Miami basketball gets highest rated commit ever with 5-star G Jalil Bethea
When the Miami Hurricanes gain a five-star commitment it’s usually in football. Jim Larranaga and the basketball staff remained scorching on the recruiting trail with a commitment from five-star 2024 shooting guard Jalil Bethea on Wednesday. Bethea is the highest-rated recruit in the history of the Miami basketball program.
The commitment from Bethea vaulted the 2024 Miami basketball class to third in the country. Only North Carolina and Rutgers currently have higher-ranked 2024 classes. Larranaga and the Miami staff have significantly built the Hurricanes on the back of their 2022 Elite Eight and 2023 Final Four appearances.
Bethea is the ninth-ranked prospect, second shooting guard and top player in Pennsylvania per the 247 Sports Composite rankings out of Warminster Archbishop Wood. Miami has previously received commitments from four-star scoring guard Austin Swartz and three-star combo forward Isaiah Johnson-Arigu in the 2024 class.
Bethea chose Miami over Kansas and Villanova. Miami will continue its recent tradition of exceptional guard play with Bethea and Swartz in the 2024 class. Nijel Pack has the option of returning for a fifth season in 2024-25. Bensley Joseph and Wooga Poplar will be seniors in 2024-25.
At 6’4, and 180 pounds, Bethea provides the Miami basketball program with excellent size on the wing. Bethea and Swartz can play interchangeably in the backcourt. Pack and Isaiah Wong with forward Jordan Miller frequently shared the ball handling and playmaking for Miami last season.
Miami has no seniors on its 2023-24 roster. The Hurricanes signed international prospects, wings Paul Djobet and Kyshawn George and center Michael Nwoko in the 2023 class. Miller and Wong were the significant players Miami lost from its 2023 roster. Florida State transfer Matthew Cleveland will slot into Miller’s role.
Miami 2024 class adds 4-star wing Isaiah Johnson-Arigu. dark. Next
Joseph projects to replace Wong as a starting guard in 2023-24. Joseph is more of a traditional point guard than Miami had last season. Expect Joseph and Pack to be the primary ball handlers and playmakers for Miami in 2023-24. The future of the Miami basketball program is extremely bright for the next few seasons.