Ricky Council IV cuts recruiting list to six: Wichita State basketball not in the mix
The much-anticipated cut-down list from Ricky Council IV released on Tuesday afternoon was supposed to be a reason to hope for Wichita State.
After hope appeared to be lost when the budding sophomore star entered the transfer portal on April 21, optimism about a potential return returned when Armchair Strategies launched as WSU’s first NIL collective, formed by a pair of former WSU baseball players dedicated to creating money-making opportunities for Shocker athletes. Convincing Council to return for a third season in Wichita was never a given, but it appeared to at least be an option in recent weeks.
That’s what made it all the more shocking when Wichita State was omitted from Council’s final list of six schools. The Shockers believed they were still in the mix up until the moment they weren’t.
Instead, Council has narrowed down the choices for his next destination to a host of high-majors: Kansas, Arkansas, Alabama, Mississippi State, Iowa State and Georgia Tech. The Eagle confirmed with Council that WSU is indeed out of the running.
Council, a 6-foot-6 wing from Durham, North Carolina, experienced a mini-breakout in a super sub role for the Shockers this past season, earning Sixth Man of the Year honors in the American Athletic Conference after averaging 12.0 points, 5.4 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.1 steals while shooting 43.7% from the field and 84.9% on free throws.
Council showed promise as a tough shot-maker for WSU this past season, as he greatly improved his two-point percentage from 41.5% his debut season to 50.3% last season with a reliable mid-range jumper and better finishing around the rim. While his three-point percentage dipped to 30.6% this past season, Council showed flashes of his outside shot becoming a weapon.
Not only is his length and athleticism good for a rim-rattling, gravity-defying dunk just about every game, but it also gives Council untapped potential as a defender. He relied too much on his quick hands to disrupt on the defensive end this past season, rather than committing to be a defensive stopper he has shown flashes of being at times.
It’s hard to pinpoint exactly what changed for WSU, which currently has two scholarships remaining in its 2022 recruiting class, in its pursuit to bring back Council.
It’s possible it simply came down to Council’s desire to play on a bigger stage in a bigger conference to help him realize his NBA dream. But at WSU, Council figured to be “the guy” for a program that has a track record of producing NBA guards.
It’s possible he felt his earning potential from his name, image and likeness would be maximized at a program backed by major funds, like KU, Arkansas or Alabama. According to a source, the WSU NIL collective made what it believed was a “competitive” offer to keep Council in town.
And it’s also possible Council was dissatisfied with how last season went at WSU, as he averaged 26.6 minutes per game and came off the bench in all but seven games during a frustrating 15-13 campaign, and was put off by WSU signing a host of wings in its 2022 recruiting class.
Whatever the reason, the player that WSU head coach Isaac Brown once said had the potential to be the best player in the AAC is not coming back.
The leap to superstardom will happen somewhere else than Wichita.
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