The Bruins will get a chance to fend off Syracuse and Kansas in pursuit of the high-scoring wing who could reclassify to 2023.
The Bruins continue to pick up momentum in their recruitment of one of the fastest-rising prospects in Southern California.
Small forward Marcus Adams Jr. was scheduled to reveal his top three finalists on Tuesday, but he canceled that announcement at the last second. Instead, the Narbonne High School (CA) product went on Twitter and said that he has booked an official visit with UCLA men’s basketball from March 3 to 5.
The Bruins are set to host Arizona State and No. 8 Arizona over the weekend. Adams has already been to numerous games at Pauley Pavilion since receiving his offer from coach Mick Cronin on Feb. 6, but the Bruins’ Saturday showdown with the Wildcats is a sold out rivalry game.
UCLA was one of Adams’ top five programs as recently as Feb. 1, although his recruitment has shifted drastically since then.
Adams has spoken openly about possibly reclassifying from the class of 2024 to the class of 2023, and he has added offers from USC, Arkansas, Kansas, Indiana, Tennessee and Washington in the past four weeks alone. Oregon, Mississippi State, Texas and Syracuse were part of the 6-foot-8 wing’s original top five, but Kansas and Syracuse are reportedly the top contenders for Adams’ commitment alongside UCLA.
The Jayhawks hosted Adams for an official visit on Feb. 24. Adams was reportedly scheduled to visit the Orange for their game against Wake Forest on Saturday, but it seems he has replaced that second trip to Syracuse with another stop in Westwood.
The Harbor City, California, native told 247Sports that he could make a verbal commitment sometime in the next two weeks, and that UCLA would be his final visit.
In 17 games with Norbonne, Adams is averaging 28.8 points and 6.8 rebounds per game. Adams’ 50-point, 21-rebound outing earlier in the year was one of the highlights of his season, while also adding several other 30-point performances and eight double-doubles.
Adams is currently set to join the Compton Magic when the AAU season begins in early April, as long as he doesn’t reclassify.
UCLA has secured commitments from several Compton Magic products over the past few cycles, with assistant coach Rod Palmer actually co-founding the program in 1993. Arron Afflalo, TJ Leaf, Ike Anigbogu, Jaylen Hands, Jalen Hill, Jules Bernard, Johnny Juzang, Jaylen Clark, Dylan Andrews and Devin Williams all suited up for the Magic.
Adams is a four-star recruit, according to 247Sports and On3, but a three-star on Rivals. 247Sports has Adams ranked as the No. 6 player in California, the No. 16 small forward in the nation and the No. 61 overall prospect in the class of 2024.
UCLA does not have a commitment for the class of 2024, but it has three commitments for the class of 2023. Four-star forward Devin Williams, four-star forward Brandon Williams and four-star guard Sebastian Mack make up the Bruins’ three-man class, which ranks No. 13 in the country and No. 3 in the Pac-12.
If the Bruins were able to reel in Adams and have him reclassify to 2023, their class would likely break into the top 10 nationally and challenge for the top spot in the conference.
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PHOTO COURTESY OF MARCUS ADAMS JR./INSTAGRAM
