver. Weaver and Jones played a year of high school ball together two years ago. Multi-dimensional forward Yor Anei, five-star junior guard Tyrese Maxey, top-60 wing Jalen Wilson, junior scoring guard Chris Harris and top-five 2020 guard RJ Hampton also will be on campus this weekend. A commitment from any of the six visitors should be welcomed as the first-year coaching staff is hoping to secure at least one more prior to October.
PAC-12: ARIZONA and OREGON
Rather than focusing just on one school, RJ Barrett, the top-ranked player in the 2018 class, takes the entire spotlight. A 6-foot-7 wing that recently reclassified into the 2018 class, Barrett has already completed official visits to Kentucky and Duke. This weekend, the Canadian will take two more visits. On Thursday, Barrett will head to Oregon, a program that has become known for its ability to land and cultivate Canadian talent. On Saturday, Barrett will take a trip to Arizona and get a glimpse of what Sean Miller has cooking out in the desert. The Wildcats already boast a top-ranked class nationally and just enrolled fellow Canadian wing Emmanuel Akot. Barrett will complete his visit tour next weekend at Michigan and it remains a guessing game as to where he might be leaning.
SEC: VANDERBILT
The debate is whether this is a bigger weekend for the football program or the basketball program at Vanderbilt. All eyes will be on the gridiron as the Commodores welcome Nick Saban’s top-ranked Alabama football squad to Nashville but, at the same time, Bryce Drew will be hosting two of the top-ranked players from the 2018 class. Darius Garland and Romeo Langford, each five-star guard prospects, will get the chance to take a deeper dive into what Vanderbilt can offer. While Langford is more of a longshot as UNC, Louisville and Indiana remain the favorites, Vandy sits in the pole position for Garland. Vandy will host another five-star prospect in junior big man James Wiseman on Saturday after it kicked off the week with the commitment of Rivals150 senior wing Aaron Nesmith.
