Kansas basketball issues scholarship offer to No. 6-ranked player in class of 2022
Brandon Huntley-Hatfield, a 6-foot-9, 220-pound junior-to-be power forward from IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, has received a basketball scholarship offer from Kansas, he has reported on Twitter.
Huntley-Hatfield, who has talked about moving to the recruiting Class of 2021, is currently the No. 6-ranked player in the recruiting 2022 class, according to Rivals.com.
The Clarksville, Tennessee native has also received offers from Kentucky, Virginia Tech, Florida State, Baylor, Ohio State, Texas A&M, Memphis, Vanderbilt, Auburn, Mississippi and others.
“Ultimately, I was going to make my decision (on possibly switching classes) after this summer, but right now, I’m not thinking about reclassifying but hopefully the fall season into the spring. It depends on how I’m playing,” Huntley-Hatfield told 247sports.com.
Baye Fall receives KU offer
KU has offered a hoops scholarship to Baye Fall, a 6-10, 200-pound sophomore-to-be center from Lutheran High in Parker, Colorado.
Fall, who is originally from Senegal, also has Colorado, Arkansas, LSU, TCU, Texas, Arizona State, Georgia, Georgetown, Minnesota and others on his list.
“One college scout said the consensus is, ‘Baye may not see a college court,’ considering the NBA is talking about likely changing its policy to allow players to declare right out of high school in 2022,” Lutheran High head coach Bill Brandsma told the Denver Post. “He came here skilled and scouts are seeing his ultimate potential. He’s 6-11 but jumps like he’s 6-2 and moves like he’s 6-6.”
Fall is serious about his academics.
“Most people think I’m just here for basketball — no, I’m here to study,” Fall told the Post. “I’ve only been playing basketball since the sixth grade. Back home, everyone plays soccer, and I was a pretty good goalkeeper for a long time growing up.
“There’s a lot of opportunities coming — scholarships and everything — but I’m not trying to use basketball to be someone in life. I’m doing it for fun for now because I don’t know where the game is going to take me. I’m focusing on my studies and hopefully that will lead me to something great one day.”
Of his game, Fall told scoopmantv.com: “I think most coaches like my motor and athleticism. For some they say I’m skilled.” The rankings for the Class of 2023 have not yet been compiled by Rivals.com.
Lunardi awards KU No. 2 seed
KU’s basketball team will earn a No. 2 seed in the 2021 NCAA Tournament Midwest Regional according to the latest projections of ESPN.com’s Joe Lunardi.
The Jayhawks, according to Lunardi will play No. 15 seed UC Irvine in a first round game in Wichita. If successful, KU would meet either Stanford or Mississippi in the Round of 32. Virginia is projected to be the No. 1 seed in the Midwest Region.
The No. 1 seeds are Baylor in the South, Villanova in the East, Gonzaga in the West and Virginia in the Midwest. The other No. 2 seeds are Duke in the East, Michigan State in the South, Wisconsin in the West. Kansas State, Missouri and Wichita State are not listed as tourney teams.
Thompson a lottery pick in 2021?
Incoming Kansas freshman combo guard Bryce Thompson will be a lottery pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, according to projections of CBSsports.com’s Kyle Boone.
Thompson, 6-5 out of Booker T. Washington High in Tulsa, Oklahoma is ranked No. 20 in the high school recruiting Class of 2020 by Rivals.com.
Boone has Thompson being selected at No. 14 overall in the 2021 Draft.
“A five-star talent headed to Kansas, Thompson is a crafty scorer who thrives in the midrange but can score it at every level. Needs to improve his outside shot to really stand out at the next level but has the work ethic and hoops IQ to be a difference-making scoring guard,” wrote Boone of CBSsports.com.
OSU player considered top freshman
Thompson was not included on Boone’s list of the “16 incoming freshmen who will immediately impact college basketball this season.”
The country’s top freshman in terms of impact on a team is Oklahoma State’s Cade Cunningham, a 6-7 combo guard out of Montverde (Florida) Academy. He is the No. 1-ranked player in the recruiting Class of 2020 by Rivals.com.
“Cunningham is the crème de la crème that could turn things around in Stillwater, Oklahoma, under Mike Boynton,” wrote Boone of CBSsports.com. “He has the perfect blend of passing, scoring and defensive abilities that should vault the Cowboys from the fringes of the tournament picture to a darkhorse title contender in the Big 12 and beyond.”
An NBA scout told Boone that Cunningham would be selected No. 1 in the 2020 NBA Draft if allowed to enter. It should be noted that Cunningham’s future at OSU is now in question following Friday’s announcement that the Cowboys will not be allowed to participate in the 2021 NCAA Tournament because of NCAA sanctions.
The No. 2 impact player on Boone’s list also will play in Allen Fieldhouse during the 2020-21 season. He’s Evan Mobley, a 7-foot center out of Rancho Christian High in Temecula, California, the No. 3-ranked player in the recruiting Class of 2020 by Rivals.com.
“The USC-bound big man has incredible mobility and skill for a player his size. He should come in as a dominant post presence right away, continuing the destruction Onyeka Okongwu — the best shot-blocking freshman big in college hoops last season — left in his wake,” wrote Boone. “Mobley has his work cut out for him after the Trojans lost their top five scorers from last season, and yet, USC should feel confident there won’t be a dropoff from last year to this year. He’s a generational talent who impacts both ends of the court and should serve as the tide that lifts all boats in Los Angeles.
USC will meet KU on Dec. 19 in Allen Fieldhouse.
Georgia leading for Foster?
Georgia is believed to be the recruiting leader for Michael Foster, a 6-9 senior-to-be from Hillcrest Academy in Phoenix, Arizona, Rivals.com reports.
Foster, the No. 8-rated player in the Class of 2021 by Rivals.com, also has KU, Arkansas, Baylor, Florida State, Illinois, Michigan, Arizona, UCLA, USC and others on his list.
“It doesn’t appear that Foster is close to a commitment. However, do not count out Foster’s option to turn pro, whether that means playing overseas in Europe or Australia or becoming a member of the new G League select team,” wrote Corey Evans of Rivals.com.
This story was originally published June 5, 2020 at 9:50 AM with the headline "Kansas basketball issues scholarship offer to No. 6-ranked player in class of 2022."
