DePaul University Athletics
Blue Demons Sign Nationally-Ranked Recruiting Class
11/17/2020 2:00:00 PM | MEN'S BASKETBALL
Five-member recruiting class ranked as high as No. 9 in the nation
CHICAGO – DePaul head coach Dave Leitao announced today a nationally-ranked five-member recruiting class that will join the program starting next season. Ahamad Bynum, Keon Edwards, Brett Hardt Jr., David Jones and Kok Yat have all completed the necessary paperwork and the group is ranked as high as the No. 9 recruiting class in the country.
"We wanted to amass a good amount of talent in this recruiting class with a premium on high-level overall skill. Everyone in this group brings a particular skill package that will help us," said Leitao. "The difficulty in this whole process is that no one has been on campus and we as a staff have not been off campus to recruit. It has been a challenge and credit goes to our whole staff that did a phenomenal job in identifying people even before the pandemic and creating and developing relationships with these recruits. We feel this is the start of something great for our program and a place where people will look differently at DePaul basketball than they have before."
The five-player recruiting class is currently ranked No. 9 nationally by 247Sports.com, 11th by Rivals.com and No. 14 in the ESPN.com national recruiting class rankings.
Ahamad Bynum – Chicago, Ill.
Keon Edwards – Pasadena, Texas
Brett Hardt Jr. – Scottsdale, Ariz.
David Jones – Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Kok Yat – Anchorage, Alaska
Introducing the @DePaulHoops class of 2021.
— DePaul Basketball (@DePaulHoops) November 17, 2020
We don't like being called little anymore. 🔵👿#PlayingPossessed pic.twitter.com/UpWMm0QGqI
"We wanted to amass a good amount of talent in this recruiting class with a premium on high-level overall skill. Everyone in this group brings a particular skill package that will help us," said Leitao. "The difficulty in this whole process is that no one has been on campus and we as a staff have not been off campus to recruit. It has been a challenge and credit goes to our whole staff that did a phenomenal job in identifying people even before the pandemic and creating and developing relationships with these recruits. We feel this is the start of something great for our program and a place where people will look differently at DePaul basketball than they have before."
The five-player recruiting class is currently ranked No. 9 nationally by 247Sports.com, 11th by Rivals.com and No. 14 in the ESPN.com national recruiting class rankings.
It's OFFICIAL!
— DePaul Basketball (@DePaulHoops) November 14, 2020
Welcome to the Blue Demon family @king_bynumm! 🔵👿#PlayingPossessed pic.twitter.com/32Je6S3w5b
Ahamad Bynum – Chicago, Ill.
- Chicago native that attends Simeon Career Academy.
- Consensus top 100 player and four-star prospect... No. 73 by 247Sports, No. 75 by Rivals and No. 77 by ESPN... 15th-best shooting guard by 247Sports and 17th-ranked shooting guard in the nation by Rivals and ESPN... No. 3-ranked prospect in Illinois by ESPN and 247Sports.
- Averaged 20.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game as a junior... led Simeon to its 10th Chicago Public League title... earned honorable mention Junior All-American honors from MaxPreps... only junior named to the Chicago Sun-Times All-City first team... also named to the Sun-Times All-Area team.
- Enters senior season with Simeon ranked No. 15 in the nation by MaxPreps.com... the Wolverines are also ranked No. 25 nationally by BallisLife.com... ranked among Illinois' top 10 college prospects by the Chicago Sun-Times.
- Played for the Mac Irvin Fire on the AAU circuit.
It's OFFICIAL!
— DePaul Basketball (@DePaulHoops) November 13, 2020
Welcome to the Blue Demon family @Keoniswinning! 🔵👿#PlayingPossessed pic.twitter.com/Y9VlwCdS8Z
Keon Edwards – Pasadena, Texas
- Played at Hillcrest Prep in Phoenix, Ariz.
- Consensus top 100 player and four-star prospect... No. 41 by ESPN, No. 75 by 247Sports and No. 80 by Rivals... eighth-best small forward by ESPN, ranked No. 20 at the position by Rivals and No. 21 by 247Sports.
- Played last season at Hillcrest Prep in Arizona... averaged 14.3 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 2.4 steals and 1.9 blocks in 18 games.
- Participated in the 2019 USA Basketball Men's Junior National Team October minicamp... took part in the 2019 USA Basketball Men's Junior National Team July minicamp.
It's OFFICIAL!
— DePaul Basketball (@DePaulHoops) November 13, 2020
Welcome to the Blue Demon family Brett Hardt Jr!🔵👿#PlayingPossessed pic.twitter.com/4GOONOsmwW
Brett Hardt Jr. – Scottsdale, Ariz.
- Finishing high school career at PHHoenix Prep in Phoenix, Ariz... team captain.
- Averaged 14.7 points, 7.8 assists and 4.3 rebounds during junior season... led the Fire to 35 wins... named Academic Player of the Year for the Grind Session.
- Ranked among the top 50 combo guards in the nation and 19th in Arizona as a two-star recruit by 247Sports.
- Previously played at Rancho Solano High School... won an Arizona state championship during freshman season... picked Honorable Mention All-Region honors that season.
It's OFFICIAL!
— DePaul Basketball (@DePaulHoops) November 14, 2020
Welcome to the Blue Demon family @DeiviJones2! 🔵👿#PlayingPossessed pic.twitter.com/oK2G1kjXiI
David Jones – Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
- Native of Dominican Republic currently playing at Teays Valley Christian School in Scott Depot, W. Va.
- Rated as a four-star recruit by 247Sports and Rivals and a three-star by ESPN... ranked No. 110 nationally by Rivals and No. 123 by 247Sports... No. 16 among small forwards by 247Sports and No. 29 by Rivals... selected as the top recruit in West Virginia by ESPN and 247Sports.
- Represented the Dominican Republic in various FIBA events... averaged 10.0 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.5 assists at the 2018 U18 Americas Championships... led the U17 team at the 2018 FIBA U17 World Cup with 19.7 points, 9.9 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game.
- Averaged 24 points per game during his junior season at Teays Valley Christian that included a run of averaging nearly 30 points per game late in the season.
- Played for Boo Williams on the AAU circuit... averaged a team-high 24 points per game during the U16 EYBL season.
It's OFFICIAL!
— DePaul Basketball (@DePaulHoops) November 17, 2020
Welcome to the Blue Demon family @kcrossover11_! 🔵👿#PlayingPossessed pic.twitter.com/pykYQl1JwW
Kok Yat – Anchorage, Alaska
- Currently playing at Norcross High School in Norcross, Ga.
- Rated as a four-star recruit by Rivals and a three-star by 247Sports and ESPN... ranked No. 111 nationally by Rivals and No. 143 by 247Sports... No. 27 among small forwards by 247Sports and No. 28 by Rivals.
- Played at Huntington Prep prior to enrolling at Norcross.
- Played for Arizona Supreme on the AAU circuit.
Players Mentioned
F
/ MEN'S BASKETBALLDePaul Men's Basketball vs. Chicago State Highlights
Tuesday, November 04
DePaul Men's Basketball vs. Chicago State Postgame Press Conference
Tuesday, November 04
DePaul Men's Basketball Game Highlights vs. Chicago State
Monday, November 03
DePaul Men's Basketball vs. Chicago State Press Conference
Monday, November 03