7 High School Basketball Recruits To Look Out For In The Class Of 2021
By: Baigen Seawell
Who to Watch For: High School Basketball’s Class of 2021 (Boy’s and Girl’s)
In a time where sports have been greatly affected by the COVID-19 Pandemic, it has no sights of slowing down any time soon. In the realm of recruitment in the high school basketball realm, we’ve have seen adjustments, but the over all desire to see future talent has not slowed up yet.
As National Signing Day quickly approaches in February, Class of 2021 is becoming the biggest talk for Programs like Louisville, Duke, UConn, South Carolina and more. Here are the Top Players to Watch for (Boy’s and Girl’s).
1. Paolo Banchero (O’Shea High School, Seattle WA)
Banchero is a 6’9” Power Forward out of O’Shea High School in Seattle. A 5-Star recruit, with offers from Gonzaga, University of Kentucky, North Carolina and Tennessee, Banchero decided to sign with Duke in November.
The Italian player is ranked No. 2 in the nation (ESPN) and averaged 22.6 points and 11 rebounds a game his junior year. It was thought that he was unlikely to choose Duke, but it looks as though his size and awareness of the court will be a valuable asset to the Blue Devils.
2. Azzi Fudd (St. Johns College HS, Washington DC)
The No. 1 Girl’s Player in the country, Fudd is a 5’11” combo guard from St. Johns College High School in the Nation’s Capital. For many, it wouldn’t be a surprise that Fudd would choose the Dynastic University of Connecticut for her future endeavors, where she’ll be able to emphasize her skills even more.
Throughout her high school career, Fudd has been compared to UConn alumna, Maya Moore with her style of play and unselfish ball-handling. After an injury in 2019, she’s looking to redeem herself with Coach Auriemma and potentially reshape the game of women’s basketball while doing it.
3. Kennedy Chandler (Sunrise Christian Academy, Memphis TN)
Chandler is a 6’1” Point Guard out of Memphis, TN. He would sign to the University of Tennessee in November. Another No. 2 ranked (247 Sports) player, Chandler is said to be a quick-paced guard with a high basketball IQ.
With offers from Duke, Arizona, and home team Memphis, Chandler chose the Volunteers, which was a good look from coach Rick Barnes who was rallying to land the point guard for a while. Chandler adds his expertise and speed to the Vols, while they’ll compliment him with size in the post.
4. Raven Johnson (Westlake, Atlanta GA)
Johnson is the No. 2 ranked Girl’s player in the country, where she commands overall court awareness and mid-range expertise. Johnson, who is currently playing for the Lions in Atlanta, had offers from Auburn, UCLA, UGA and Georgia Tech. But it would be fitting for the best point guard in the country to sign with one of the best, being University of South Carolina.
A leader on the court, Johnson will compliment with the Gamecocks and Coach Staley’s dynamic leadership that she’s established over the past few years. With Tyasha Harris moving on to the WNBA, Johnson will be able to fall in line with Zia Cooke and Destanni Henderson in the guard position.
5. Caleb Houstan (Monteverde Academy, Monteverde FL)
Another Florida made athlete, Caleb Houstan is a 5-star recruit from Monteverde Academy, where the likes of Ben Simmons, D’Angelo Russel and more have found success from this program. Houstan is a 6’8” Power Forward, who recently committed to Michigan.
The Mississauga native is not the first to be recruited by the wolverines, as they’ve landed Nik Stauskas eight years earlier. His size along with his expertise in the post will become a valuable asset to Michigan in the coming season.
6. Aubryanna Hall (Wayne, Dayton OH)
Another combo guard and South Carolina commit makes the list with Aubryanna Hall. The 5’11” guard is ranked 14th in the nation, but is in good company as the top 5 in her position with Azzi Fudd. Her mid-range skill and opportunistic attitude to take the shot compliments her future teammate, Raven Johnson.
Hall had offers from Kentucky, Ohio State, Texas and Tennessee. Her decision to join Coach Staley will be a valuable asset in the longevity of quality point guards in her program. The versatility between her and Johnson will make for terrible two’s in the near future.
7. Patrick Baldwin Jr. (Hamilton, Sussex WI)
Another Power Forward, Baldwin Jr. is an undecided prospect as of December. But, he’s made headlines with his skill and ability with his size, landing offers from Duke, Georgetown, Kentucky and Michigan. Unfortunately, he suffered a major ankle injury on December 4 against Menomonee Falls.
While it is unsure when he will return, his impact has already been made as a player. Last season, he was named the Wisconsin Gatorade Player of the Year with an average of 24 pints and nearly 11 rebounds a game. Duke is a high likelihood for Baldwin Jr., but we’ll have to keep an eye out to see if this stays the case for him
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