Rivals Crossover Series: Two-sport prospects in 2021, 2022
There are a select few players in the 2021 and 2022 classes that are highly-skilled both on the football field and the basketball court. Here is a breakdown of some standouts with comments on each from Rivals analysts Adam Gorney and Corey Evans:
MORE CROSSOVER SERIES:
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The top 10 football-basketball combo prospects
The top 10 football-basketball combo schools
No. 1 vs. No. 1 (2003): LeBron James vs. Ernie Sims
No. 1 vs. No. 1 (2004): Dwight Howard vs. Adrian Peterson
No. 1 vs. No.1 (2005): Gerald Green vs. Derrick Williams
No. 1 vs. No. 1 (2006): Greg Oden vs. Percy Harvin
No. 1 vs. No. 1 (2007): Michael Beasley vs. Jimmy Clausen
No. 1 vs. No. 1 (2008): B.J. Mullens vs. Terrelle Pryor
No. 1 vs. No. 1 (2009): John Wall vs. Bryce Brown
No. 1 vs. No. 1 (2010): Josh Shelby vs. Ronald Powell
No. 1 vs. No. 1 (2011): Austin Rivers vs. Jadeveon Clowney
No. 1 vs. No. 1 (2012): Shabazz Muhammad vs. Dorial Green-Beckham
No. 1 vs. No. 1 (2013): Andrew Wiggins vs. Robert Nkemdiche
TERRION ARNOLD
Gorney says: The four-star is listed as an athlete because he can play multiple positions and excels especially at defensive back. Arnold is athletic enough to play cornerback but probably projects as a safety in college although he might favor staying at corner. Alabama and Florida State seem to have the edge in his recruitment for football but the Tallahassee (Fla.) John Paul II Catholic standout lists more than 40 offers.
Evans says: While most Division 1 programs didn’t take Arnold as a serious enough basketball prospect because of just how great he is on the football field, it didn’t deter the staffs at Alabama and Ole Miss from offering just so that could be a chance he play both sports at either school. If basketball were to remain in his future, Arnold would be valued most for his elite quickness that he uses well as both a defender in guarding the ball and as a playmaker that puts loads of pressure on the opposing defense thanks to his lethal first step.
TRINITY BELL
Gorney says: Last week, Bell committed to Tennessee over Auburn and about a dozen other programs as the Volunteers continue to piece together one of the nation’s best recruiting classes. The three-star defensive end is definitely an intriguing prospect. Bell’s frame and versatility stand out the most and there is a very high ceiling when it comes to his football future. The Albertville, Ala., standout who has played football and basketball for most of his life committed to the Vols as a tight end but could easily flip to defensive end. He’s an athletic kid with length and a ton of room for development.
Evans says: On the basketball floor, Bell is a big bodied center that has great touch and hands around the basket. He knows how to carve out his niche within the paint and has a solid feel for the game. He can score over his shoulder while heavily guarded, has good hands in cleaning his area on the glass and while he is not a tremendous athlete in getting off his feet, he plays sound defense in changing shots at the rim. Before committing to Tennessee as a football prospect, Bell held basketball offers from Jacksonville State, Samford, St. Louis and UAB.
KEON COLEMAN
Gorney says: Coleman is another long, athletic pass-catcher in Louisiana's loaded 2021 class who at 6-foot-4 and 185 pounds has seen his recruitment take off after a breakout junior season. Coleman amassed more than 1,100 receiving yards and averaged better than 32 yards per catch last season. Of his 35 total catches, 22 went for touchdowns. He also had interceptions. Coleman is a vertical threat on the football field and averaged more than 20 points per game playing hoops. He also owns a 6-foot-2 high jump mark. Oklahoma, Michigan State, Mississippi State, Florida State, South Carolina and Kansas are all involved.
Evans says: Bringing great length, the proper size to play either wing position, and athleticism to the backcourt, there is a world of upside with Coleman. He currently holds offers from Coastal Carolina, McNeese State and Nicholls State, and has seen the basketball programs at a variety of football powers that are recruiting him also show interest, including Michigan State.
While Coleman’s future is likely on the gridiron, if the proper time was invested, there is a chance that he could be a tremendous two-way weapon that would be valued for his defensive prowess and athleticism all of the way up to the high-major realm.
