KU and Bill Self want him. Now this Nebraska kid is climbing in national hoops rankings
Hunter Sallis, a 6-foot-5 blue-chip senior basketball combo guard from Millard North High School in Omaha, Nebraska, made history this week when 247sports.com ranked him No. 6 in the recruiting Class of 2021.
Sallis — he’s considering bluebloods Kansas, North Carolina and Kentucky, as well as Iowa State, Alabama, Auburn, Creighton, Gonzaga, Louisville, Michigan, Oregon and UCLA — is the first Nebraska basketball player to earn Top-10 status since recruiting rankings started in the early 2000s.
There’s been talk that Kentucky, which offered Sallis a scholarship on Aug. 21, may have emerged as the leader for Sallis, who as a junior averaged 22.2 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game.
Then again, KU and North Carolina both have mentioned as possible front-runners for Sallis at various junctures of the recruiting process.
“There seems to be a good chance that Hunter Sallis does end up at UNC,” Jerry Meyer of 247sports.com wrote Wednesday after 247 Sports updated its player rankings. Sallis remains No. 11 in the Class of 2021 in Rivals.com’s rankings and is ranked No. 19 nationally by ESPN.com.
“I think we have some time before a decision and there are quite a few schools in hot pursuit of the athletic and talented 5-star guard. North Carolina has put a lot of work into recruiting Sallis and I like their positioning. Hometown Creighton is a factor. Kentucky recently offered. Kansas and Oregon also are major players in his recruitment. I’m not ready to place a Crystal Ball prediction, but I do lean to North Carolina at the moment.”
Brian Snow of 247sports.com gushed about Sallis moving from a No. 19 ranking to No. 6 this week.
“When it comes to the 5-star range, no one made a bigger jump than did Sallis. He has had a huge rise over the last 12 months and he took things to an even higher level this summer during some showcase opportunities,” Snow wrote.
“Sallis has an impressive combination of size, skill and athleticism, and the scary part is he doesn’t even seem to realize just how good he is. Once Sallis takes the next step to becoming an alpha on the court, things will go to an ever higher level.
“Currently, Sallis plays on or off the ball. While he needs to continue to get stronger, that will clearly come in time with natural physical growth and maturity. Once that added strength does come, Sallis should be one of the most difficult players in the country to defend one-on-one, and in a game that is clearly leaning to dynamic guards who can score and make plays with the dribble, there is a good chance that Sallis can find a way to crack the Top 5 before it is all said and done.”
Sallis attended a KU game in Allen Fieldhouse last winter, well before the onslaught of COVID-19 coronavirus canceled the postseason.
“That visit was good. I really liked how they play. I got to watch where I would really be used,” Sallis told Rivals.com. “I really liked Devon Dotson and they were telling me that is how I would be when I get there. I really like that role. They weren’t promising me anything like a starting spot, but they were telling me that the opportunity is there and that if I came there I would have to work for it but it is there.”
He’s stressed that he might decide to play close to home. Creighton and Iowa State also have been mentioned as two teams definitely in the running.
“I want to win, and these programs give me the best opportunity to do that,” Sallis said of his list of 12 last month in an interview with omaha.com.
Daimion Colins update
Daimion Collins, a 6-9 senior forward from Atlanta (Texas) High School, who is a good friend of future KU forward KJ Adams of Austin, Texas, is said to be favoring Texas and Oklahoma. Kentucky recently offered Collins, who reportedly is being recruited heavily by former Texas assistant Jai Lucas, who recently joined John Calipari’s UK coaching staff.
“It felt great to get the offer from Kentucky because they are a really great basketball program,” Collins told 247sports.com. “It is probably every kid’s dream to get an offer from a big school like Kentucky. Coach (John) Calipari likes how I can get up and down the floor, defend, and versatility on the offensive end. I have not talked to coach Lucas since he has accepted his job offer. Coach (Joel) Justus has been the main coach recruiting me. They tell me how coach Calipari has had great success with players like me. They are confident that they will put me in the right positions to get me to where I need to be.”
Collins may move up in the recruiting rankings this upcoming season.
“Collins just missed out on 5-star status during the last rankings update. This time around he won’t,” Eric Bossi of Rivals.com wrote of Collins, the No. 20-ranked player in the Class of 2021 by Rivals.com. “He still needs to add a pretty significant amount of strength but what he does as a shot-blocker, rebounder and big man who can really run and play above the rim is very notable. His production can still be a bit hit or miss, but long term there’s a legitimate discussion to be made about possibly moving him into the national top 10.”
Collins is considering KU, Texas, Oklahoma, Kentucky, Oklahoma State, Arkansas, Alabama, Houston, LSU, Baylor, and Texas Tech.
This story was originally published September 4, 2020 at 9:21 AM with the headline "KU and Bill Self want him. Now this Nebraska kid is climbing in national hoops rankings."
