Four-star point guard Austin Swartz who committed to the Miami basketball program on Tuesday, is the sixth-highest prospect in Hurricanes history. Swartz is the 44th prospect, eighth point guard and fourth-best player out of North Carolina in the 2024 class. Swartz is primarily known for his shooting prowess.
Five of the top six commitments and signees in the history of the Miami basketball program have occurred under Jim Larranaga. Florida State transfer forward Matthew Cleveland who is not included in the ranking of all-time Miami signees is the highest-rated player on the 2023-24 roster.
Cleveland received a grade of .9911 when he signed with Florida State in the 2021 class. Swartz has a grade of 0.9838. The 2024 Miami basketball class ranks 27th nationally with Swartz as the sole commitment. Miami is building a recruiting class after winning the ACC Co-regular season title and advancing to the Final Four.
Swartz told ESPN he likes the success that Larranaga has had with guards, particularly former ACC Players of the Year Shane Larkin and Isaiah Wong. The analysis from Jeff Borzello and Paul Biancardi of ESPN stated that Swartz is an elite scorer with the ability to create opportunities from all three levels.
go canes💚🧡 pic.twitter.com/xcsgI7DlVk
— austin swartz (@austin_swartz23) September 5, 2023
At 6’5 and 180 pounds, Swartz will provide the Miami basketball team with excellent size in the backcourt and the potential to play point guard. Swartz will fit in perfectly with the guard-heavy Miami lineup. Miami will potentially return the entire roster with no seniors on the team entering the 2023-24 season.
Miami has eight guards listed on the 2023-24 roster. That includes Cleveland who will essentially play forward for the Hurricanes. Swartz was quoted by On3 comparing his game to Phoenix Suns superstar Devin Booker. Miami basketball alum James Jones is currently the General Manager in Phoenix.
Swartz has the potential to be part of a Miami rotation that can play from the point guard through small forward and in Cleveland’s case, power forward. Larranaga has utilized the scramble style to perfection since the beginning of the 2022-23 season. Success in the last two NCAA Tournaments is beginning to pay dividends in recruiting.