Five-star small forward Shon Abaev commits to Cincinnati

by Ryan Roberts

Wes Miller and staff have landed the commitment of 2025 6-foot-8 Calvary Christian Academy (FL) small forward Shon Abaev.

A  247sports composite five-star prospect, Abaev is rated as the 24th best prospect nationally. 247sports rates Abaev a four-star and the 29th best prospect.

Regardless of where the different recruiting industries rate Abaev, one thing is a consensus when it comes to the southpaw wing....he is really, really good and has major upside at the next level and beyond. 

 

 

Through four games with Overtime Elite in Atlanta, Abaev is averaging 30.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, 5.3 assists per game, while shooting 38% from three on 10.5 attempts per game.

Playing in front of Wes Miller, Drew Adams, and Andre Morgan last weekend, Abaev scored 17 points in Fear of God Athletics' 82-73 win over Rod Wave Elite. Abaev followed that up with a 42-point performance the following night after watching the Bearcats dismantle Georgia Tech, 81-58.

 

 

Abaev has built a reputation as being one of the best one-on-one scorers in the 2025 class, showing the ability to score at all three levels while also displaying athleticism to finish above the rim. 

From 247sports' director of recruiting, Adam Finkelstein:

A big southpaw wing, with good positional size and an increasingly strong body, he's a volume scorer who is capable of creating his own shot at virtually any time, including against a set half-court defense. That size, plus his high release point, allows him to score over the top of contesting defenders with regularity and be a tough shot-maker off the dribble. He's capable of getting downhill, especially in the open floor, playing through contact more consistently, and getting to the free-throw line as a result. He also has an advanced assortments of runners and floaters when going through the lane and has continued to improve as a spot-up shooter.

Abaev is a high-volume wing rebounder and competitive defender who rates well on that end of the floor.

Abaev chose the Bearcats over other offers from Arkansas, Auburn,  Arizona State, and Oregon, among other high major programs. He was in Cincinnati for an official visit at the beginning of October.

 

 

 

Head Coach Wes Miller also announced the signing of four-star New Hampton School (NH) point guard Keyshuan Tillery earlier this month.

"First and foremost, he's a winner," Miller told media. "You can talk about all the things he does on the basketball court, but he's a big-time winner, leader and young man. He's played for great coaches at the grassroots and high school level. What I loved when we recruited him, was hearing not just about the things he does on the court, but what he does with the things you're not watching. I really think we're getting the complete package with Keyshuan Tillery."

Tillery also played for the Nike EYBL New York City Rocks and was the 2022 Times Union Large School Player of the Year as a sophomore at Albany Academy in New York's capital.

"On the court, he's a true point guard," Miller said of his playing style. "He has the ability to get in the paint, honestly any time he wants. He makes everyone around him better and has the ability to shoot and score, and he's a very good finisher. I really believe that on and off the court, he fits Cincinnati, and our fans are gonna love the way he approaches the game."

Tillery is the No. 53-rated recruit nationally and as high as sixth among point guards.

With Tillery and Abaev committed, Cincinnati moves up to No. 23 nationally in the 247sports team recruiting rankings.

 The impact:

Miller and his staff have consistently shown that they can recruit at a national level and land big time prospects to continue the elevation of this program during the transition to the Big 12.

Last season, Miller landed 6-foot-8 four-star prospects Tyler Betsey (No. 47) and Tyler McKinley (No. 71).

During the 2023 recruiting cycle, the program added four-star point guard Jizzle James (No. 60), as well as four-star wing Rayvon Griffith (No. 71).

The program has surrounded these highly touted high school prospects with key transfer additions that included Day Day Thomas, Simas Lukosius, Aziz Bandaogo, as well as Conner Hickman and Dillon Mitchell.

Miller's passion for basketball and the Cincinnati program have been the primary factors that have stood out to those key additions out of the transfer portal. 

As Cincinnati continues to have success on the court, recruiting will continue to elevate to a level that most haven't seen since the early 2000's. It's an exciting time for Cincinnati basketball, the program, and fans. 

 

 

Leave a comment

Please note, comments must be approved before they are published

Back to UC Sports