The Virginia men’s basketball program has one scholarship spot remaining for the class of 2016. Last week, three of UVa’s top remaining targets narrowed their lists. The Hoos made the cut for one.
HUNTER DOWN TO 11
Friends’ Central (Wynnewood, PA) small forward DeAndre Hunter wanted to narrow his list of schools this month. The 6’7″, 190-pound standout revealed this past Sunday that he has cut his list down. With 11 schools still remaining in contention, though, a decision does not appear likely to come soon.
Hunter’s finalists include Alabama, Arizona State, Connecticut, Maryland, Miami, Notre Dame, Oklahoma State, St. Joseph’s, SMU, Villanova and Virginia. Of the schools still in contention, Hunter has visited St. Joseph’s, Villanova and Virginia.
My final 11 schools, Blessed! pic.twitter.com/bmR5TKoEvZ
— Dre (@Dr_Dre14) August 16, 2015
GABRIEL, JONES ELIMINATE HOOS
Wilbraham & Monson (Wilbraham, N.H.) forward Wenyen Gabriel revealed that he is down to five schools. Irving (TX) MacArthur wing Andrew Jones announced last week that he has narrowed his list to seven. Neither player included Virginia in his final list.
With Gabriel and Jones and DeMatha Catholic (Hyattsville, MD) star wing Markelle Fultz seemingly headed elsewhere, DeAndre Hunter and Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, VA) wing Braxton Blackwell appear to be the uncommitted class of 2016 targets UVa has the best chance with at this point. Virginia has offered both players. Blackwell, a nephew of UVa legend Ralph Sampson, included Virginia in his final six last month. Alabama, Kansas, Tennessee, Texas and Vanderbilt also made the cut for the 4-star prospect.
It’ll be interesting to see if Virginia extends any new offers in the near future. My hunch is that the staff will focus on Blackwell and Hunter, although certainly things could change if they don’t feel great about their standing with those two players and/or if another prospect earns an offer. UVa will hold its annual Elite Camp on August 22, so we’ll see if any class of 2016 prospects make the trek.
DIAKITE’S ENROLLMENT STATUS
As reported on the EDGE board last Tuesday, the status of Virginia commitment Mamadi Diakite‘s enrollment remains in question. The 6’9″ forward is taking two summer courses in hopes of reclassifying and enrolling at UVa this fall.
“Mamadi is still working on two classes this summer,” Blue Ridge (St. George, VA) head coach Cade Lemcke wrote in a text regarding the enrollment status of Diakite, whose name does appear in UVa’s people directory. “Everything hinges on how he does in those.”
