Video: Highlights of nation's top uncommitted senior basketball prospectsJosh Jackson, Thon Maker among five-stars still undecided.Not to be overshadowed by football's annual signing day extravaganza, there's plenty of intrigue in the basketball recruiting realm these days with five of the Top 25 senior prospects in the country still pondering their future.
The spring signing period begins April 13 and it looks like most of the five-star undecideds will hold off on a decision until that date approaches.
Here's our breakdown – with bold predictions – on where Josh Jackson, Thon Maker, Rawle Alkins, Marques Bolden and Jarrett Allen are headed:
Josh Jackson, 6-7, SG, Prolific Prep Academy (Napa, Calif.)247Sports Composite rank: 1
Crystal Ball pick: Arizona
In the mix: Kansas, Michigan State
Our pick: Michigan State. Jackson will significantly raise 2016-17 national championship hopes for one of the schools involved. A native of Detroit, Jackson would make a lot of sense for the Spartans but Sean Miller and Bill Self are serious closers.
Thon Maker, 7-0, PF, Athlete Institute (Canada)247Sports Composite rank: 10
Crystal Ball pick: Arizona State
In the mix: Indiana, Kansas, Notre Dame
Our pick: Arizona State. A long-standing relationship with Sun Devil assistant Brian Merritt could pay off here. Despite a 2-8 Pac-12 record, there have been bright spots in head coach Bobby Hurley's first season (including wins over North Carolina State and Texas A&M). Landing Maker would be a clear sign that the former Duke star is on the right track in Tempe.
Rawle Alkins, 6-4, SG, Word of God Christian Academy (Raleigh, N.C.)247Sports Composite rank: 17
Crystal Ball pick: North Carolina State
In the mix: Arizona, North Carolina, St. John's
Our pick: Arizona. Alkins is having a disappointing senior year (Word of God is 11-15) and
he's sort of angry at the Crystal Ball, so going with a change of scenery pick here.
Marques Bolden, 6-10, C, DeSoto (Texas)247Sports Composite rank: 19
Crystal Ball pick: Kentucky
In the mix: Duke, Oklahoma, TCU
Our pick: Duke. The Blue Devils badly need another big for next year and Coach K was very friendly during a trip to DeSoto two weeks ago. We have photographic evidence.
Duke's Mike Krzyzewski was in town to see DeSoto's Marques Bolden back on Jan. 19.
Photo by David Megginson
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Crystal Ball pick: Houston
In the mix: Notre Dame, Texas
Our pick: Houston. The Cougars got an assist here from 6-foot-10, 270-pound Udoka Azubuike, who committed to Kansas last week and seemingly took Allen off the board for the Jayhawks (and vice versa). Would be odd to see Houston beat out a pair of high majors but Kelvin Sampson didn't rise to the top of his profession in previous stops at Oklahoma and Indiana for no reason.
