By ADAM ZAGORIA
Five-star guard Jalil Bethea is headed to Miami.
The 6-foot-4 guard from Archbishop Wood (PA) and the Team Final Nike EYBL announced his commitment to the Hurricanes on Wednesday, choosing them over Villanova, Syracuse and Kansas.
His commitment gives coach Jim Larranaga and the Hurricanes the No. 3-ranked class in 2024, per 247Sports.com.
Ranked the No. 2 shooting guard in his class by 247Sports.com, Bethea most recently visited Miami last week, and then canceled upcoming visits to Syracuse and Alabama, as first reported by ZAGSBLOG.
“It all came down to where I see myself improving in the future,” he said on his 247Sports announcement. “I feel like is the best stage for me to play on, one of the best coaches to play for and I’m glad I picked Miami
“I can’t wait, I just can’t wait.”
Bethea said the visit helped solidify his decision.
“They showed me a lot of different things,” he said. “They showed me my stats that no coach ever showed me before, like points per possession-type stuff.
“And that was just a good experience, because that was my first time ever going out there and they welcomed me pretty good so it was a good visit.”
Bethea averaged 23.2 points on 53.6% shooting last season, adding 7.8 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game.
As for what type of player Miami is getting, Archbishop Wood coach John Mosco told ZAGSBLOG:
“He’s a winner, he loves to play, he’s a gym rat, he just wants to get better. He sat the bench as a freshman, came off the bench as a sophomore and just kept better and exploded onto the scene and now he’s Top 10. He’s a better passer than people give him credit for. He sees the floor really well.
“And since the visits, he’s become a leader in the workouts. He’s taken the younger guys under his wing.”
Bethea joins four-star wing Isaiah Johnson-Arigu and four-star guard Austin Swartz in Miami’s 2024 class.
“Coach L is one of the best coaches in college basketball history and he wins,” Bethea told ZAGSBLOG of Miami coach Jim Larranaga. “I like playing for winners.”
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