4-star forward Blake Hinson commits to Ole Miss over Missouri

Ole Miss basketball has been awfully busy on the recruiting trail as of late, hitting the road and submitting offers left and right to just about anybody with a pulse. New head coach Kermit Davis and his staff, despite one man down, have been extremely active and present with uncommitted/unsigned recruits in the 2018 and 2019 classes.

And another domino has fallen.

Four-star power forward Blake Hinson has signed with the Rebels in the late signing period for the 2018 class. The No. 96 player in the country chose to sign with our Tea Lizard dad over offers from Boston College, Clemson, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Illinois, Memphis, Miami (Fla.), Missouri, SMU, Seton Hall, Virginia Tech, and Wichita State among others.

Hinson, a Florida native who transferred to Sunrise Christian Academy in Kansas (waddup Sebas!), reclassified to the 2018 class last month. The former No. 84 player in the 2019 class is still a top 100 player in this year’s class and brings a ton of upside and punch to the Rebels’ signing class that now includes two stretch threes who are more than capable of playing a four if need be.

They also join NJCAA All-American shooting guard Brian Halums who only averaged 17 points per game for Itawamba Community College and shot 55% from the field and 45% from deep. No big deal.

This a huge get for Kermit and his staff not only because Hinson’s offer sheet is very legit, but because he fills a need left void by Markel Crawford and Marcanvis Hymon. Blake averaged around 15 points per game and has helped Sunrise Christian, a prep school powerhouse in Wichita, to a sparkling 23-2 record and ranking as high as No. 8 in the USA Today Super 25.

How does he fit in?

The former football prospect who at one point held offers from Baylor, Florida, Georgia, Miami (Fla.), Michigan, and North Carolina among others is a talented wing who will be a knockdown jumper guy for Kermit who will also not shy away from hitting the boards whatsoever. His 6’6, 230-pound frame is more than just sturdy and he will be difficult to knock off the block whether backing down a defender or crashing the boards.

With the departure of Crawford and Hymon, he should go along quite well on the wing with signee Anthony Higgs and current Rebs Terence Davis, Bruce Stevens, and Karlis Silins (if he’s healthy). But, despite his distinction on recruiting sites as a forward, he will be able to lead a break and handle the rock if need be. He’s got an impressive handle and, as you can imagine, is more than capable athletically. He will also be a key cog in Davis’ 1-3-1 press and zone defense with his long arms and strong frame.

Highlights