CHICAGO -- Although the late signing period for the 2017 class is just a couple weeks away, there are still six five-star prospects in the ESPN 100 without a destination for next season. All six were at the McDonald’s All American Game this week in Chicago -- so what’s the latest in each recruitment?
Trevon Duval (No. 4)
Duval took all five of his official visits during a six-week stretch in January through March, going to Kansas, Duke, Arizona, Baylor and Seton Hall.
“I can compare the schools easier [after visiting],” Duval said. “I visited them all around the same time; that helped me out a lot with my decision.”
Duval, the nation’s top uncommitted prospect, is now in wait-and-see mode.
“I’m waiting to see what other guys do,” he said. “See if guys declare [for the NBA draft], see if guys stay. See where I can fit in. That’s really the only thing I’m waiting on.
“[Duke has] a lot of guys that can leave and a lot of guys that can stay. The same with Arizona and sort of the same with Kansas.”
At Duke, Grayson Allen, Luke Kennard and Frank Jackson are all NBA prospects who have yet to declare their pro intentions. Arizona has a slew of wings with pro dreams: Allonzo Trier, Rawle Alkins and Kobi Simmons. Then there’s Kansas, which will lose Wooden Award favorite Frank Mason III but still has Mississippi State transfer Malik Newman entering the program. The key could be whether Devonte' Graham returns to Lawrence for his senior season.
Seton Hall has the Under Armour connection (he played on the Under Armour circuit last summer), and it’s closer to Duval’s roots in Delaware. Duval also grew close to the Baylor staff during his time at Advanced Prep International (Texas).
Mohamed Bamba (No. 5)
Kentucky has made a strong push for Bamba over the last few months, and heading down the stretch, the Wildcats seem to have an edge on Texas, Duke and Michigan.
Kentucky moved into pole position in part because of the commitments of AAU teammate Quade Green and close friend Hamidou Diallo. Diallo enrolled early in Lexington for the spring semester, although he won’t suit up until next season.
“When I went there on my visit, [Diallo] had been there for about two weeks,” Bamba said. “And you can see he had gotten better, his mentality has changed, his process has taken off since he got to Kentucky.”
Texas hasn’t eased up in its pursuit of Bamba, with coach Shaka Smart making frequent visits to Bamba’s high school in Pennsylvania. Duke is also very involved, with Bamba speaking highly of his relationship with coach Mike Krzyzewski. Don’t count out Michigan, either.
“There’s still some left in this process,” Bamba said.
Brandon McCoy (No. 6)
McCoy is still down to five schools: Arizona, Michigan State, Oregon, San Diego State and UNLV. He took recent unofficial visits to Oregon and hometown school San Diego State, while Michigan State is still making a push for the 6-foot-11 big man.
In addition to the pitches, though, Oregon has made a strong impression on McCoy the past couple of weeks with the Ducks’ run to the Final Four.
“It helps them,” McCoy said. “I don’t want to hop on the bandwagon, but that’s great. They’re making major steps. It’s a great program.
“Jordan Bell, man. I texted him after that game. ... I said, ‘Man, seeing you play like that makes me want to play harder.’ It sent chills down my spine the way that man was playing that day. I have mad respect for him as a man and as a player.”
McCoy said he plans on making a decision in the next couple of weeks. Will Oregon have a national championship by then to help close the deal?
Kevin Knox (No. 7)
Knox has been down to four schools for most of the last several months, taking his fourth official visit recently, to North Carolina. The visit helped the Tar Heels make up ground on perceived leader Duke, and Roy Williams’ program is right in the mix for Knox’s commitment.
Florida State and Kentucky are also still involved. The Seminoles have family ties to Knox’s parents, but Kentucky seems a little crowded at Knox’s position with five-star forwards Jarred Vanderbilt and P.J. Washington already committed.
But the newest nugget about Knox’s recruitment? Missouri is now making a late run at Knox, after the hiring of Cuonzo Martin and Michael Porter Sr. and the commitment of No. 1 overall prospect Michael Porter Jr.
“Mike hit me up right before he committed,” Knox told ESPN. “He wanted me to come play with him. He basically said, nobody can stop me and him on the same wing. He’s been in my ear a little bit. My parents might be setting something up. I know coach Martin hit up my dad to try and get me on a visit. I don’t really know at this point, it’s not really solidified, but he’s in my ear, and I’m listening to what he’s saying.”
Knox does have one official visit remaining and said it would likely be to Missouri if he decides to take it.
Brian Bowen (No. 12)
Bowen was originally expected to decide last fall but ended up pushing a commitment until the winter. That never happened either, and now Bowen said he’s going to wait until April.
So what’s the hold-up? Similar to Duval and the other elite remaining prospects, Bowen wants to see which players are going to be at which programs next season.
“The guys at my position at all the schools, who’s going to the NBA and who’s staying,” Bowen said. “That, and whoever’s coming in, recruiting-wise. Having guys around me helps a lot.”
Arizona, Michigan State and Creighton are the primary three schools involved for Bowen at this point. The Wildcats are waiting on NBA decisions from Trier, Alkins and Simmons, while Michigan State is expecting Miles Bridges to go pro. At Creighton, Marcus Foster has already declared he’s coming back for his senior season.
DePaul snuck into Bowen’s recruitment recently, but the Blue Demons aren’t on the same level as the other three just yet.
“It’s a little bit up in the air,” Bowen said. “I’ve talked to them, they’ve been at my school a lot. I enjoyed my visit when I was there.”
M.J. Walker (No. 19)
Walker is finally ready to focus on his recruitment. The Georgia native has taken the process slower than every other ESPN 100 prospect, taking just one official visit, to Florida State, in the fall. He has been to Georgia Tech a couple times unofficially lately, and the Yellow Jackets made a renewed push in the last year since Josh Pastner was hired.
“I actually like their system,” Walker said. “I fit well in their system. They just need that guard who can score. Pastner's got lot of good things going on down there.”
Walker is also considering UCLA, Kansas, Maryland, Virginia Tech, UNLV and Ohio State.