5-star point guard Emmanuel Mudiay commits to SMU Mustangs on ESPNU
By Jason Marcum
One of the top players in the high school basketball class of 2014 is off the board, as five-star Dallas point guard Emmanuel Mudiay has committed to the SMU Mustangs.
He announced his college decision live on national TV during the Elite 24 game on ESPNU.
Mudiay is ranked as the top point guard by most recruiting services, and the top overall prospect in the 2014 class by 247Sports. Mudiay will be choosing between Baylor, Kansas, Kentucky, Oklahoma State and SMU.
Larry Brown-coached Southern Methodist, in Mudiay’s hometown of Dallas, has also been considered a strong contender, and the former Calipari mentor made enough of an impression on Mudiay recently to convince him to not even come to UK’s Big Blue Madness, which he originally had been scheduled to attend.
Home-field advantage also played a big role here. Mudiay lives within an hour’s drive of the SMU campus and has already visited several times.
The 6-foot-4 Mudiay is as complete a player as you’ll find in high school basketball right now. He has a lightning-quick first step to the basket, impressive athleticism and the ability to finish well through contact at the rim, and his vision and decision-making with the ball in his hands will make him an instant-impact player for whatever team he plays for in college, and probably the NBA.
National recruiting analyst Evan Daniels offered these thought’s on Mudiay and his game:
"I think what sticks out about Mudiay is his physical attributes. He’s every bit of 6-4. He has a strong frame. He’s a very good athlete and has really good speed.I see some John Wall in him. He’s not as fast as John, but similar aspects. He’s a really good scorer going toward the basket and has really good vision. … He’s an elite-level recruit."