
Howard Williams Commits to Arizona State, Joining Carson Crawford as Top 2027 Recruit
Four-star forward Howard Williams has pledged to Arizona State University, becoming the second elite recruit in as many weeks after Carson Crawford.
Latest Slidescroller coverage mentioning Jermaine O’Neal across Basketball.

Four-star forward Howard Williams has pledged to Arizona State University, becoming the second elite recruit in as many weeks after Carson Crawford.
Top recruit Ryan Hampton will leave DME Academy in Florida to re-join Rockwall-Heath High School in Texas, becoming Kentucky's first 2027 pledge and rekindling ties with friends before college.

From a high school standout in South Carolina to a six‑time All‑Star, Jermaine O'Neal's path was steered by a rare blend of candor and foresight from coach Rick Pitino, a influence that still resonates in basketball circles.

In a recent interview, Jermaine O’Neal detailed how University of Kentucky coach Rick Pitino’s candid counsel — centered on his family’s hardships — shaped his decision to forgo college and enter the 1996 NBA Draft, a move that launched an 18‑year career of All‑Star accolades and statistical consistency.

High school basketball stars, many of them Syracuse targets, have announced moves to elite prep schools across the United States as the 2026‑27 season approaches.

Payton Jones, a 2027 four-star point guard, has moved to Dynamic Prep in Carrollton, Texas, where he aims to build on a stellar high school career and attract top college programs.

A veteran analyst argues that the much‑maligned American grassroots system deserves credit for producing a deep 2026 draft class, while also exposing the strengths and blind spots of international models.
Marcus Spears Jr., a 6‑foot‑9 power forward from Texas, is the No. 1 recruit of the 2027 class and is being heavily courted by Kentucky, LSU and Texas, with his family’s basketball pedigree adding intrigue to his upcoming decision.