5-star SF Cade Cunningham includes Longhorns in top 10

Coveted Monteverde (Fla.) Academy small forward Cade Cunningham has taken the first major step in his recruitment.

On Thursday, the five-star wing took to Twitter to announce his top 10 schools, and Shaka Smart’s Texas Longhorns remain alive and well at this early juncture. Cunningham listed Duke, Kansas, Memphis, Oklahoma State, Virginia, Florida, Kentucky, North Carolina, and Washington as the other team’s he’ll continue to consider.

“Now that the list is out I’m sure the texts will settle down a little bit,” Cunningham wrote in a blog for USA Today. I just wanted to get some of the weight off my shoulders and be able to relax a little bit.”

Ranked as the nation’s No. 7 player overall and as the No. 3 small forward, per the 247Sports Composite, Cunningham is one of the truly elite prospects in the 2020 class, and that’s been evident throughout the EYBL circuit with the Texas Titans, as he’s averaging 25.1 points, 6.6 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.5 blocks throughout the first 12 games.

Not to mention, while back in his home-state for the EYBL circuit, the Arlington native shares the floor with Texas Titans teammate and priority Longhorns target Greg Brown.

Unlike with Brown, though, who’s a Longhorns legacy and arguably a Texas lean, the Longhorns are likely still a long-shot with Cunningham. Rather, Duke, Kentucky, and North Carolina have each emerged as key programs in his recruitment, and Oklahoma State has begun to surge in Cunningham’s recruitment as of late, as well, earning four Crystal Ball picks within the past week.

Fortunately for Smart and his staff, Texas should have plenty of time to make further headway with the 6’6 wing in hopes of potentially surviving his next list cut, whenever that may come.

“Now that the list is out I don’t have a timetable for another cut right now,” Cunningham wrote. “I just wanted to get this list out to make things easier for me and the coaches.