Oklahoma State Offers Five-Star Power Forward Paolo Banchero

The Cowboys are after another program-changing prospect.

Oklahoma State offered 2021 power forward Paolo Banchero this past week. Banchero currently sits at No. 4 on the 2021 rankings, and he is the top-ranked power forward in the class.

However, Banchero recently told USA Today that he was “seriously considering” a move to the 2020 class. But even more recently, Stockisers‘ Jake Weingarten tweeted out Banchero told him he will not reclassify and remain in the 2021 class.

An interesting nugget from Banchero’s OSU offer announcement is the mention of new Cowboys assistant Cannen Cunningham. Cunningham was hired June 25 to much fanfare. Cunningham is Cade Cunningham’s older brother. Cade is the No. 2 player in the 2020 class.

After talking to coach Cunningham i’m blessed to receive an offer from Oklahoma State University! #GoPokes? pic.twitter.com/A8pkSFgqpu

— Paolo (Paul-Oh) (@Pp_doesit) August 22, 2019

Out of Seattle, Banchero is no easy get. He has offers from college basketball’s elite in Duke, North Carolina and Kentucky just to name a few.

From the start, the Cowboys seem on the outside looking in with Banchero, as he recently announced his five official visits: North Carolina, Kentucky, Duke, Tennessee and Gonzaga. Plans can change, though, with his first official visit not scheduled to take place until the end of September.

Whether Banchero stays in the 2021 class or moves up to the 2020 class, the 6-foot-9, 235-pound power forward is a get for whoever lands him. He was named the Nike EYBL Underclassman of the Year this summer with his AAU team Seattle Rotary. In the Nike EYBL this summer, Banchero averaged 21.8 points and 11.2 rebounds a game.

He was also named MVP of the NBPA Top 100 camp.