Basketball Recruiting: Four 2020 targets Oklahoma State has real chance to land

During the Oklahoma State’s loss Saturday at Texas, television broadcaster Clark Kellogg said he thinks the Cowboys could be competing for Big 12 championships soon, at least, according to former Cowboys Ride For Free site manager Cade Webb.

The addition of Avery Anderson, Marcus Watson and the Boone twins is a step toward that goal. But it will take continued success on the recruiting trail to make that prediction a reality.

I’ll take a look at a handful of guys that OSU could realistically land (so no, RJ Hampton doesn’t make this list) in the class of 2020 that would help achieve that. All of the guys included in this list have OSU interest listed as “warm” according to 247sports. Keep in mind that coach Boynton has already landed 6-foot-4 point guard Davonte Davis, a four-star recruit ranked in the top 100 in the nation.

Bryce Thompson, Shooting Guard

This may be the most important recruit on this list. Thompson is the perfect example of a highly ranked recruit that Oklahoma State has the perfect opportunity to land. Thompson is AAU teammates with the Boone twins, playing for OK Run PWP on the Under Armour circuit.

His 247sports crystal ball has him choosing between Oklahoma State, Oklahoma and Kansas. Kalib and Keylan could play a role in his recruitment and Thompson would be a major get for the Pokes. He is the No. 67 player in the nation and the No. 15 shooting guard according to the 247sports composite and had the ability to score from all over the floor.

Beating out Kansas will be tough as Bryce’s father, Rod, played for Bill Self at Tulsa which will give the Jayhawks an edge in his recruitment.

If OSU can land Thompson, it should have a good shot at the rest of the guys on this list.

Cade Cunningham, Small Forward

After looking at the player on this list with the best odds of moving to Stillwater, we’ll look at the player that is probably least likely to do so next. Cade Cunningham is a special talent, listed as a 6-6 small forward that plays more like a point guard.

This list is designed to include players who OSU has a real shot at landing. The Pokes have offered the RJ Hampton’s of the world, but they don’t make the list because there isn’t much buzz surrounding them regarding OSU. That is what sets Cunningham apart. If Mike Boynton lands his first five-star guy in 2020, it will most likely be Cunningham.

He is currently ranked 8th in his class and has Kentucky, Kansas, LSU and Oklahoma State highest on his list. This could very well be another Tyrese Maxey situation where OSU gets named in the top five schools for a five-star talent before ultimately losing out to a blue blood.

The 6-6 point forward originally attended Bowie High School in Arlington, Texas, before transferring to national hoops powerhouse Monteverde Academy in Florida. The thing that makes Cunningham so sought after is his versatility. He is essentially a guard playing in the body of a forward. He is explosive and rebounds the ball well in addition to a good handle and can guard four positions on defense.

LJ Cryer, Point Guard

Lets take it all the way back to the Brad Underwood era for this offer. Underwood got an offer out to the Katy Morton Ranch (TX) point guard all the way back in December of his freshman year of high school. Since then, Cryer has scored more than 2,000 points for Morton Ranch with his junior year playoffs and his senior year still ahead of him.

I got a chance to see Cryer and Texas 6A No.18 Morton Ranch in the Whataburger Basketball Tournament in late December, where he got a chance to face off against Avery Anderson and Justin Northwest. Cryer facilitates well as a point guard, especially by creating opportunities for three-star post Eddie Lampkin. However, the 6-1 guard takes the majority of the shots for the Mavericks, evident by his 2,000 career points in under three years.

Here is a little taste of Cryer’s craftiness against Anderson’s Northwest Texans.

Cryer scores at all levels, using a nice handle to get to and finish at the basket and create for others, as well as a consistent midrange and three-point shot. He is a little small and could benefit from the weights program to add some strength on the defensive end, but his spark plug scoring is what makes him a top 100 recruit. Cryer currently holds offers from LSU, Texas and Texas A&M in addition to OSU. Purdue and LSU are currently favored to land him, but he is also receiving good interest from OSU, which is why he makes this list.

Here are some more Cryer highlights from Morton Ranch’s district title clinching win a few weeks ago. Cryer wears No.4 for the Mavericks.

Dayten Holman, Combo Guard

Here is another intriguing prospect. Holman is ranked just inside the top 100 in the 247sports composite from Bella Vista Prep in Scottsdale, Arizona. Holman has great size for a guard at 6-6 and makes an impact on the glass in addition to his guard duties, similarly to Cunningham.

An important thing to remember with some of these guys is that they are just beginning to wrap up their junior seasons. While a lot of offers have already gone out for this class, some guys will continue to pick up big time offers as they blow up on the AAU circuit this summer and throughout their senior year.

Holman currently holds offers from OU, Houston and Ole Miss in addition to Oklahoma State. He has also received interest from Michigan, but does not yet hold an offer from the Wolverines.

He uses his length to his advantage to pull down rebounds and to attack the rim and finish in traffic by being able to extend and keep the ball away from defenders. He is a good ball handler and finisher at the rim and his long arms help suffocate passing lanes as well.

Thompson and Holman are likely the two most important guys to keep an eye on from this list. Thompson is an in-state guy whom Boynton has already developed a strong relationship with and Holman brings a something to the table that OSU doesn’t have as a lengthy guard. Cunningham is on Boynton five-star watch, but has a good chance of landing at a blue blood instead.

At any rate, all four of these guys have shown a vested interest in Oklahoma State and their individual recruitments will be fun to track over the next several months.