It’s been over a month since Michigan star Hunter Dickinson entered the transfer portal. Teams across the nation have courted Dickinson. However, a handful of teams have emerged as realistic destinations.
Yet, as rumors emerge that Dickinson may have an announcement Tuesday, just about everyone is in the dark about his decision.
According to College basketball insider Jeff Goodman, coaches are in the dark, and those involved in Dickinson’s process don’t know where he may go.
Maryland, Kansas, Villanova, Kentucky, Georgetown, Syracuse, and a return to Michigan seem to be Dickinson’s choices. He’s visited every school except Syracuse. The fact no one knows if he has narrowed the search further laminates the uncertainty surrounding his recruitment.
The 7-foot-1 Dickinson is a native of Alexandria, Virginia, and starred at DeMatha Catholic High School in Hyattsville, Maryland. DeMatha is the flagship of the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference, arguably the nation’s best high school conference.
The school is a quick 10-minute straight drive to the campus of Maryland. However, the lack of recruiting by former head coach Mark Turgeon steered Dickinson to Michigan with head coach Juwan Howard in 2020.
Dickinson averaged 17.2 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks in three seasons at Michigan. Now he is exploring finishing his collegiate career elsewhere as the nation’s top transfer.
Speculation is Hunter Dickinson may make his decision Tuesday. College insider Marty Mush expects to give an update during his Round Ball Podcast. However, Mush told Matt Jones of Kentucky Sports Radio he doesn’t know if Dickinson will announce his decision during the podcast.
With Turgeon gone, Maryland became an intriguing option for Dickinson. Unlike Turgeon, current Terrapins head coach Kevin Willard has focused on recruiting inside the DMV corridor in his first two recruiting cycles. Recently, Willard added Dickinson’s high school head coach, Mike Jones, to his coaching staff. Jones has an impeccable reputation for recruiting in the DC area.
Meanwhile, Georgetown has a new head coach in Ed Cooley. Cooley landed three formidable transfers, including guards Jayden Epps (Illinois) and Rowan Brumbaugh (Texas) in his first month on the job. Cooley’s presence has made the Hoyas attractive again.
Kansas has recent prestige, winning the 2022 NCAA championship. Head Coach Bill Self draws top recruits with his Hall of Fame resume and two national championships at Kansas.
Kentucky has John Calipari. That’s enough said. Calipari has been a top-recruit magnet. And landing Dickinson would be icing on the cake on the nation’s top recruiting class this year.
Villanova has a connection to the DMV area. Dickinson’s DeMatha teammate Justin Moore is at Villanova and has recovered from a torn Achilles from the 2022 NCAA Tournament.
Syracuse has stayed in contact with Dickinson as the Orange transitioned from Jim Boeheim to newly-hired head coach Adrian Autry. Autry is a Syracuse alum, but he has familiarity with the DMV going back to his coaching beginnings on the AAU circuit and Bishop Ireton and Paul VI — two Northern Virginia schools in the WCAC.
Right now, Dickinson’s decision is anyone’s guess. Hopefully, there will be an announcement soon, possibly Tuesday evening. Until then, fans of every contender will be on edge.
