Could SMU really be on the verge of outdueling Kentucky for the nation’s top point guard?
On Monday morning, with no context or explanation, heralded point guard Emmanuel Mudiay tweeted, "Sometimes u just have to shock the world!"
The meaning of that tweet became a bit more intriguing four days later when Rivals.com's No. 3 Class of 2014 recruit revealed he will announce his college destination on ESPNU during the Under Armour Elite 24 event on Saturday night.
Mudiay cut his list a few weeks ago to five schools: Kentucky, Kansas, Baylor, Oklahoma State and SMU. Most recruiting analysts consider Kentucky and SMU the favorites to land the Dallas native, but only a commitment to the hometown Mustangs would qualify as Mudiay pulling a stunner.
Based on the unexpectedly early timing of Mudiay's announcement, it appears SMU has a a real chance of securing a commitment on Saturday.
Mudiay reportedly has visited SMU a handful of times and wouldn't have taken an official visit to Kentucky until Big Blue Madness in October. Plus Kentucky reportedly just extended a scholarship offer to another point guard, Tyler Ulis, suggesting that the Wildcats may not be as confident about landing Mudiay as they once were.
If SMU can go head-to-head with the likes of Kentucky and Kansas and land a five-star recruit, it would be regarded as by far the biggest coup of Larry Brown's brief two-year tenure.
Kentucky is a perennial national contender, John Calipari groomed an NBA point guard five straight seasons from 2007 to 2012 and the long, athletic Mudiay is a perfect fit for the Wildcats' dribble drive offense. SMU was a perennial also-ran in Conference USA until the combination of Brown's arrival and a move to the American Athletic Conference raised the Mustangs' profile a bit.
The arrival of Mudiay for the 2014-15 season could be the boost SMU needs to rise in stature even further.
The 6-foot-4 Mudiay has a lightning-quick first step to the basket, impressive athleticism and the ability to finish well through contact at the rim. His outside shot remains a work in progress since he so rarely faces a defender he can't beat off the dribble, but his vision and decision-making with the ball in his hands has improved.
Pair Mudiay with 2013 McDonald's All-American Keith Frazier, heralded junior college big man Yanick Moreira and a wealth of depth, and SMU would have a chance to begin the 2014-15 season in the preseason top 20. Not bad for a program that hasn't made the NCAA tournament since 1993 and barely mattered nationally prior to the controversial hiring of Brown.
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