Marvin Bagley reportedly files paperwork with NCAA to possibly reclassify
By Chris Stone
Marvin Bagley III is one step closer to reclassifying
Marvin Bagley III, the nation’s top high school recruit in the class of 2018, has reportedly filed paperwork with the NCAA Clearinghouse to potentially reclassify to 2017, according to Scout’s Evan Daniels. News of Bagley’s potential reclassification made waves at Nike’s Peach Jam earlier this summer.
Since then, the 18-year-old has been busy visiting potential schools. He spent last weekend at Duke and took an official visit to USC this week. Bagley has also scheduled visits with Arizona and UCLA. Additionally, there are plans for him to get to Kentucky and Kansas, the other two schools on his list of six, before making a decision, according to Adam Zagoria.
The 247Sports Crystal Ball currently pegs the Blue Devils as the favorite to land the prized recruit. He would have the opportunity to pair up with another top recruit, Wendell Carter, in the frontcourt in Durham.
Bagley is the type of difference maker that any team, Duke or otherwise, in the country would love to have on its roster. He’s a 6-foot-11 power forward/center combo who can rip and run off of defensive rebounds, knock down 3-pointers and protect the rim. The 18-year-old is the definition of a basketball unicorn. Bagley doesn’t have the same explosive athleticism that characterizes the game of fellow 2018 recruit Zion Williamson, but he’s no slouch in that department either.
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Bagley’s decision to reclassify would also have significant ramifications for the 2018 NBA Draft where Real Madrid’s Luka Doncic, Missouri’s Michael Porter Jr. and Arizona’s DeAndre Ayton are currently expected to be in competition for the top selection. Bagley would throw a wrench into that discussion given his size and unique skill set.
Before that, though, Bagley will seemingly try to find his way onto a college basketball court. Filing this paperwork with the NCAA Clearinghouse is just the first step in a process that could change the 2017-18 season and next year’s NBA Draft for the better.