COMMITMENT: Virginia Basketball rounds out 2020 class with Jabri Abdur-Rahim

Tony Bennett finished out the class of 2020 Wednesday night with the commitment of national top-50 prospect Jabri Abdur-Rahim.

Abdur-Rahim is the son of former NBA All-Star—and current president of the NBA G League—Shareef Abdur-Rahim. The 6-foot-7 wing is a consensus four-star with 247 Sports, Rivals, and ESPN. Each of the three major services has him ranked in the top 100 recruits nationally: ESPN the highest at #28, Rivals at #41, and 61st in 247’s rankings (but 44th overall in the 247 Composite).

A product of New Jersey’s Blair Academy, Abdur-Rahim picked UVA over Michigan and more than 30 other offers, including Arizona, Florida, Kansas, Louisville, Maryland, Michigan State, Texas, USC, and Villanova.

He is a natural scorer at all three levels, and a credible argument can be made that he has the most college game-ready total package of any Tony Bennett commit. He shone at the Top 100 camp in Charlottesville, and the shooter looked like a natural at John Paul Jones Arena as he connected on 50 percent of his three-point attempts (14 of 28). Abdur-Rahim’s scoring has been one of the highlights of his AAU circuit as well, leading all scorers in the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League—the series of top-flight travel-team tournaments.

The most apt comparison for Abdur-Rahim to previous Virginia players is De’Andre Hunter: similar frame, similar game as a slashing wing with an outside shooting stroke that can develop under Bennett’s tutelage. Adding 15-20 pounds via Mike Curtis’ strength program could lift Abdur-Rahim into eventual consideration as a lottery pick, as well.

Landing a player of this talent is a major achievement just anyway. But there are some additional benefits to landing Abdur-Rahim specifically. His father’s background—an NBA executive who now oversees the development of young talent into NBA-ready players—ought to become a major selling point as Bennett continues to recruit blue-chips with legitimate high-level NBA aspirations. If the president of the G League trusts his son’s development and NBA future to Tony Bennett, why shouldn't every other parent of a top-50 recruit do the same?

Abdur-Rahim’s commitment closes out recruiting for the class of 2020. Point guard Reece Beekman and shooting guard Carson McCorkle round out the class that will arrive on Grounds for the 2020-21 season; transfer forward Sam Hauser will be eligible that season, as well.

UVA’s class now claims the top spot per the 247 Composite; even with only three players in the class, Virginia should still end up in the top 20 or so in final rankings.