My new ‘25 FAV to add to our CU watch list is Calvin Murphy III. Grand-dad is Houston Rockets Hall of Famer. Recent move from Houston to Arizona Prep school may help us keep the TX schools off him-if we can avoid Bobby Hurley poaching him (who I just don’t like as a coach; & based on how many players ASU loses to the transfer each year, seems there may be some former players that agree with me). He’s only 6 feet, but looks to have plus length and Uber-quicks, maybe in the arena of KJ Simpson. But Seems to be further along in playmaking then KJ was. Seems to be way under radar:
Only top 50 type talent that I see CU having good chance with in ‘25 are:
-Combo F Chris Nwuli: Apparently Vegas guy improved jumper & has complete game now, including steals & blocking machine- that can run the floor with the best in the land.
-ComboG/SG King Grace- Texas schools will be on him hard, but Tad Ball IQ and game.
-PF/C Jaden Toombs- 6’9, 245 w/ 7-foot length. Evan Battey type low-post footwork & hands who wants to commit early (by end of this year, supposedly) to focus on building relationship w/ college staff & team. Ditto on Texas teams being on him hard.
But these guys could be top-100 types:
(first 2 are in Nebraska; so location helps):
-6’8 Bynum feels like he could move from top-100 to top-50. Mobile play maker at 4-spot, that says he can guard 1-5. Iowa State Legacy recruit, says university of Iowa, Oregon & Creigton on him the hardest.
-Boyed feels like the mobile seven footer that we need the most in my opinion. But lots of big schools on him also, per my post above, also a Juco Transfer who would be a junior may not be Tad’s preferred route to go with.
-Frances Chukwudebelu may be my favorite of the bigs on my lists above. But his recent move from Texas to Virginia probably doesn’t help us. He could just as easily move up to top 50 as Bynum. Lots of big schools here too. May have the most advanced perimeter game of the bigs also, on O & D: 7-footer w/ a 3-pointer who can guard in space. Boyed and Dal Wash may have lower floor than Francis, but may have similar ceilings.
- Dallas Washington (yes, the Dallas Walton similarities go beyond the similar name) is up to 6’11 now, I think. He probably needs time to add weight, since he was just 6’8 last year. The Cali recruit probably stays somewhat under the radar, with the depth of west-coast players Bringing the West Coast mid majors power rating up to the PAC-12 (Rest in Peace!) level recently. His 75-150 range seems to be Tad’s sweet spot. But Cody changes that narrative: 5 Stars R GOOD!