Rothstein Files: Breaking Down The 4 Potential Destinations For Andrew Wiggins
By Jon Rothstein
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We can't fully project next year's Top 25 in college basketball because arguably the best player in the sport has still yet to decide on his destination.
Andrew Wiggins -- the likely top overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft -- and the No. 1 rated player in the Class of 2013 is still playing the waiting game.
With no official date set for Wiggins' college decision, we've decided to look at the four schools courting his services, and where he'll potentially fit into each respective program.
Check below for more insight on where the 6-foot-7 small forward may wind up playing during the 2013-14 season.
FLORIDA STATE
ODDS: 4-1
THE SKINNY: We've felt all along that Wiggins would wind up in Tallahassee, and we're not budging from that proclamation. The Seminoles have a distinct connection with the talented small forward that none of the other schools on his list possess --- both of his parents are alums. Wiggins also will have more of an impact for Leonard Hamilton's team than any other squad he's considering. Without Wiggins, Florida State would be a borderline postseason team. With him, they're a top-15 unit in the country.
FLORIDA STATE'S POTENTIAL 2013-14 STARTING FIVE WITH ANDREW WIGGINS:
PG DEVON BOOKERT
SG AARON THOMAS
SF ANDREW WIGGINS
PF OKARO WHITE
C KIEL TURPIN
KENTUCKY
ODDS: 6-1
THE SKINNY: John Calipari has already assembled the greatest recruiting class in the history of college basketball --- and that's without Wiggins. Kentucky has signed six McDonald's All-Americans for next season, and adding Wiggins to the Wildcats' already loaded stable would potentially give Kentucky one of the most talented rosters the sport has ever seen. We're hearing Wiggins likes the idea of going to Lexington for a year, but other people around him aren't too keen on the blue-chip prospect sharing the limelight with so many other high-level players.
KENTUCKY'S POTENTIAL 2013-14 STARTING FIVE WITH ANDREW WIGGINS:
PG ANDREW HARRISON
SG AARON HARRISON
SF ANDREW WIGGINS
PF JULIUS RANDLE
C WILLIE CAULEY-STEIN
KANSAS
ODDS: 8-1
THE SKINNY: Bill Self has assembled a recruiting class that will anchor the Jayhawks' program for years to come, but he doesn't have an alpha dog like Wiggins. A known go-to guy would go a long way for Kansas next season. While the Jayhawks will be talented in 2013-14, they're also going to have five new starters and will have to deal with one of the more arduous non-conference schedules in all of college basketball. Wiggins immediately gives Kansas what they don't have --- someone who will be a focal point on the offensive side of the floor.
KANSAS' POTENTIAL 2013-14 STARTING FIVE WITH ANDREW WIGGINS
PG NAADIR THARPE
SG WAYNE SELDEN
SF ANDREW WIGGINS
PF PERRY ELLIS
C JOEL EMBIID
NORTH CAROLINA
ODDS: 10-1
THE SKINNY: The Tar Heels' position in the Wiggins sweepstakes has a different feel after Reggie Bullock decided to leave Chapel Hill early for the NBA. Bullock's departure means Wiggins could step right into the starting lineup as an undersized power forward and thrive in Roy Williams' high octane approach. Last season, North Carolina flourished playing a "small ball" type lineup with four perimeters players surrounding James Michael-McAdoo. We could see more of the same next year if the Tar Heels land Wiggins, who could put up video game like numbers playing at a faster pace.
NORTH CAROLINA'S POTENTIAL 2013-14 STARTING FIVE WITH ANDREW WIGGINS
PG MARCUS PAIGE
SG LESLIE MCDONALD
SF P.J. HAIRSTON
PF ANDREW WIGGINS
C JAMES MICHAEL-MCADOO
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