National college basketball analyst Jon Rothstein named five-star Miami guard Jalil Bethea one of his "25 impact freshmen for the 2024-25 season" in an article posted to College Hoops Today. Rothstein is also an analyst for CBS Sports. Bethea is part of what is projected to be an elite backcourt for Miami in 2024-25.
Miami returns starting point guard Nijel Pack and brought in guards Jalen Blackmon and A.J. Stanton-McCray as transfers for the 2024-25 season. Blackmon and Pack project as the starting guards for Miami. Expect Jim Larranaga to return to a more traditional lineup in 2024-25 with Matthew Cleveland moving to small forward.
Bethea is the prospect, third shooting guard and top player in Pennsylvania in the 2024 class per the 247Sports composite rankings. Max Preps named Bethea an All-American after he averaged 22.7 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.4 assists for Warminster, PA, Archbishop Wood.
At 6'5 and 190 pounds, Bethea gives Miami needed size in the backcourt. Blackmon is listed at 6'2 and Pack is 6'0. Stanton-McCray is also 6'4. Miami also signed 2024 guard, Austin Swartz who is 6'4 Divine Ugochukwu at 6'3 in the 2024 class. Miami has a lot of backcourt versatility in the 2024-25 season.
Jalil Bethea is Klutch. We spent a day in the life with one of college basketball's most exciting incoming freshmen. @JalilBethea2
— SLAM HS Hoops (@SLAM_HS) September 26, 2024
FULL DAY IN THE LIFE: https://t.co/76fQDCvsKs pic.twitter.com/0QMuvb3HYp
"Jalil Bethea, Miami: The Hurricanes’ program has been synonymous with great guards under Jim Larranaga and Bethea will follow suit. Miami needs major mileage out of this kid if it’s going to return to the NCAA Tournament in 2025. The 6-4 Bethea joins veterans Nijel Pack and Matthew Cleveland on the Hurricanes’ perimeter, which will also feature Stetson transfer Jalen Blackmon."College basketball analyst Jon Rothstein
Bethea is the highest-graded signee in Miami history with a 0.9980 grade from 247Sports. Consensus projections expect Bethea to be one and done for Miami. NBADraft.Net projects Bethea as the 18th pick in the 2025 first round. Miami guard Kyshawn George was the 24th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.
Miami is going through a big transition in 2024-25. Cleveland, sophomore guard Paul Djobet and Pack are the only players returning for Miami in 2024-25. Bethea is expected to be an impact player as Miami attempts to earn an NCAA Tournament berth. Miami missed the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2021 last season.