Jamal Mashburn wants his son to blaze his own trail

Jamal Mashburn is 6th on the University of Kentucky’s all-time scoring list. He led the Kentucky Wildcats to a Final Four in 1993 before entering the NBA, where he had a successful 11-year career and played in the 2003 NBA All-star Game.

His son, Jamal Mashburn Jr., is a sophomore in high school and is quickly rising on the recruiting charts. But will his father’s career at Kentucky have an impact on his college decision?

“If it happens at the University of Kentucky, University of Louisville, who knows, Indiana, Duke or whatever it is, it has to be the right fit for him,” Mashburn Sr. told the Courier Journal. “It’s not going to be based upon what I’ve accomplished or that particular legacy at a particular program.

Mashburn Jr. is currently ranked as the No. 6 combo guard (No. 67 overall) in the 2020 class, and if he grows could end up being a top 50 player. Lacking his father’s stature, Mashburn Jr. is around 6 feet tall and while he often plays point guard, his scoring ability really lends itself to playing off the ball more.

He has only been playing organized basketball for just over 5 years, as Mashburn Sr. never pushed the sport on him. But since he came to the game on his own, his drive comes from within and he is as motivated as anyone out there.

Jr. is currently 7th in scoring in the Under Armour 17 and under circuit, where most of the competition is a year older than him. His father has pushed him to develop his mid-range jump shot and his defensive skills, both attributes that teenage basketball players often lack.

Currently holding offers from Louisville, Florida, and Miami (FL), Mashburn Jr. is shooting for the stars in his recruitment.

“I’m hoping with the way I’m playing right now, with my high-level work ethic and my competitive spirit I could get some offers from Kentucky, all the big-name schools, Duke, all the big SEC, ACC schools everybody wants to go to,” Mashburn Jr. said after a recent Under Armour event.

Many believed he would end up at Louisville, due to Sr.’s relationship to Coach Rick Pitino. But as you might expect the connection, at least to the University of Louisville, is not as strong as it used to be.

There is no doubt that Kentucky fans would love to see Mashburn Jr. in Lexington on name alone, and if he keeps climbing in recruiting rankings then the demand will only grow.

Scottie Barnes and N’Faly Dante are the only 2020 recruits with offers from John Calipari as of right now, and both are five-star, top 10 players.

Could Jamal Mashburn Jr. work his way onto that list this summer? Enjoy some of his highlights while we wait.

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