The Husky Haul
Fansided

Washington basketball gets their hometown hero

By Roman Tomashoff

COLUMBUS, OHIO - MARCH 22: Head coach Mike Hopkins of the Washington Huskies reacts as they take on the Utah State Aggies during the second half of the game in the first round of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Nationwide Arena on March 22, 2019 in Columbus, Ohio. The Washington Huskies won 78-61. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OHIO - MARCH 22: Head coach Mike Hopkins of the Washington Huskies reacts as they take on the Utah State Aggies during the second half of the game in the first round of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Nationwide Arena on March 22, 2019 in Columbus, Ohio. The Washington Huskies won 78-61. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
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Washington basketball just landed a MASSIVE commitment from the 5-star prospect out of Federal Way (Wash.), Jaden McDaniels!

Washington basketball is definitely ready to compete for a national championship now. They won a heated recruiting battle over John Calipari and Kentucky, and now they have a top 10 recruiting class in the country.

McDaniels is an excellent all-around player, who’s scoring has drawn comparisons to Kevin Durant, while his defense has been comped to Jonathan Issac. He’ll fit in very well in Mike Hopkins’ system, and could possibly even take Matisse Thybulle’s spot at the top of the zone due to his insane length. He’ll also be a seamless fit in the offense, the Huskies are replacing four of their five starters from 2018, and their top four scorers.

McDaniels, along with five-star recruit Isaiah Stewart, are in line to take a lot of those shots. Nahziah Carter is primed to have a huge junior season, and with his experience, that’s a great top three for the Huskies on offense. And when he’s eligible to play, five-star Kentucky transfer Quade Green is going to be the perfect facilitator for this team.

How far can this team go?

The sky’s the limit now, Mike Hopkins is quickly proving himself to be one of the best head coaches in the country, and with the talent he’s grabbed over the last few seasons, they can hang with anyone in the country.

https://twitter.com/Jmcdaniels7/status/1131063094174572544

With his stifling defense and outstanding all-around offensive game, McDaniels is the perfect final piece for this Husky team. With a good season, McDaniels also has a chance to be the first overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft. If he can put on some weight, and continue to prove himself as an elite all-around player, it shouldn’t be much of a debate. Both he and Stewart are definitely going to be high lottery picks.

The Future

What does this mean for the future of the team? McDaniels opens up a pipeline for the future top talent in the state of Washington over the next few years (I’m looking at you, Marjon Beauchamp and Paolo Banchero). Mike Hopkins is building a dynasty at UW, and McDaniels has just accelerated the process.

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