by Jordan Beckley
We are in a slow period for Recruiting but it is about to heat up. The Big Ten is battling for some of the biggest names on the 2024 market. Here is everything you need to know about 9 of the biggest recruiting battles involving Big Ten teams.
Rumors are always swirling in College Recruiting. It’s great because it is content that engages fans and you never need to be held accountable if you were wrong!
In honor of Marcus Allen’s commitment to Mizzou yesterday spurning Ohio State and Michigan, I wanted to break down some of the biggest battles that the Big Ten is in the midst of.
This article seems timely as a couple of these guys might commit this week. Anyways, let’s kick it off with the most important recruit in the 2024 class and the one that discussion boards are on fire about.
Dylan Harper
Harper is the no. 1 recruit in the 2024 class, so everybody is after him. Harper has cut his list down to 5 schools: Indiana, Auburn, Kansas, Duke and Rutgers. However, it has been widely believed to be down to a two school race between the Blue Devils and Scarlet Knights. Dylan is the son of Chicago Bulls guard Ron Harper and younger brother of Rutgers Alum Ron Harper Jr.
He has visited IU, Duke and Rutgers and as recently as this past weekend picked up his first crystal ball to…Rutgers. Bobby Deren, a Rutgers insider, has correctly predicted Gavin Griffiths, Cliff Omoruyi and Cam Spencer to Piscataway before this. Two more Duke insiders have followed suit.
Harper would join no. 2 overall recruit Ace Bailey and Steve Pikiell would have the number 1 recruiting class in the nation. Rutgers fans will be waiting on pins and needles to see the official commitment graphic and there are rumors that an announcement might come this week.
Flory Bidunga
Bidunga is a 6’8” big man out of Kokomo, Indiana with explosive potential. He has an elite vertical and one of the best noses for the ball possible. He will be a force at the rim on both ends, but for who?
Indiana and Purdue went after Bidunga hard and struck out. The no. 4 overall recruit has cut his list to four: Auburn, Duke, Kansas and Michigan. It is widely believed that despite joining the campaign late Duke is in the lead for Bidunga.
Michigan making the final four over Indiana is interesting but the appeal of Juwan Howard must be there for Bidunga. I also would not rule out Auburn as it is clear Bidunga really likes Bruce Pearl from all his interviews. Bidunga announced last night he plans to make a decision this week.
Derik Queen
Queen is a 6’8” brute of a big with elite footwork, refined handle, and great touch. He is adept at back to the basket skills in a way you really don’t see much anymore. You do see this style often in the Big Ten and it would not be shocking to see the no. 6 recruit according to 247sports commit to a Big Ten program.
Queen is a native of Baltimore and attends Montverde Academy in Florida. He was given a crystal ball to Maryland, but his lead recruiter was Tony Skinn who is now the head coach of George Mason. Queen has not cut his school list down publicly.
Look out for Indiana here as well because they have good connections at Montverde after grabbing Malik Reneau and Jalen Hood-Schifino recently. IU and Maryland are also the only two official visits Queen has been on.
Liam McNeeley
McNeeley is the no. 8 recruit on the Top247. He is a 6’7” wing with the kind of game every team wants. McNeeley can score in a variety of ways. Lethal at catch and shoot, physical enough to back players down, and smart enough to score off cuts. He projects as a perfect complimentary player. He can score but doesn’t need the ball in his hands.
In June, McNeeley shortened his list to six schools: IU, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Alabama, and Michigan. Liam is originally from Richardson, Texas but now plays ball for Montverde Academy. Again keep an eye on Indiana as their connections are strong there. Texas is also a frontrunner as the Longhorns and Hoosiers are the two schools McNeeley has visited so far. I have a feeling that McNeeley is going to be a Hoosier.
Kon Knueppel
Kon Kneuppel is the no. 20 recruit on Top247 but is as high as no.6 for On3.com’s rankings. The 6’5” guard/wing is highly coveted by everybody for his tight handle and incredibly smooth stroke.
Knueppel holds offers from several Big Ten schools (Michigan, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota) but it is Wisconsin who will be after him the hardest. Kon plays for Wisconsin Lutheran still despite his consistently high recruiting ranking which is unusual nowadays for him to not switch to a prep school or Overtime Elite. The Badgers hope the Milwaukee native continues to show that loyalty to his hometown state.
Watch out for Virginia as they are after Knueppel and Tony Bennett tends to pick and choose his recruits as opposed to handing out 20 offers to all the best kids. Duke and Alabama are late entrants who could throw a wrench into other programs’ best laid plans. Worth noting that Knueppel also had a great visit to Louisville. There are no strong rumors on where he could be headed. Truly a wildcard.
Boogie Fland
Fland is a 6’3” combo guard from White Plains, New York who is wanted by everybody. Fland has a lightning quick first step and finishes well at the basket. His speed and finishing reminds me of Jaden Ivey. Now he isn’t quite the athlete that Ivey is, but Fland is also great at catch and shoot threes making him able to play off the ball well. Every school can use a guard that can produce with or without the ball.
Boogie cut his list down to eight schools recently and Maryland, Indiana and Michigan made it. He has already visited Michigan and Indiana. He plans to visit four schools in September including Maryland.
On3 has Maryland and Michigan in the lead for the Archbishop Stepinac product. Fland is certainly a name to know for Big Ten fans.
Bryson Tucker
Bryson Tucker is a Top 25 recruit from Baltimore, Maryland that plays his high school ball at IMG Academy in Florida. Tucker has a smooth stroke, a knack for scoring, and a tough midrange game. He is a wing but clearly can handle the ball and will fit well in a scheme that lets him do so.
Tucker is expected to be high on Michigan State. He was vocal about having them as his first official visit and talked about how their scheme fits his game. Considering he has played for Mount Saint Joseph in Maryland, don’t rule out the DMV schools in Maryland and Georgetown. Illinois, Iowa, Penn State and Indiana have all offered Tucker too. It is a little quiet on the Tucker front, but he will be a huge addition to whatever team lands him.
Amier Ali
Amier Ali is a Top50 Wing who has played at three of the best basketball academies. He is a scoring wing who loves to get downhill.
Ali received offers from almost 20 teams but is down to 8. Those 8 include Ohio State and Michigan. Ohio State is an early favorite for Ali, who is a Columbus native originally. Another favorite is Florida State, which was his first official visit. The Buckeyes were his only other visit so far. I can easily see him fitting the wing mold Chris Holtmann has been specializing in the past few years.
Travis Perry
Let’s end with Travis Perry! Perry is the lowest rated recruit (74 on 247) in this article, but don’t be surprised if he has the longest impact in College Basketball of any of these guys. The 6’2” G is from Eddyville, Kentucky and still plays for his local High School Lyon County. Perry is the highest scoring Kentucky high school player of all time and is a midwestern gem.
Indiana, Louisville, Cincinnati, Michigan, and Purdue are all after him. Kentucky and Indiana are late entries to the conversation but they have been all over him. Eddyville is in the southern tip of Kentucky and is about the same distance from each campus. Ole Miss has also been involved and Perry took a visit there before Chris Beard took over. Beard and the Rebels have still been in contact with Perry.
I would keep an eye on Purdue on this one. Perry pretty consistently quotes them and Matt Painter first when asked questions about his recruitment. The Boilermakers were one of the first to offer Perry and are one of the few schools to host him on an official visit. With IU, Purdue, Iowa, Ohio State, Michigan, and Nebraska having all offered him, he is one of the biggest Big Ten recruits to watch.