While most of Miami’s attention seems to be focused on bolstering the team through the transfer portal, that hasn’t stopped head coach Jim Larrañaga and his staff from recruiting talented high school prospects in the class of 2024.
In the first edition of a multiple-part series, LifeWallet Sports has previewed some of UM’s top targets in this recruiting cycle.
Marcus Allen
The 6-foot-6 small forward and South Florida native appears to be near the top of Miami’s 2024 recruiting board. Allen made an official visit to Miami in August 2022, and his contact with UM has not wavered.
Allen told LifeWallet Sports earlier in April that the Hurricanes “reach out mostly every day.” In addition to Miami, the Compass (Ariz.) Prep product also holds offers from Florida State, Villanova, Missouri and Florida Gulf Coast. He made an official visit to Missouri in September 2022.
Scouting Report: Allen is a lengthy wing who projects as one of the most versatile defenders in his class. His ability to guard multiple positions and his willingness to rebound could allow him to contribute early at the college level. Offensively, Allen is at his best when driving to the basket, and his jump shot has improved throughout high school.
Jaeden Mustaf
Mustaf recently listed Miami, along with Indiana, Virginia Tech, Florida State and North Carolina State, among his top five schools list. Here’s what he told LifeWallet Sports about UM following this announcement.
“Obviously they’re winning. You could see they were in the Final Four this year. They’re kind of like NC State with the way that their guards play and showcase their skills and things like that. Of course, that’s a great place to be in Miami. Their coaching staff is great. I talk to [head coach Jim Larrañaga] and [associate head coach Bill Courtney] a lot. We stay in contact, and I could just see myself fitting well there.”
The 6-foot-5 combo guard made official visits to Florida State and Georgetown in late-2022.
Scouting Report: Mustaf excels when in isolation. He’s a skilled and efficient ball handler who is excellent at beating his man on the perimeter. The Carmel Christian (N.C.) School product does a great job of finishing through contact and drawing fouls when driving to the basket. He’s an accurate passer and a very good decision-maker for a high school guard. He has the potential to be the primary facilitator of an offense in college. Mustaf’s jump shot needs improvement, as he only shot 28% from deep in his junior season. His shot has a slight hitch that’s more noticeable on free-throw attempts.
Rakease Passmore
The Hurricanes’ pursuit of Passmore has picked up as of late, as they offered the 6-foot-5 wing on March 7. Here’s what he told LifeWallet Sports about this offer.
“I’ve been talking to Miami for a while, and they fell off a little bit with me and came back. They came to an open run and just started seeing me and start building that relationship up again. That’s when they finally had offered.”
Passmore has made unofficial visits to in-state programs like Duke, Wake Forest and North Carolina State. He also made unofficial visits to Charleston and Tennessee, in addition to a lone official visit to Indiana. He will also make an official visit to Oregon on April 19.
The 2024 prospect announced on Twitter that he will be releasing a top 10 schools list on May 1.
Scouting Report: Passmore is one of the most athletic and energetic players in his class. He’s a high-flyer at the rim and a force when in transition. Passmore is excellent at straight-line attacks to the basket, and he can space out defenses with his jumper, which is best off the catch. Some areas of his game are still raw, such as his ability to string together counter moves when driving into the paint, as well as his ball handling in half-court situations.
