Texas Basketball Recruiting: Horns, KU pursuing UCLA decommit Grant Sherfield?
A new prospect emerged for the 2019 Texas basketball recruiting class to add a commit soon with the release of three-star CG Grant Sherfield from UCLA.
The 2019 Texas basketball recruiting class had an opportunity open up to snag a late commit for this cycle before National Signing Day arrives in a few months. During the Early Signing Period last November, the 2019 Texas basketball recruiting class locked in a signed National Letter of Intent to all three of its committed prospects.
For this recruiting cycle, the Texas Longhorns have not landed a combo guard. The closest thing that would come to a combo guard in the 2019 Texas basketball recruiting class is four-star shooting guard Donovan Williams. But, Williams plays more like a two or a three than a versatile combo guard.
If the 2019 Texas basketball recruiting class is looking to have a key last minutes add that can fit the combo guard mold, it is definitely the former UCLA Bruins three-star guard commit Grant Sherfield. On Jan. 14, Sherfield announced his reopen recruitment and his decommitment from UCLA. His decomitment actually came in the form of a release from UCLA since he had already signed his letter of intent.
2019 PG Grant Sherfield (@gsherfield5) of Sunrise Christian (KS) has received his release from UCLA and has re-opened his recruitment. Huge news as he is one of the best and non-talked about prospects in his class. A very good guard that’s holds multiple skills @sunrisehoops.
— Samad Hines (@Samad_Hines) January 14, 2019
Sherfield is a three-star Wichita, KS, and Sunrise Christian High School combo guard that is a top five rated prospect out of his home state. This 6-foot-2 and 180 pound back court general holds more than a dozen offers including the one from the 2019 Texas basketball recruiting class.
https://twitter.com/MokanBasketball/status/1086669401447907333
Moreover, the offer sheet could grow a bit for Sherfield after decommitting from UCLA. Some of the more noticeable schools on the offer sheet for Sherfield includes the Kansas Jayhawks, Illinois Fighting Illini, LSU Tigers, Baylor Bears, Oklahoma Sooners, and Oklahoma State Cowboys.
Two of the stronger suitors to land what should be the final commitment of Sherfield include the Horns and Jayhawks. There’s a ton of Big 12 programs going after Sherfield now since he hails from that region of the country.
According to the 247Sports Crystal Ball Predictions, Sherfield is favored to land with head coach Bill Self and Kansas. Those same Crystal Ball Predictions still give UCLA the second best shot at getting his commitment back. Texas isn’t mentioned among his most likely landing spots.
However, the Rivals FanFutureCast gives the Horns the best chance at landing Sherfield. Granted, the FanFutureCast tends to be much more inaccurate than the Crystal Ball Predictions since it is all open fan forecasts.
For the Horns to make a run at Sherfield, head coach Shaka Smart needs to focus more resources on him. Especially with a standout prospect like five-star center Isaiah Stewart excluding Texas from his top-five finalists, this program can focus more on landing Sherfield.
This 2019 class for the Horns is solid right now, but could use the depth of adding a fourth prospect to boost the back court for the future. The program recognition should be there and recent history indicates Texas can hang with Kansas on the recruiting trail.
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And, this 2019 Texas basketball recruiting class ranks as the nation’s 15th best for this cycle according to the 247Sports Team Composite Rankings. The Horns definitely have what it takes to get some intrigue coming its way from Sherfield very soon. Texas and Kansas are two crucial suitors to watch in the recruitment of Sherfield from here on out.