By ADAM ZAGORIA
Niko Bundalo, the five-star forward from Prolific Prep (CA), has trimmed his list to four schools.
Per Tipton Edits, the 6-foot-11 Bundalo is down to UConn, Michigan State, Ohio State, and North Carolina. He has visited all four in the last several months.
He broke down each school for On3.com:
Michigan State: “When you think about a Hall of Fame coach in college basketball, it’s hard not to think of coach [Tom] Izzo. He’s been there for a really, really long time and I think that’s good because he has cemented a culture. The day-to-day expectations that the guys are required to fill. Like, you have to show up to work. They take that ‘Spartan Dawg’ saying really, really seriously. Coach Izzo and coach Wojcik have really been huge in recruiting me over there. They’ve been really getting to know my family and really building a deep connection.”
North Carolina: “Me and coach [Hubert] Davis have built a relationship over these past few months to where I feel like I can talk to him and let him know anything. He’s been a really, really good recruiter for me. He’s really been the main guy recruiting me so when the dude running the team is the main one recruiting you, it’s hard not to trust him. Me and coach Davis have had some really, really meaningful conversations. He actually saw me at youth camp when I was younger, in the 8th grade. It’s an unbelievable program and he’s an unbelievable guy and an unbelievable coaching staff.”
Ohio State: “They’ve really intrigued me from the jump just because I’m an Ohio kid and I was born and raised there. For me, having that opportunity that coach [Jake] Diebler was my lead recruiter when coach [Chris] Holtmann was still there. Now that he has the head coaching job, it really only made it a better situation for me. I really love what coach Diebler has done with the team and the relationship that he’s created with every single one of his guys is great. I think they all trust him. Having a team that completely trusts you really, really, really leads to successful teams. You think about some of the best teams that went on to win National Championships are the guys that trust each other the most and are willing to go to war. I think he breeds that kind’ve family environment.”
UConn: “The resume speaks for itself. Coach [Dan] Hurley has won back-to-back National Championships. He’s built a relationship with me. From talking to his players and the guys he’s had around the program, everybody loves his intensity. His ability to bring it every single day and the standard he holds his guys to is second to none. That brings winning culture.”
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