Class of 2012 guard Katin Reinhardt is back on the market

Katin Reinhardt, an original USC commit, has reopened the competition for his college choice. The Mater Dei combo guard has decided that he wants to go through the recruiting process again, and in doing so has eliminated USC from consideration. The 6-5, 190 guard is considered one of the better guards out there in the Class of 2012.

When Reinhardt informed Kevin O’Neill that he was reopening his recruitment but USC was still the favorite, O’Neill was not happy. So unhappy that the head coach opted to cut off all ties to Reinhardt, making the race for Reinhardt wide open. It has opened the door for Cal to have a chance at landing a very solid recruit.

The schools that are most likely on the board are Arizona, Cal, UCLA, Colorado, and Utah. The favorites to land him in that scenario would probably UCLA and Cal; they’re the names that pop up most often when reading the recruiting websites. Colorado and Utah have stepped up with offers already; I’m guessing the other programs have not offered him out of respect for his commitment. Whoever offers, there will be a fevered competition for his commitment.

Reinhardt would fill in nicely, because he’s a four star recruit (we need a strong recruiting class) and we need guard depth. While we have some great pieces in Smith, Cobbs, and Crabbe, there is not a lot of depth and Reinhardt can provide that. He can slide between the 2 and the 3 as a swingman, providing quality shooting and driving abilities. With him in the fold, Crabbe, Rossi, and Reinhardt would have those spots filled in the foreseeable future.

Reinhardt would be a huge commitment if Montgomery could get him to come to Berkeley. In the class of 2012 where more big men are being targeted, Reinhardt provides a nice balance. Come to Cal Katin! Go Bears!