Texas Basketball Recruiting: Transcendent 5-Star target leaning OK State

(Photo by John Weast/Getty Images)
(Photo by John Weast/Getty Images) /
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A finalist prospect for the 2020 Texas basketball recruiting class, 5-Star guard Cade Cunningham, could be a favorite to land with Oklahoma State.

It is a very slow start to this cycle for the 2020 Texas basketball recruiting class. With the 2019-20 college basketball regular season just four months away, not having a single commitment in the 2020 Texas basketball recruiting class presents looming concerns. Yet, head Texas basketball coach Shaka Smart sent out offers to 2020 and 2021 prospects in bunches of late.

One prospect that the 2020 Texas basketball recruiting class sent out an offer to is the nation’s No. 2 high school prospect and the top combo guard, Cade Cunningham. In a recent finalist list of schools that Cunningham dropped on his Twitter timeline, the Texas Longhorns basketball program was included in his top 10.

As anticipated, the list of 10 finalist hoops programs for Cunningham was littered with blue bloods. The highlights of his top 10 finalist schools included the Kentucky Wildcats, Kansas Jayhawks, Duke Blue Devils, North Carolina Tar Heels, and the Virginia Cavaliers.

With Big 12 finalist schools like the Longhorns and Oklahoma State Cowboys seemingly overwhelmed amid this group of college hoops programs, it’s surprising that they’re stick hanging around in the thick of things. But this Arlington, TX, native and Montverde Academy standout combo guard is right in the middle of the route between Oklahoma State and Texas.

https://twitter.com/CadeCunningham_/status/1129804159870525440

What Cunningham will ultimately bring to the table for whichever of his finalist schools that he lands at is a shifty 6-foot-6 and 215 floor general that can facilitate at a high level and create offense from almost anywhere on the floor. He also has the length, quickness, and defensive prowess to develop into a premier two-way player.

Cunningham will truly develop into a special player at the college level. But it appears that Oklahoma State could be his ultimate landing spot with the way he’s trending now. The 247Sports Crystal Ball Predictions give an overwhelming lead to head coach Mike Boynton and the Pokes in the race to land a pledge from Cunningham.

Even the Rivals FutureCast has Oklahoma State as the far and away leaders to land Cunningham when he announces his commitment decision. Oklahoma State also reportedly hired the brother of Cade Cunningham, Cannen Cunningham, away from the Tulane Green Wave basketball program last month to try and get an edge in his recruitment.

Since Cunningham is an elite prospect for the Longhorns in the 2020 recruiting class, losing him to a Big 12 foe like Oklahoma State would hurt. But landing his brother as an assistant on Boynton’s coaching staff is hard to forego for Cade.

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Moreover, in one of the more exciting events of the college basketball offseason, Cunningham will be competing with Drive Nation in the finals of the AAU Nike EYBL circuit. Peach Jam will be hosted later this week and throughout the weekend in North Augusta, SC. Cunningham is an important figurehead to watch at Peach Jam for fans of Texas and Oklahoma State hoops.