Recruiting Update (4/23/2024)
With the NCAA Tournament and the 2023-24 out of the way, all that’s left in front of us for a few months on the collegiate front is recruiting, transfers, and coaching changes. We’ll address the latter two points in the coming days but hit the recruiting topic today.
Coaches are putting the final touches on their Class of 2024 and trying to ink those diamonds in the rough that may have emerged during their final year in college. Or maybe a big name or two had a change of heart and reopened their recruiting process late in the game. That’s happened a few times this week.
While those scenarios are going on, you have to move on to 2025 and address the current high school junior class. While only one of the top-20 wrestlers in the nation is currently uncommitted, there are plenty of high-quality recruits looking for a home.
Within the last couple of days, some very notable recruits have made their collegiate plans public. Since then, they’ve been added to our commitment page and we’ve mentioned some of the best below.
Jackson Blum: Indiana - Lowell, Michigan
Ranked #79 overall in the Class of 2025. Blum now gives the Hoosiers three top-100 recruits from the current junior class, joining #39 Carson Thomas and #64 Hunter Sturgill. Angel Escobedo’s team has a formidable class for 2024 that should likely get ranked; however, this class is on the way to being even better and one of the best in recent memory for Indiana. Blum is a two-time Fargo 16U freestyle All-American (6th, 7th) and a UWW Cadet freestyle AA. Last fall, Blum finished seventh at the Super 32. He recently won his third Michigan state title.
For Indiana’s Class of 2025: Click Here
Billy Dekraker: Northwestern - Warrenton, Virginia (Blair Academy)
The 2023-24 season was a breakout year for Billy Dekraker. Always in the mix at national events, Dekraker to the next step and started placing highly at them and even won. Most notable is the National Prep Championships where Dekraker was victorious at 138 lbs. He was previously fifth, fourth, and seventh (as an eighth-grader). During the high school regular season, Dekraker was a Beast of the East runner-up and a Walsh Ironman third-place finisher. Last spring, he was a champion at NHSCA Sophomore Nationals. Dekraker is currently ranked #80 amongst the Class of 2025. He’s the first ‘25 commitment reported to Intermat for Matt Storniolo’s squad. His verbal gives the Wildcats a strong starting point as the staff attempts to revamp the roster.
Mason Gibson: Rutgers - Bishop McCort, Pennsylvania
Earlier this month, Mason Gibson announced he was decommitting from Penn State and re-opening his recruitment. Yesterday, Gibson took to social media to confirm what many who follow high school wrestling suspected - he was committing to Rutgers. Gibson’s verbal is huge for the Scarlet Knights and gives a late boost to a recruiting class that was likely headed for a national ranking and was one of the best of Scott Goodale’s tenure. Gibson is a three-time Super 32 finalist, who famously won the 106 lb bracket as an eighth-grader in 2019. He has placed three times in Fargo, most notably highlighted by a Junior freestyle title at 126 lbs in 2022. Because his high school was barred twice from postseason competition, Gibson only saw action at the Pennsylvania state tournament as a freshman and senior. He finished his career with a runner-up finish at the AA level.
Gibson’s commitment gives Rutgers seven of the top-120 seniors in the nation and three of the top-50. In MatScout’s most recent update, Gibson was tabbed #15 in the Class of 2024.
For Rutgers’ Class of 2024: Click Here
Nick O’Neill: North Carolina - Malvern Prep, Pennsylvania
Robert Platt: North Carolina - Poway, California
The University of North Carolina continued its late surge up the recruiting rankings by getting a pair of notable wrestlers to flip commitments within the past few days. First came two-time California state champion Robert Platt. Platt initially committed to Columbia, but chose to keep a similar singlet color and chose the Tar Heels. Getting Platt on board now gives Rob Koll’s team three wrestlers from the Class of 2024 from perennial California power, Poway. Platt’s state title was a rematch of the Doc Buchanan finals match that he lost earlier in the season.
Monday morning UNC also got a commitment from Malvern Prep’s Nick O’Neill. O’Neill was a two-time National Prep runner-up and four-time top-four finisher. After winning NHSCA Juniors, O’Neill was fourth at the Super 32 and third at both the Ironman and Beast.
O’Neill is currently ranked #75 in the Class of 2024, while Platt is at #172. Their late addition almost locks up a spot in InterMat’s Class of 2024 recruiting rankings.
For North Carolina’s Class of 2024: Click Here
Gavin Hawk: Princeton - Phillipsburg, New Jersey
Finally, we’re looking at a Princeton team that had another addition to an already impressive Class of 2025. The Tigers latest addition comes in the form of Gavin Hawk. Last season, Hawk got on the New Jersey state podium for the first time when he advanced to the 150 lb state finals for Phillipsburg High School. Hawk made it to Atlantic City in each of his first two years but didn’t make the podium. He’s the fifth recruit from the Class of 2025 to pledge to second-year head coach Joe Dubuque’s squad - two of which are ranked in the top-100.
For Princeton’s Class of 2025: Click Here
