By ADAM ZAGORIA
BLOOMINGTON, Minn. — R.J. Hampton is considering four schools and reclassifying to 2019 is still a major option.
The 6-foot-5, 170-pound Hampton from Little Elm, Texas is considering Duke, Kentucky, Kansas and Memphis in his recruitment and has the option of going to college in 2019 or 2020. The No. 5-ranked recruit in 2020 according to 247Sports.com, he plans to wait to see how things shake out on the rosters of those four teams, with a keen eye on which point guards stay on campus and which head to the NBA Draft.
“And let’s be honest, everybody’s talking about the reclass and I can’t sit here and lie. There is a possibility,” Rod Hampton, R.J.’s dad, told ZAGSBLOG Saturday at the USA Basketball Junior National Team mini-camp at the Jefferson Activity Center.
“Even if we go anywhere in 2019, it’s going to depend on the roster. We’re not going to take a year to sit and learn. We want to play, we want to put the ball in our hands, we want to go to work.”
RJ Hampton’s dad tells me they’re at 4 schools now w/ Duke, UK, Kansas and Memphis and may cut to 3 soon. Reclassifying to 2019 is still a strong option. They will look at what PGs go to the NBA, including what Tre Jones does at Duke. Story coming later.
— Adam Zagoria (@AdamZagoria) April 6, 2019
Duke is a consideration and it could well depend on if Tre Jones heads to the NBA Draft.
The 6-foot-3 Jones is currently projected as the No. 31 pick in this year’s Draft, according to ESPN.com. Fellow freshmen Zion Williamson, R.J. Barrett and Cam Reddish are projected at 1, 2 and 6, respectively.
“With Duke, if Tre leaves, that is something I would look into,” R.J. Hampton said. “I have to talk to my family. But that’s definitely something I would look into.”
“Duke’s message is just come in and lead the team,” said Rod Hampton, R.J.’s father.
.@RjHampton14 officially down to 4 as I reported the other day pic.twitter.com/s4ZBGz9TrJ
— Adam Zagoria (@AdamZagoria) April 8, 2019
Duke currently has a three-man recruiting class featuring guard Boogie Ellis, wing Wendell Moore and big man Vernon Carey Jr. They are also recruiting uncommitted McDonald’s All-American forwards Matthew Hurt and Trendon Watford.
Kentucky is an option and is known for playing multiple guards. Freshman Ashton Hagans could go to the Draft, while Tyrese Maxey is coming in.
“They got Hagans, but they got Maxey coming,” Rod said. “But they play multiple guards so I just want to be able to handle the ball, put the ball in his hands, make plays, thats what he does best.”
Memphis is appealing because Hampton could play for coach Penny Hardaway, a former NBA All-Star, and with 7-foot-1 James Wiseman, who edged Hampton for the Gatorade National Player of the Year award.
“With those guys coming in, they got James Wiseman, you got somebody in the hole,” Rod said. “The key for them is going to be shooting, R.J. can really shoot it. They’re doing a good job with Lester Quinones. I think they’re going to be really good with or without him. Then you got Trendon Watford, Matthew Hurt [also being recruited by Memphis].”
I will say that Memphis definitely has a buzz with a lot of the top kids these days. I’ve been at @McDAAG and @usabjnt the last few weeks and many of the top uncommitted kids are intrigued by Penny, Wiseman, etc. https://t.co/MWnrao6FKX
— Adam Zagoria (@AdamZagoria) April 6, 2019
Kansas is also an option, depending on how the roster shakes out. Dedric Lawson is headed to the NBA Draft, while Charlie Moore and K.J. Lawson are transferring.
“We don’t know what Quentin [Grimes] is gonna do,” Rod said. “To be honest about R.J., it’s going to be about what’s left at these schools, we’re not in a rush.”
Rod said they could also cut the list to three during the spring.
“We re going to tighten some things up mayba fter the second EYBL session , get it down to three,” he said.
R.J. said a final decision on reclassifying and college will come later this summer.
“Summer sometime and I’ll make a for sure decision,” he said.
Photo: USA Basketball
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