Top five candidates Jonathan Kuminga announced Wednesday evening that he is stepping over college and joining the new G League career path program.
Kuminga cut his list into five options in May, with Texas Tech, Auburn, Duke and Kentucky joining the G League option. But the G League program, which will provide one-year development outside the traditional minor league team structure, has always been the clear favorite. Texas Tech remained in the mix because Kuminga’s brother Joel Ntambwe plays for the Red Raiders.
Kuminga is the fifth ESPN 100 prospect in the 2020 class to choose the G League over college, after Jalen Green (# 1), Isaiah Todd (# 15), Daishen Nix (# 21) and Kai Sotto (No. 65 ).
Kuminga, perspective n. 4 in 2020, was originally the recruit n. 1 in the 2021 class, but graduated from Patrick School in Hillside, New Jersey in early June. Wednesday made its reclassification to 2020 official.
Combo 6 foot and 8 forward, Kuminga was one of the most productive players on the Nike EYBL circuit last spring and summer. He averaged 22.7 points, 5.4 rebounds and 3.3 assists in 19 games with the NY Rens, including a 43-point effort against Team Texas Titans in May 2019.
“Kuminga combines power and explosion with high-end physical tools in the small forward position,” said ESPN national director of recruitment Paul Biancardi. “He loves playing and is almost unstoppable in the open field. In the middle of the field, he is the best with dribbling, making fouls and finishing the game. He is hungry for points and demonstrates the ability to score in large numbers in a game.
“The next step in its development is to perfect long-range shooting and ball handling.”
Kuminga is projected as choice no. 4 in the simulation draft 2021 of ESPN.
With Kuminga officially off the board, there are zero unconstrained prospects that remain in the ESPN 100 for the 2020 class.
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