According to a report from ESPN’s Jonathan Givony, Caleb Houstan, a 5-star forward, will reclassify from 2022 to the 2021 recruiting class.
ESPN currently has Houstan ranked as the No. 3 overall prospect in the 2022 class; 247 Sports composite ranking slots the 6-foot-8 forward as the No. 7 overall prospect in 2022. With his move to the 2021 class, Houstan is just one season removed from joining a college basketball program for the 2021-22 season. After which, he’s eligible for the 2022 NBA Draft.
Houston explained to Givony that he believes he’s primed for this accelerated path: “I feel like I’m ready to take the next step. Being at Montverde and playing for Team Canada at the FIBA level has helped prepare me for that. The best decision for me is to go to college in 2021. That will help me get to next level and eventually where I want to go, which is the NBA.”
During the 2019-20 season, Houstan made a name for himself on the stacked Montverde Academy squad; Houstan helped guide Montverde (Fla.) to a 35-0 record, while playing with with 2020 5-stars Cade Cunningham, Scottie Barnes (FSU), Day’Ron Sharpe (UNC) and Moses Moody.
Last summer, Houstan averaged 22.8 points and 5.3 rebounds per game for the U-16 Canadian National team. Houstan had another busy spring and summer of hoops planned; however, the COVID-19 pandemic put a squash on most of those events.
A month ago, when college programs were allowed to start direct contact with class of 2022 prospects, Duke extended an offer to Houstan. In a recent blog post from Houstan at SI All-American, the blue-chip forward mentioned just how many programs reached out to him after June 15, including Duke. Houstan seems to have a strong relationship with Duke’s staff, too.
However, plenty of other prominent programs will factor into this equation as well: Gonzaga, Michigan State and Arizona. Nate Oats of Alabama and Eric Musselman of Arkansas are also after the 5-star forward. From the ACC, Virginia also extended an offer to Houstan.
Duke is already in the process of constructing a powerful 2021 recruiting class; 5-star wing AJ Griffin committed last fall. The Blue Devils are also well-positioned for 5-star Patrick Baldwin Jr., a 6-foot-9 power forward with plenty of NBA potential. Experts at both Rivals and 247 Sports have Duke as the favorite.