The recruiting evaluation period is out in full force. This gave Division I coaches the opportunity to meet and build relationships with many top high school basketball prospects that were taking part in the various AAU events around the country. While the 2020 recruiting class is on most individuals’ minds, the 2021 recruiting class isn’t too far away.
Harrison Ingram
The 2021 small forward prospect, Harrison Ingram, caught my eye because of his play during the 2019 Adidas Gauntlet. So far Ingram has played in 12 games throughout the tournament and has averaged 11.4 points per game, 3.6 rebounds per game, and 3.5 assists per game. He also shot 51% from the field and an outstanding 42% from behind the three-point line. This production isn’t surprising from Ingram out of St. Mark’s High School in Dallas, Texas. He averaged 19 points, 11 rebounds, and 7 assists per game during his sophomore season. His strong play also earned him quite a few high school basketball honors. He took home the Texas high school basketball Sophomore of the Year, All-Tournament team honors in the Coca Cola Tournament and Mavs Classic, as well as Southwest Prep All-State.
Ingram spoke to me about the differences between AAU play and high school basketball. He said that he likes AAU play because “the summer tournaments are more competitive than high school. You get to test how good you are against the top competition in the nation. The only disadvantage is the political stuff that happens in AAU.” On the high school side, “high school ball is more fun because you’re playing with friends. The disadvantage is that some high schools might only have one or two high level players on the team. So the level of competition isn’t as high.”
5-star High Major and arguably the best 2021 prospect in Texas. plays 1-4 positions and make everyone around him better…averaged a triple double at the Dallas Holiday Tourney #HeadsUp #HarrisonIngram pic.twitter.com/RJjmsCU3s4
— Jabari Johnson (@coachjabari) January 6, 2019
A Complete Player
The Saint Mark’s High School attendee measures at 6’7″ 200 pounds. This makes him the ideal size for a college basketball wing. He’s only a rising junior, so this means he’ll grow in both height and weight. Ingram’s game is any coach’s dream. On the offensive side, he has a variety of skill sets that set him apart from the rest of the 2021 small forwards.
Ingram has the ability to play face up to the basket as well as with his back to the basket. Secondly, his range is really good for his position, as evidence by his three-point percentage. On the defensive side, his size and freakish athleticism should make him a strong rebounder. And Ingram hasn’t reached that potential against a high competition, yet. Overall, he can play every position which gives him a distinct advantage over other prospects in the 2021 recruiting class.
Ingram’s Recruitment
Harrison Ingram is currently ranked as the 25th best player in the 2021 recruiting class and the 3rd best player in his home state of Texas. Ingram is an individual that hasn’t exactly been slept on. However, has the potential to be one of the most sought after high school basketball prospects in the entire country. Currently, he has picked up some high quality offers from Division I programs. Schools such as Georgetown, Houston, Illinois, Kansas, Marquette, Oklahoma, Purdue, Stanford, Tennessee, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, and UCLA among others have offered.
When I spoke to Ingram, he was very eager to speak out his recruitment. He talked about some factors that would influence his decision. First, he spoke about the academic side of being a student athlete:
Education is big in my family. Finding a school that is good at basketball and in academics is what I want.
Ingram said that he plans on studying something in business or finance. He also described his ideal situation being one where he has a good relationship with a coaching staff that would in return allow him to play right away.
Illinois Visit on the Horizon?
Ingram also said that he took some unofficial visits in the past but he wants to keep that and his top schools a secret for now. One program to keep tabs on for Ingram’s recruitment is Illinois. About three weeks ago, around the end of June, Ingram was thinking of taking a visit to Illinois, as he and his family were in the area for his sister’s volleyball tournament. This eventually got cancelled, as he elected to support his family first and attend his sister’s match. However, Ingram told me that he fully intends to reschedule his visit to Illinois. Otherwise, no other official visits have been scheduled for Ingram as he works on improving his game for the upcoming season.
