UVA makes top-five cut for Chatman, one of nation’s top combo guards

By Jerry Ratcliffe

Virginia has made the top-five cut for the top basketball prospect in the state of Minnesota.

Taison Chatman, a 6-foot-3 combo guard from Minneapolis — where UVA won the national championship in 2019 — announced his final list of schools on social media: Virginia, Kansas, Minnesota, Ohio State and Xavier. The 4-star prospect eliminated Texas, Texas Tech, Iowa State, Iowa, Kansas State, Louisville, Marquette, UConn, LSU, Washington State and Northwestern.

Chatman is the highest-ranked player from the state of Minnesota since the class of 2020 (Jalen Suggs, who was No. 11 nationally). Chatman is the No. 11 combo guard in the nation according to 247Sports composite, but No. 4 nationally in 247’s system. He is the top prospect in the state.

Last season as a junior, he averaged 13.5 points per game in leading Totino-Grace High School to the state championship with a 26-6 record.

Virginia offered the standout guard on June 20 and he plans a visit to Charlottesville sometime soon. Meanwhile, Kansas offered April 27 and he has made an official visit to Kansas, Xavier and to UConn, which didn’t make his top five.

TOP 5️⃣ pic.twitter.com/Hv7Y5QiXDi

— Taison Chatman (@tchat04) July 16, 2022

“Virginia did a home visit with me and few months ago,” Chatman told On3. “Three of their coaches came and they talked to me and my family about how much they love my game and think I could help their program. Also talking a visit in the fall.”

One of Chatman’s strengths is his ability to make all the reads out of the pick and roll. He also has deep range as a shooter.