Guard Jaeden Mustaf talks Miami, Florida State, Other Programs on Top Schools List

Class of 2024 guard Jaeden Mustaf released his top five schools list on April 1, which featured Miami, Indiana, Florida State, Virginia Tech and North Carolina State.

The 6-foot-5 Mustaf, ranked by the On3 Sports Industry Ranking as the third-best combo guard and 44th-best player in his class, averaged 15.9 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.8 steals per game at Carmel Christian (N.C.) High School last season and led the Cougars to a 28-4 record. He’s set to play with Boo Williams this upcoming Nike EYBL season.

Here’s what Mustaf told LifeWallet Sports about why these schools are his top five:

Virginia Tech:

“I have a great relationship with them and their coaches. They were also one of the first schools to even offer me. They were like my first high major or something like that. I visited there a few times and had just enjoyed the environment and enjoyed everything around it. And yeah, the coaches they have I have great relationship with them and things like that.”

Indiana:

“I really could see myself being there. I also have a good relationship with them. They stay in touch with me and things like that. I know they could get players to the NBA, of course that’s my main goal. Like Jalen Hood-Schifino, that’s the guy who’s been there that I could see an example for what I could I do if I was to go there. And just the fact that they show me that I’m a priority helps.”

North Carolina State:

“That’s pretty much where I am now, North Carolina. It’s close to family. Family could get down easily to games. Of course, they’re in the ACC and their two biggest rivals are Duke and UNC so that’s big. I have a great relationship with their coaches as well. Just the way their guards play and showcase their skills and things like that, I could see myself being a part of that too.”

Miami:

“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.”

Florida State:

“That’s the only the only school out of those five that I’ve officially visited to so far. They showed myself and my family a lot of love when we went there. They even told my little brother ‘happy birthday’ because it was my birthday when we were there. They had a cake and everything for him already. The little things when I went there, and just the environment, the atmosphere, the players treated me as if I was already on the team. And then [head coach Leonard Hamilton], my players loved him and things like that. We love the coaching staff.”