While college basketball recruiting has been confined to home offices, phones and computers during the pandemic, it hasn’t slowed down.
The Daily Hoosier has learned of several new out-of-state class of 2021 through 2023 recruiting targets that the coaching staff is evaluating during this unique time.
Ranging from initial inquiries to strong interest, here are a seven players to keep an eye on as live recruiting starts to open back up in the summer.
CLASS OF 2021
Jahmai Mashack
6-foot-5 SG | 247Sports Composite No. 75 | Rancho Cucamonga, California
Indiana was first identified as having shown interest in Mashack by the Colorado 247Sports site. He is a big physical guard with good length that overcame a summer injury to have a strong junior season. The Etiwanda High School product is regarded as a high level defender. Mashack has several high major offers already.
Rising swingman Jahmai Mashack is one of the toughest players in SoCal. The junior from Etiwanda is a valuable 2 way player who continues to see his stock rise ⬆️ @JahmaiM @EtiwandaB @prodigyathlinst pic.twitter.com/Fh2XT086aI
— Slam N Jam (@TheSlamNJam) March 26, 2020
Khalil Brantley
6-foot-0 | 247Sports Composite: N/A | Brooklyn New York
Brantley put up amazing junior season numbers for Boys & Girls High School. The point guard averaged 34 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists per game. IU’s interest was first identified by Zag’s Blog. The Hoosiers have been involved well before the pandemic. He grew up in North Carolina before moving to New York. Brantley has seen a wave of high major offers and is certain to enter the national rankings when they are updated.
https://twitter.com/BBallspotlight/status/1259095438889824256?s=20
Nate Johnson
6-foot-3 CG | 247Sports Composite: N/A | Middletown, Ohio
A source told The Daily Hoosier about Indiana’s interest in Johnson, and that was confirmed through his AAU coach. Johnson is another strong guard with good ball skills that plays a physical, downhill style and is a solid defender. Johnson averaged 16.2 points per game for a 25-2 Lakota East squad.
One of the top performances yesterday at the Ohio Valley Hoops Classic belonged to Lakota East Nate Johnson. @ohiovalleyhoops pic.twitter.com/NHX25cYnfr
— 275 Hoops 🏀 (@275Hoops) November 30, 2019
Jaylen Blakes
6-foot-2 PG | 247Sports Composite No. 139 | Blairstown, N.J.
Blakes is another guard that fits the mold that head coach Archie Miller and staff seem to be after. Blakes is strong and plays with physicality and toughness. The Blair Academy product has several high major offers including Georgetown, Rutgers, Georgia and UConn. Indiana’s interest was first reported by Scoopmantv.com.
Jaylen Blakes is a walking BUCKET 💯 @blairbucs @PSACardinals pic.twitter.com/thmWSVUGpS
— BallerTV (@BallerTV) January 10, 2020
CLASS OF 2022
Jameel Brown
6-foot-4 SG | 247Sports Composite No. 75 | Haverford, Penn.
Brown missed most of his sophomore season but is a player that already has high major interest. Indiana’s interest was first reported by Scoopmantv.com. Brown already has offers from Penn, Iona, Temple and St. Peter’s. He plays for Team Final on the Nike EYBL circuit and he attended the Team USA mini-camp in October.
Jameel Brown 6”4 G 2022 one of the best shooters on the East Coast..Scores efficiently from every level. 2x USA invitee @JameelBrown1 pic.twitter.com/Lq6a9DsZqU
— World_Wide_Wayne 🌍 (@worldwidewayne4) April 4, 2020
Isaac McKneely
6-foot-4 SG | 247Sports Composite: N/A | Poca, W.V.
McKneely is the player in this group that IU is further along with. Indiana’s interest was first identified by Big Shots, and McKneely reported on Twitter that he attended the Arkansas game in December. McKneely averaged 22 points per game as a sophomore, and he converted on 45-percent of his 3-point attempts. The Poca H.S. / Wildcat Select (Adidas) product has received several high major offers this spring and it won’t come as a surprise if Indiana follows suit.
Poca sophomore Isaac McKneely nets WVU scholarship offer:https://t.co/zNdt0f4jtn#wvprepbb pic.twitter.com/9jqmit0YZL
— MetroNews HS Sports (@MetroNewsPrep) April 5, 2020
CLASS OF 2023
Taylor Bol Bowen
6-foot-8 | No 2023 Rankings | Jericho, Vermont
Indiana’s interest was first identified by Zag’s Blog. Bowen is long (7-foot wingspan), versatile and athletic, and he already has Division One offers and high major interest from several programs. Bowen attends St. George’s in Rhode Island and plays for Expressions Elite for AAU.
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