Bucknell Basketball Recruits: Who to Watch For

As we approach the start of the college Basketball season Bucknell fans are wondering who the Bison will be recruiting. Here’s a look at some of the top prospects on the radar.

2019 class

The 2019 class for Bucknell basketball is looking very promising. They have already managed to snag a few top recruits and there are more to come. Here is a look at some of the recruits that you should keep an eye on.

-2019 class
-Ethan Wright
-AJ Brown
-Jake Tabak

2020 class

The 2020 class for Bucknell men’s basketball is one of the most talented and diverse in recent memory. With a mix of international and domestic prospects, the Bison have assembled a group that has the potential to make an immediate impact on the program.

Headlining the class is center James Karnik, who hails from Slovenia. Karnik is a physical presence in the paint who has a knack for scoring and rebounding. He will be joined by Serbian forward Mihailo Tasic, who is an outstanding shooter with a High Basketball IQ.

The Bison also have two point guards in the 2020 class who have the potential to be difference-makers at the position. First is Simon Grunfeld, a 6-footer from New York City who is an excellent ball-handler and distributor. Second is Bosnian native Armin Dzananovic, who is a gifted scorer with a sweet shooting touch.

Rounding out the 2020 class is 6-foot-8 forward Darryl Jones, another New York City product. Jones is a versatile player who can score inside and out, and he should provide valuable minutes off the bench as a freshman.

With this talented 2020 class, Bucknell has put itself in position to compete at a high level for years to come.

2021 class

The team currently has two verbal commitments from the class of 2021 in four-star point guard Ayanna Patterson and three-star small forward Abby Gonzales.

Patterson, a 5’8″ guard from Brooklyn, is rated as the No. 60 overall player and the No. 17 point guard in the class by ESPN. She chose Bucknell over offers from Indiana, Iowa State Penn State Seton Hall Temple, and a host of other schools.

Gonzales, a 6’1″ wing from Manasquan, N.J., is rated as the No. 195 player in the class by ESPN. She picked Bucknell over interest from Davidson, Delaware, George Mason James Madison Rutgers, and VCU, among others.

2022 class

The 2022 class is primed to be one of the most talented in recent memory. Here are five players that Bucknell should keep an eye on.

1. Matthew Hurst (PF): A 6’8″ Power Forward from Norfolk, VA, Hurst is a versatile player who can punish opposing defenses in the post or stretch them out with his outside shooting. He has Good footwork and touch around the basket, and he’s also an excellent rebounder.

2. Connor Niego (SG): A 6’4″ shooting guard from Barrington, IL, Niego is a knockdown shooter with a quick release. He’s also a very good athlete, which enables him to get his shot off against taller defenders.

3. Elijah Fisher (SF): A 6’6″ small forward from Toronto, Canada, Fisher is an explosive athlete who can finish above the rim with ease. He’s also a very good shooter and ball-handler for his size, which makes him tough to defend on the perimeter.

4. Dane Brooks (PG): A 6’1″ point guard from Seattle, WA, Brooks is a tireless worker on both ends of the court. He has good vision and passing instincts, and he’s also an excellent defender.

5. Reece Beekman (SG): A 6’5″ shooting guard from Richmond, VA, Beekman is a smooth operator on the offensive end. He has a nice shooting stroke and he knows how to put the ball in the basket.

Transfers

The Bucknell men’s basketball team has been on the rise in recent years winning the Patriot League tournament and earning a spot in the NCAA tournament in back-to-back seasons.

Head coach Nathan Davis has done a great job of reloading the roster with talented transfers, and that trend looks to continue this offseason. Here are some of the top transfer targets for the Bison:

Derek Culver, West Virginia Culver is a 6’10” forward who was a major contributor for the Mountaineers as a freshman, averaging 10.4 points and 8.6 rebounds per game He should be an instant impact player for Bucknell.

Justin Wright-Foreman, Hofstra: Wright-Foreman is one of the best scorers in college basketball averaging 27.1 points per game last season. He would be a great addition to an already potent Bison offense.

Ethan Happ, Wisconsin: Happ is one of the best big men in college basketball and would give Bucknell a very formidable frontcourt alongside Nana Foulland.

JUCO

The Bucknell Men’s Basketball team has already started to make waves on the recruiting trail for the class of 2020. They recently landed a JUCO transfer, Jamil Atkinson, who will have two years of eligibility remaining. Atkinson is a 6’5” guard from New Jersey who played last season at ASA College in Brooklyn. He averaged 15 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists per game and shot 42% from three-point range He will provide an immediate impact for the Bison.

