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Wake Forest Basketball Recruiting: 2016 Shooting Guards

A look at Wake Forest's need and offers at shooting guard for the 2016 class.

Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Likely scholarship players:
Miles Overton (Senior)
Rondale Watson (Junior)

Need:
Currently, there are two shooting guards expected to be on the roster in 2016, but Wake Forest may also land one in the 2015 class. If a talented 2015 shooting guard is added, Wake Forest may not need a shooting guard from the 2016 class. This position may also be addressed by bringing in a talented point guard who could start alongside Mitchell Wilbekin. If neither happens, Wake Forest will need to land a starting caliber shooting guard in 2016. Overton and Watson are good reserves, but would not be as effective in starting roles. Whether it be a potential starter or a depth option, expect Manning to explore many different options at the shooting guard spot.

Offers (According to Verbal Commits):

Tyus Battle (5 star ESPN):
Battle is ranked as the top shooting guard in the 2016 class by many recruiting sites. He is a great shooter, which helps set up his improving ability to attack the rim. He is a good athlete, with the ability to develop into a solid defender and great overall offensive force. He is highly sought after by college coaches, with offers including Louisville, Syracuse, Indiana, Villanova, UConn and Ohio State. Battle would be an immediate starter at Wake Forest. He would be one of the top scorers as a freshman and would make a big impact right away. Unfortunately, his plethora of top offers makes him extremely unlikely to chose Wake Forest. It would be a great steal for Danny Manning, but do not expect it to happen.

Josh Langford (5 star ESPN):
Langford is another highly sought after shooting guard in the 2016 class. He is a great overall player, as he can score all over the court, set up his teammates, and play great on-ball defense. He is still maturing the smaller things in his game, but has all the tools to be a very successful college player. He has many college offers, including Indiana, Florida and Louisville. He may seem out of Wake Forest's range, but Josh's father confirmed to Blogger So Dear that Wake Forest is a school Josh will consider. His father continued to tell us that he has talked to the staff a few times since the offer and is open to visiting. Langford may be a reach for Danny Manning, but he is a player that should be pursued heavily. He would be an immediate starter for Manning and appears open to attending Wake Forest. It would be a surprise for Manning to land Langford, but Langford could be Manning's first great commitment at Wake Forest.

Curtis Jones (4 star Scout):
Jones was given an offer by Jeff Bzdelik. Sources have told Blogger So Dear that Danny Manning has not given Jones an offer.

NyRhique Smith (2 star Composite):
Smith is a lesser known recruit who would be a solid depth option for Wake Forest. He is at his best attacking the rim and is working on improving his jump shot to compliment his drives. He is also a good defender despite being slightly undersized. He was forced to sit out a year while transferring due to a family move, which hurt his recruiting. His only other offer was from St. Peters, a division one team in the MAAC. He has a great relationship with Danny Manning, as they have been in contact since Manning's days at Tulsa. Currently, Smith told Blogger So Dear that Wake Forest is definitely his favorite and hopes to visit in the near future. He may not be as talented as Wake Forest's other shooting guard offers but he would be a solid option. He likely would not be a starter immediately but would provide an impact during his career as a combo guard.