Basketball Recruiting
NC State Offers 4-Star PG Jalen Cone
Truthfully, I have no idea why it took so long for this to happen.
NC State’s Kevin Keatts went and watched 4-Star 2020 Point Guard Jalen Cone (5’9″/163) workout today, and left him with an offer.
Cone has been on NC State’s campus numerous times, and attended the Virginia Tech (WHY GOD?) this season.
He’s ranked as the #55 overall player in the 2020 recruiting class according to ESPN, and the #3 player in the state of North Carolina. 247Sports ranks him as the #11 point guard.
Here’s the catch.
Cone has been offered in both the 2019 and 2020 class.
Earlier this month Cone revealed that not only could he potentially reclassify to the 2019 class, but that he was seriously considering it.
“Things are starting to pick up a little bit more but with the news that some colleges are offering me to come early because of some guys entering the draft and others not coming back,” Cone said about a potential move into the 2019 class. “They need somebody to fill the point guard position so things are really starting to pick up.”
“Really, it will be all about what is best for me and figuring out if I need another year of high school to mature my game more but if it is good for me to go to college and play now or even redshirt, then that would be the option I would choose,” Cone said. “If I do it, I would have to decide very soon so I would have to look at what the best fit is for me and to see how long the coaches are going to be there. I don’t want to go early to college and then they leave after I am there for just one year.”
Rivals
Tennessee was the first school to offer Cone as a 2019 recruit, and Texas A&M, Providence, Boston College, and Ole Miss followed suit.
Out of all those schools, NC State is the only North Carolina school, and Cone plays for Walkertown High School (Kernersville, NC). He averaged 25.7 points and 6.6 assists for the Wolfpack.
Yeah, you read that right. Cone’s high school mascot is the Wolfpack. Colors: Red, White and Black. It’s downright comical…or maybe providential.
NC State technically only has one scholarship left right now for 2019. Valparaiso Graduate Transfer Center Derrik Smits took an official visit this past weekend, and Charleston Southern Graduate Transfer Guard Christian Keeling is taking an Official Visit on the weekend of May 3rd.
Obviously there isn’t room for Smits, Keeling, and Cone, or even two of the three at this point.
Small hunch?
Maybe Keatts and crew has a good idea that either 4-star signee Jalen Lecque plans on staying in the NBA Draft, or Senior Point Guard Markell Johnson won’t be returning.
In my opinion, Cone isn’t a player that you take simply if Johnson or Lecque aren’t in Raleigh next year. Cone is a player that you get on your roster no matter what it takes, no matter the recruiting class.
Cone is a rare talent. He is an elite scorer, possesses filthy handles, and has a good handle on Damian Lillard’s side-step jumper. Don’t let the 5’9″ height concern you. He had a 41-inch vertical two years ago, and will put someone on a poster in a second.