IU basketball recruiting: 2022 power forward Malik Reneau official visit primer

As has been speculated for a couple weeks, class of 2022 power forward Malik Reneau is taking an official visit to IU this weekend.

ESPN’s Paul Biancardi reported the news on Friday evening.

In Reneau Indiana has an opportunity for a late addition to its 2022-23 roster, and one that would catapult them into the top-5 nationally in the 2022 freshman class rankings.

Below are the key things to know about Reneau as he arrives on Saturday for his two-day visit.

ESSENTIALS

Status — OFFERED (July, 2021)

Class – 2022
Hometown – Hialeah, Fla.
School – Montverde Academy
Position – Forward
Height – 6-foot-8
Weight – 215
AAU – Nightrydas Elite (Nike EYBL)
247 Sports Composite Class Ranking – 5-star (No. 28 in nation, No. 4 power forward)
Primary Competition – Virginia, Maryland, Tennessee, Georgia

Reneau was originally signed to play at Florida but was granted a release after head coach Mike White left the program. He reopened his recruitment in late March.

Other visits — According to Biancardi, Reneau will also visit Maryland and Virginia, and may also visit one of Tennessee or Georgia.

Timeline — Since Reneau would ideally be joining summer workouts with a program in June, this one likely has an especially short timeline. Expect a decision in April or May.

Indiana Connections — The most obvious connection is Indiana class of 2022 signee Jalen Hood-Schifino, who has been Reneau’s teammate each of the last two years at Montverde. Hood-Schifino has accompanied Reneau on his Indiana visit. The two are close friends, but it is at least worth mentioning Hood-Schifino was committed to IU before Reneau committed to Florida.

Indiana assistant coach Kenya Hunter has been involved with Reneau going back at least a year.

Numbers — He averaged 11.9 points and 6.6 rebounds this past season, including 14.3 points and 8.3 rebounds at the GEICO High School Nationals.

While playing for the Nightrydas Elite program on the Nike EYBL circuit last summer, he contributed 17.2 points, 8.5 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 12 games while shooting 61.8 percent from 2-point range.

RECRUITING SERVICE ASSESSMENTS

Jamie Shaw/On3:

Malik Reneau is a lefty. Is an opportune scorer. Plays well in the high-low and makes good entry passes from the high post. Has good hands and a quick release off the catch. The jump shot can get flat with side rotation. He cuts well, finds the open space, and seals off angles well. Slides in to take charges. While not the most dynamic, he fills in a lot of gaps. Has good feet on the block. He wants to get over that right shoulder as his go-to, but he has shown development with step-throughs and counters this season.

Brandon Jenkins/247Sports:

A southpaw four man with a solid build, great hands, and an equally impressive feel for the game, Reneau is a team-oriented player who compliments those around him with his activity on the glass, inside scoring, and passing from the high to low posts. He is a decent vertical athlete who can make the occasional wow play but for the most part Reneau is all business and fundamentals on the hardwood. With his great basketball IQ and ability to do whatever is needed for his team, Reneau tracks well as a high major all-purpose asset.

Rob Cassidy/Rivals:

Reneau possesses one of the highest basketball IQs of any big in this class and seems to always make the right decision with the ball in his hands. A strong and active lefty, the five-star forward spent the year improving at Florida’s famed Montverde Academy, where he tested himself against a truly national schedule stacked with top-flight teams. He shoots the ball with good enough consistency but is more of a difference maker in the paint.

QUOTABLE

His self-assessment:

“I play inside and out,” Reneau told On3. “Help my team any way I can, whether it be defense, getting the rebound, or scoring on the block. I can play in the mid-post or step out and make a play. This season I have really slowed down. Instead of bullying my way in, I am playing with more discipline.”

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On Montverde teammate and IU signee Jalen Hood-Schifino:

“Jalen (Hood-Schifino) is a great guy,” Reneau told Rivals. “He doesn’t want to bother me too much right now because he knows what I’m going through. He decommitted from Pittsburgh once, so he knows what it’s like. He’s good to me. He just talks about it here and there.”

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His quote on why he chose Florida, for insight on what he might be looking for now:

“I chose Florida because of the relationship I built over time with them,” he told 247Sports. “They’ve been recruiting me since the beginning of my sophomore year and I have a great relationship with coach White and all the assistant coaches. I also really liked the way they want to play me as a versatile four who can play inside out, come off pick and rolls, and pick and pops.”