Virginia Offers Four-Star Power Forward Brakefield

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Posted on Wednesday, Sep. 25, 2019, 12:42 am

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By Jerry Ratcliffe

Photo: Twitter

National champion Virginia’s top-five recruiting class for 2020 could get a lot stronger if its newest target decides on Charlottesville as his future basketball home.

On the eve of practice officially getting underway, Tony Bennett extended an offer to four-star power forward Jaemyn Brakefield of Huntington Prep in Huntington, W.Va.  Brakefield is a 6-foot-9, 215-pound, highly sought-after blue-chipper who already holds offers from Louisville, Auburn, Michigan State, Michigan, Kansas, Mississippi and West Virginia, among others.

In fact, Brakefield is scheduled to take an official visit to Chris Mack’s Louisville program this weekend. He has already visited Auburn and has taken an unofficial visit to Ole Miss. He has scheduled an official visit to Mississippi for Oct. 18.

The prospect has scheduled an official visit to Michigan on Oct. 4, and has unofficially visited West Virginia.

Brakefield announced on his Twitter account Tuesday night that he had been offered by Bennett.

Earlier this fall, Brakefield wrote on his own blog that he had cut his list to 10, including the aformentioned schools in addition to Oregon and Florida State. Add Virginia to that list.

“It’s easier to manage now that the list is down,” Brakefield wrote. “It was getting out of hand there for a little bit so I’m happy that I can just focus on these schools now. 

“Next up for me is just gathering more information about the schools  and just talking to my family and my coaches about what’s best. When I cut my list, I had schools that reached out asking me about still recruiting me, but most of those schools hadn’t offered like Memphis, North Carolina and Duke.”

Apparently UVA was late to the party as well, but did make an offer during Bennett’s in-home visit, which seemed to meet with approval by Brakefield. The prospect tweeted: “Blessed to receive a offer from the University of Virginia!”

Scouts reported that Brakefield is a skilled left-hander capable of stretching defenses with his shooting, can score off the dribble, and is an adequate handler and passer, a good rebounder and defender. He is projected as an eventual first-round draft pick.

Brakefield played on Reece Beekman’s Nike EYBL 17-and-under AAU team last summer (Phenom University). Beekman committed to Virginia during the NBA Top 100 Camp at UVA in June. Should Brakefield find his way to Bennett’s program, it would be the final scholarship available on the 2020 team.