TRE DONALDSON
Gorney says: For a sophomore, Donaldson has tremendous length that allows him to go up and high-point the football, jump over receivers for 50/50 balls and he’s a playmaker with great athleticism. The 2022 safety is also not hesitant at all about looking for contact - he actually welcomes it - and when receivers come across the middle, Donaldson is there to meet them. The Tallahassee (Fla.) Florida State University School standout has surprisingly not been offered by the Seminoles yet but Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Miami and others are involved.
Evans says: One of the more gifted basketball prospects on this list, Donaldson has tremendous upside as a playmaker that is a difficult stop out on the break. Thanks to his speed, ball skills and athleticism, asking for the defense to stay in front of him is a difficult task. More than that, Donaldson can create for others off the dribble-drive, make shots with a contested hand in his face to 21-feet, and is a more than solid defender that can guard the opposing team’s best scorer. Charlie Ward, a phenomenal two-sport athlete within his own right, is Donaldson’s high school basketball coach; the four-star sophomore currently holds basketball offers from Nebraska and Ole Miss.
REUBEN FATHEREE II
Gorney says: Fatheree is a massive 6-foot-8, 300-plus-pounder that you could mistake for either an offensive tackle or a power forward. He's an athletic big man that's nimble on his feet and agile moving across the formation or blocking out in space. Because he plays at Richmond (Texas) Foster, it's easy to connect Fatheree to Oklahoma, however, Texas A&M is a team grabbing more and more momentum, and do not discount LSU from this race just yet.
Evans says: Just a humongous presence in the frontcourt, Fatheree is not someone that is best used whenever the speed of the game picks up but in the half-court, he is a major weapon. Running with the Houston Hoops travel program last summer, he has glue-like hands that he uses well on the glass and makes for a quality presence from 12-feet and in. He is a shot-changer and a shot-blocker on the defensive end. Reported offers have been received by Houston and Oklahoma State thanks to Fatheree’s size and interior impact.
BREON PASS
Gorney says: Pass is an awesome athlete that could play on offense or defense at the college level. On film. it's easy to see how explosive he is with the ball in his hands. If he does end up playing football, look for whichever team gets him to focus on getting him the ball in space so he has room to run. He has natural receiver skills and wins the large majority of jump balls thrown his way. There is a lot of like about his aggressiveness and intensity on the field too. North Carolina, NC State, South Carolina, Virginia Tech and others are in the mix.
Evans says: A quick-twitch guard that plays with reckless abandon, Pass is a solid point of attack lead guard that gets downhilll with ease. He is a good athlete that can score through contact at the basket and has strong instincts that allow for him to play the passing lanes. He impacts the game on both ends and currently holds a variety of scholarship offers from East Carolina, Elon, Hampton, North Carolina A&T and NC State.
BRIAN THOMAS
Gorney says: Thomas is a Rivals100 prospect and in the top echelon of receivers in the 2021 class and he's equally as impactful on the basketball court. He's a big-bodied receiver at 6-foot-4 and 190 pounds that is a 50-50 ball mismatch and uses his frame when making catches in the middle of the field. Thomas has a final four of LSU, Texas A&M, Alabama and Georgia, but this is shaping up to be a classic LSU/Alabama battle to the end.
Evans says: Bringing a strong, well-equipped body to the perimeter, Thomas is a slasher at heart that is good at getting the step on his defender before then absorbing various bumps en route to the basket. At the lid, he is an efficient scorer that can finish through larger bodies. Not just an offensive oriented prospect, Thomas has the requisite size, strength and buy-in that makes him a capable wing defender that can guard various positions. While known first for his abilities on the football field, he reportedly holds basketball offers from Coastal Carolina, Florida, Houston and Tulane.
JT TUIMOLOAU
Gorney says: Even at 6-foot-5 and 277 pounds, the five-star defensive end moves incredibly well, is light on his feet and is someone who when he turns it on is unstoppable on the defensive line. He can also play tight end, stretch the field and make plays that way especially in 7-on-7 and so Tuimoloau is one of the best - and biggest - athletes in this class. Ohio State, Washington and many others are involved in his recruitment and long term he can play defensive end but might also move inside to defensive tackle. The Huskies recently offered him a basketball scholarship.
Evans says: While he is a giant on the football field, Tuimoloau can be best described as an undersized center on the hardwood. That doesn’t detract from his abilities around the basket. While he is more of a below-the-rim type, Tuimoloau has a great feel and IQ for the game. He is rather nimble with his back to the bucket where he can score with someone on his back shoulder but also face up and hit the mid-range jumper. While practically all believe that he will be headed to play football in college, it didn’t stop Mike Hopkins from offering him a scholarship to play basketball at Washington this spring.