Gonzaga vs. Baylor: How the starters in the 2021 NCAA national championship were ranked as high school basketball recruits
It has been widely reported that Jalen Suggs is the highest-ranked recruit in the history of the Gonzaga men's basketball program. But how were the other Gonzaga starters ranked as high school recruits? And how does Baylor - Gonzaga's opponent in Monday's NCAA men's basketball national championship game - stack up?
Here's a closer look at how the starters for both teams were evaluated as high school recruits. They are listed in order from highest-ranked to lowest-ranked:
GONZAGA'S STARTERS
JALEN SUGGS, Freshman PG
- Height: 6-foot-4
- Age: 19
- High School: Minnehaha Academy (Minnesota), Class of 2020
Suggs' national recruiting ranking:
- 247Sports: No. 11 overall (5-star)
- Rivals: No. 11 overall (5-star)
- ESPN: No. 2 point guard
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ANDREW NEMBHARD, Junior PG
- Height: 6-foot-5
- Age: 21
- High School: Montverde Academy (Florida), Class of 2018
Nembhard's national recruiting ranking:
- 247Sports: No. 23 overall (5-star)
- Rivals: No. 19 overall (5-star)
- ESPN: No. 8 point guard
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DREW TIMME, Sophomore C
- Height: 6-foot-10
- Age: 20
- High School: Pearce (Texas), Class of 2019
Timme's national recruiting ranking:
- 247Sports: No. 43 overall (4-star)
- Rivals: No. 36 overall (4-star)
- ESPN: No. 9 center
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COREY KISPERT, Senior F
- Height: 6-foot-8
- Age: 21
- High School: King's (Seattle), Class of 2017
Kispert's national recruiting ranking:
- 247Sports: No. 119 overall (4-star)
- Rivals: No. 92 overall (4-star)
- ESPN: No. 22 power forward
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JOEL AYAYI, Junior G
- Height: 6-foot-5
- Age: 21
- High School: INSEP Academy (France), Class of 2017
National recruiting ranking:
- 247Sports: NR
- Rivals: NR (4-star)
- ESPN: NR
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BAYLOR'S STARTERS
DAVION MITCHELL, Junior PG
- Height: 6-foot-2
- Age: 22
- High School: Liberty County (Georgia), Class of 2018
Mitchell's national recruiting ranking:
- 247Sports: No. 59 overall (4-star)
- Rivals: No. 63 overall (4-star)
- ESPN: No. 14 point guard
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MARK VITAL, Senior F
- Height: 6-foot-5
- Age: 24
- High School: Advanced Prep International (Texas), Class of 2016
Vital's national recruiting ranking:
- 247Sports: No. 89 overall (4-star)
- Rivals: No. 78 overall (4-star)
- ESPN: No. 13 small forward
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JARED BUTLER, Junior G
- Height: 6-foot-3
- Age: 20
- High School: Riverside Academy (Louisiana), Class of 2018
Butler's national recruiting ranking:
- 247Sports: No. 97 overall (4-star)
- Rivals: No. 129 overall (4-star)
- ESPN: No. 20 guard
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FLO THAMBA, Junior F
- Height: 6-foot-10
- Age: 22
- High School: Mountian Mission (Virginia), Class of 2018
Thamba's national recruiting ranking:
- 247Sports: No. 243 overall (3-star)
- Rivals: No. 29 center (3-star)
- ESPN: No. 26 center
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MACIO TEAGUE, Senior G
- Height: 6-foot-3
- Age: 23
- High School: Walnut Hills (Ohio), Class of 2016
Teague's national recruiting ranking:
- 247Sports: NR
- Rivals: NR (3-star)
- ESPN: NR
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(Jalen Suggs feature photo by Dan Pelle/The Spokesman-Review)
