Nimari Burnett is one of the top players in the 2020 NCAA basketball recruiting class. How might he fit at each of his final five schools?
List-cutting season is in full swing. Even though the upcoming NCAA basketball season is still months, coaches around the country are hoping to secure major 2020 recruiting victories prior to taking their spot in the sidelines for the real games. While several top-rated recruits have already made their college decisions, there are far more who are just about to embark on their official visits of the fall. Nimari Burnett, one of the top guards in the 2020 class, recently cut his list to just five programs and is planning his visits to the schools in the coming months.
A 6-foot-3 combo guard playing out at Prolific Prep in California, Burnett is ranked as the No. 23 overall prospect in the class. He is already well-built as a high school athlete and also brings elite-level length to the position. As a result, he consistently uses his body when attacking the basket and does a great job finishing as well as creating for others once inside. Burnett is absolutely prolific with the ball in his hands and is also showing improvement with his perimeter jumper. While playing for Team WhyNot (CA) on the EYBL circuit this summer, he averaged 19.1 points (.458/.307/.769), 4.5 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game.
Following these performances, the talented guard elected to trim his list down from 12 to five. His current list is made up of Texas Tech, Oregon, Louisville, Alabama, and Michigan. These are clearly some of the nation’s top schools, especially for basketball, and it will be interesting to see where he ends up. Considering Burnett’s immense talent level, he will be able to make an impact at any of those programs.
Now, without any further ado, let’s dive into each of Burnett’s finalists to determine how he might fit at each. There does not seem to be a clear favorite yet in this recruitment and each school can send a slightly different pitch to the rising star. Burnett is an extremely talented player and these coaches are all eager to potentially land a commitment. So, let’s dive into what they might be able to offer.
Texas Tech Red Raiders
Official Visit: Scheduling in the works.
Texas Tech is a program that is clearly on the rise. Head coach Chris Beard has not been at the helm of the program long, but he has quickly turned things around. In addition to successes on the recruiting trail, the Red Raiders are fresh off reaching the national title game during this past season. There might not be a single program in the country that is trending up faster than the one down in Lubbock, TX. In the 2020 recruiting class, Coach Beard recently secured a commitment from fast-rising wing Chibuzo Agbo Jr. as a starting piece to build around.
Even though the program only recently started recruiting Nimari Burnett a few weeks ago, it is clear that the coaching staff has made an immediate impression. Burnett is originally a native of Illinois and recently hired assistant coach Ulric Maligi, who has plenty of ties to the area. Burnett explained this to 247Sports as he said that Coach Maligi “watched me grow and prosper and he just wants to be a part of the recruitment.” The Red Raiders are in the running for top-tier talent like Burnett due to their immense level of success on the court and that is thanks to elite player development.
Zhaire Smith and Jarrett Culver both turned into major NBA Draft prospects for the program in the past two years and Burnett could be the next on that list if he ends up committing. Considering Texas Tech already made Burnett’s top five after only recently expressing interest, it is clear that they have a solid shot at landing his commitment. This is especially true when you consider that Burnett is planning on scheduling visits to each of his remaining schools and commit later in the process. That will give Coach Beard time to make an even better pitch.
