NCAA basketball recruiting predictions for every 2021 5-star recruit
No. 12 – Max Christie – SG – 6-foot-6, 165 pounds – Rolling Meadows, IL
Christie can shoot the basketball and is one of the better shooting prospects in the 2021 class. He also has a quick first step and good handle, which could benefit him at the next level if put into a multiple ball-handler set, or when he needs to beat defenders off the dribble or create space for his jumper. As is customary for most high school juniors, Christie will need to add size to his frame as he matures physically.
There is some talk on the recruiting circuit that would have Christie landing somewhere together with No. 3 overall Patrick Baldwin Jr. Duke is known to have an interest in each player, and it is believed that Northwestern would be a good fit for the pair as well. According to the 247Sports Crystal Ball, Duke is the heavy favorite to land Christie, and it could very well lead to Duke bring in both Christie and Baldwin in what has the potential to be the top recruiting class for 2021.
PREDICTION: Duke Blue Devils
No. 11 – Nathan Bittle – C – 6-foot-10, 175 pounds – Central Point, OR
Bittle has a modern big man’s game showing good instincts around the basket and the ability to stretch the floor and shoot the ball from distance. With his height and long wingspan, this skillset makes Bittle a very attractive prospect for college coaches. He’s tall and lanky and will need to develop physically but he shows deceptive quickness on film and a developing repertoire of interior moves.
The Oregon native has heard from the top programs out west including Oregon, Gonzaga, UCLA, and Arizona, and there’s a good chance he remains on the west coast. 247Sports Crystal Ball has three predictions and all believe Bittle will end up playing for Dana Altman at Oregon, and it is hard to dispute that the Ducks are the clear favorite to land the skilled big man recruit. Look for Bittle to stay home and play at Oregon.