Ivan Rabb, the No. 1 senior in the state of California, has decided to stay home and play for head coach Cuonzo Martin and the California Golden Bears after also considering Arizona, UCLA, Kentucky and Kansas.
Rabb -- who is No. 6 overall in the 2015 ESPN 100, a McDonald's All American and a Jordan Brand Classic selection -- gives Cuonzo Martin his highest-ranked recruit since taking over at Cal. It allows Martin to make a major recruiting statement -- not only nationally but on the all-important West Coast.
Why he committed: Rabb's relationship with head coach Cuonzo Martin and associate head coach Tracy Webster was a huge factor that developed over time along with a number of visits to the local Berkeley campus. Rabb also will be the face of the program and have the opportunity to play in front of family and friends being from nearby Oakland.
What he brings: The 6-foot-11 five-star power forward brings great length, an excellent motor and high-level athleticism to go along with a much-improved skill package. He has the reputation for being a great young man. As a teammate, he will immediately impact the player talent and toughness of Cal. He has the ability to finish on the break, rebound and block shots inside and out of his area and defend multiple positions.
How he fits: Head coach Cuonzo Martin will have the luxury of moving Rabb around to create matchup problems within his motion style offense and pressure man defense. Rabb will fit in with the great energy he brings along with his ability to make athletic and skilled plays. He's also a terror on the glass at both ends in addition to blocking shots.
Who he reminds us of: Rabb is a terrific talent and reminds us of a cross between NBA players Patrick Patterson and Taj Gibson with his great combination of length, athleticism, skill and upside. Other similarities are his ability to finish, rebound and defend in addition to being a winner. Rabb can positively affect the game in a number of different ways that directly helps his teammates.
How the class is shaping up: Rabb joins small forward Davon Dillard who is a strong and physical wing who slashes, excels on the break and is a top-notch defender. Both Rabb and Dillard will bring that edge and toughness to the court that Cuonzo Martin loves to have in his program.