Atkinson isn’t the only JUCO player that the Bison are targeting. They are also in the mix for Malik Metoyer, a 6’8” forward from Florida who played last season at Gulf Coast State College Metoyer averaged 11 points and 5 rebounds per game while shooting 50% from the field. He would be a nice complement to Atkinson in the frontcourt.

The Bison are also recruiting several High School seniors. Among them is Julius Mays, a 6’4” guard from Kentucky. Mays is a big-time scorer, averaging 28 points per game last season. He would be a great addition to the backcourt alongside Atkinson.

The Bison have put together an impressive recruiting class so far and they are still targeting several other players. Keep an eye on Bucknell Basketball Recruiting – they could be bringing in some very talented players in the near future!

International

Among the 2019 Bucknell Basketball commits, there are a Number of players from across the globe. guard Jackson Danforth is from Canada, forward Austin Gillmann is from Germany, and wing Paul Newman is from New Zealand. All three international recruits bring different skill sets to the table and will look to make an immediate impact on the team.

Jackson Danforth, a 6-foot-5-inch guard, is a three-star recruit according to ESPN. He is a versatile player who can score from anywhere on the court. He has a High Basketball IQ and is a great passer. Danforth committed to Bucknell in October of 2018.

Austin Gillmann, a 6-foot-11-inch forward, is originally from Germany but played his senior year of high school basketball in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He is a strong rebounder and shot blocker. Gillmann committed to Bucknell in November of 2018.

Paul Newman, a 6-foot-7-inch wing, is another three star recruit according to ESPN. He is an athletic player who can finish above the rim. Newman committed to Bucknell in December of 2018.

All three of these international recruits will be looking to make an immediate impact on the team next season.

High School

The Bucknell men’s basketball team is coming off a strong season in which they won the Patriot League regular season and tournament titles, and advanced to the NCAA Tournament Head Coach Nathan Davis and his staff will look to continue that momentum on the recruiting trail, as they search for high school prospects who can help maintain Bucknell’s place among the top teams in the Patriot League Here are some of the high school prospects that the Bucknell Coaching Staff will be keeping an eye on in the coming months.

Summer League

Bucknell will be sending a representative to the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament this week, as well as the NBA G League Elite Camp next month. The Bison will have their eyes on several Summer League prospects as they continue to build their roster for next season. Here are a few players to keep an eye on.

Forwards
-Isiah Ikpeze: A 6’8″ forward from Nigeria, Ikpeze played his college ball at Queens University of Charlotte. He averaged 12 points and eight rebounds per game as a senior, and he is an excellent athlete with the ability to play above the rim. Ikpeze is expected to participate in Portsmouth, and he could be a player that Bucknell takes a chance on in the late stages of the recruiting process

Guards
-Nigel Johnson: A graduate transfer from Rutgers, Johnson will be eligible to play immediately next season. He’s a 6’1″ guard who can score and shoot from the outside. Johnson averaged 10 points per game last season while shooting 37 percent from three-point range. He’s not a great athlete, but he’s a smart player who knows how to get his shot off against taller defenders.

-Josh Sharkey: Sharkey is a 5’10” point guard from Samford who put up some big numbers last season, averaging 17 points and seven assists per game He’s an excellent shooter (44 percent from three-point range) and he has the quickness and ball-handling ability to get into the lane and create for himself and others. Sharkey will be one of the top guards in the Southern Conference next season, and he could be someone that Bucknell looks at as a potential target for their open scholarship.

AAU

The Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) is a Youth Sports organization that offers opportunities for athletes in a variety of sports, including basketball. AAU programs are available for athletes of all ages and levels of ability, from beginner to elite.

Bucknell University’s men’s Basketball team has had success recruiting players from the AAU ranks in recent years Some of the current and former Bison who got their start in AAU Basketball include Chris Hass, Kimbal Mackenzie, Zach Thomas, and Nana Foulland.

If you’re interested in following the Bucknell basketball team’s recruiting efforts, here are some AAU programs to keep an eye on:

-The NJ Playaz is one of the most successful AAU programs in the country. They have produced numerous Division I players and several NBA players including Kyrie Irving and J.J. Redick. Several current Bucknell players have come through the NJ Playaz program, including Hass, Mackenzie, and Thomas.

-The New York Renaissance is another top AAU Program that has sent many players to Division I schools and the NBA. Notable alumni include Lebron James and Carmelo Anthony Foulland played for the Renaissance before coming to Bucknell.

-The Pittsburgh Storm is one of the premier AAU programs in Pennsylvania. The Storm have had several players go on to play at Bucknell, including Thomas Bryant (now with the Indiana Pacers) and Ryan Willen (now with Lehigh).