Miami basketball hopes recruiting gets back on track in 2019
After not signing any high school Seniors in the Class of 2018, the Miami basketball staff is recruiting some high-level players with the hope of getting them to sign in 2019.
The top of the Miami basketball recruiting list is legacy Vernon Carey Jr. Carey is the Nation’s second-ranked player in the Class of 2019. His father, Vernon Carey Sr was an offensive lineman for Miami from 2000-03. Carey Jr last month named Miami as one of five finalists where he will decide to play his college basketball.
Carey announced his five finalists via Twitter. The Hurricanes are competing with Duke, Kentucky, Michigan State and North Carolina to sign Carey. Miami has a lot of catching up to do to get to the level of those schools. What the Hurricanes do have on the same level of the other finalists is a Final Four Coach,
Miami has a pair of advantages over the blue bloods. They have homecourt advantage for Carey who attends the University School in Fort Lauderdale and they have the legacy advantage. Playing a different sport, Carey can still make a name for himself. Miami basketball Coach Jim Larranaga told Carey he can be a legacy at Miami.
If Carey does come to Miami he’s the kind of transcendent talent that can lead the Hurricanes deep into March. Miami has never been past the regional semifinals of the NCAA Tournament. They reached the Sweet 16 in 2000 under current Florida State Head Coach Leonard Hamilton and in 2013 and ’16 under Larranaga.
Related Story: Vernon Carey Jr an create a legacy with Miami Hurricanes
ESPN’s National Director of Recruiting Paul Biancardi recently announced that the Hurricanes are after four-star small forward Khaili Whitney. Whitney plays for Roselle Catholic in Roselle, NJ. Whitney is also playing for the Mac Irvin Fire AAU team that’s based in Illinois.
According to 247 Sports, Whitney is the 43rd ranked player in the Class of 2019, the 11th best small forward and the fourth best player in the Garden State. Several other schools are after Whitney.
Miami currently has incoming transfer Anthony Mack from Wyoming and Redshirt Freshman Deng Gak on the roster who played in high school at Blair Academy in Blairstown, NJ. Biancardi said about Whitney’s recruitment:
"“Evaluated and spoke with Kahlil Whitney last weekend at the EYBL. He is receiving heavy recruiting attention from Florida State, Louisville, Illinois , Miami, Ohio State, Oregon, Seton Hall and Saint John’s. He is one of the better small forwards in the class of 2019.”"
Whitney has not announced any finalists or which way he might be leaning with his college decision. USA Today recently profiled him.
"“Whitney has been torching the competition in the Nike EYBL this spring for Mac Irvin Fire (Ill.), averaging 23.4 points a game while shooting 54 percent from the field and 49 percent from three.”"
The Hurricanes have yet to give Whitney an offer and he doesn’t seem to be considering Miami yet per 247 or ESPN.
Miami’s top target in the Class of 2019 according to 247 is 7’0 240 pound center Balsa Koprivica. He plays at Montverde Academy Northwest of Orlando. The current leaders to sign Koprivica are Baylor and Louisville per 247.
Carey is the only player that the Hurricanes are after that is currently high on Miami according to 247. According to ESPN, Miami has given offers to five five-star recruits in the Class of 2019 and one four-star recruit.
This is a critical class for Miami. Larranaga and his staff signed the top two recruiting classes in program history in 2016 and ’17. Two of those stars from those classes, Bruce Brown and Lonnie Walker are now gone to the NBA.
The Hurricanes were greatly impacted by their implication in the Addidas FBI scandal. That impeded Miami’s recruiting momentum from the previous two years. Miami salvaged a good recruiting class by signing three transfers. That an inexact science to rely on every year.
Next: Miami basketball one of 5 finalists for Hurricanes legacy Vernon Carey Jr.
The Hurricanes need to sign a good class in 2019 to continue to be one of the better programs in the ACC. Miami loses forward Anthony Lawrence, Center Ebuka Izundu and incoming Graduate Transfer Guard Zack Johnson after this season. Oklahoma transfer Kameron McGusty who is sitting out this season will replace Johnson.