Vanderbilt Basketball is having a rough stretch at the start of SEC play this season, but the team got some good news on Friday afternoon when Scotty Pippen Jr., son of Basketball Hall of Famer Scottie Pippen, committed to Vanderbilt.
Pippen Jr., who lives in Chatsworth, CA, joins shooting guard Austin Crowley and power forward Dylan Disu in Vanderbilt’s 2019 signing class. He was given four stars by ESPN and three stars by 247 Sports, and was the 30th-ranked point guard in the entire country. However, basketball recruiting insiders like ESPN’s Paul Biancardi have sung his praises as an underrated talent.
“I’m headed to Vanderbilt,” Pippen Jr. told 247 Sports’ Evan Daniels. “I picked them because I have a good relationship with the coaches. I like the school a lot. I think it’s a great fit for me academically and athletically. I feel like they needed me at the point guard position.”
“They just needed a point guard,” he said. “They want me to come in right away and be able to play the point and help run the team.”
His father, Scottie, was a six-time NBA champion with the Chicago Bulls and played alongside Vanderbilt alum Will Perdue from 1988-1995. He also played with Drew on the Houston Rockets in the 1998-99 season.
Scottie also tagged along for Pippen Jr.’s recruiting visit earlier this week.
Pippen Jr. had offers from Colorado State, UC Davis, UC Santa Barbara and Washington State.
“Pippen is a consistently improving point guard who is having a strong senior season after making a big jump as a prospect throughout the spring and summer with the Oakland Soldiers,” 247Sports analyst Josh Gershon said. “He has good speed and improved athleticism, sees the court well and is a capable scorer from all three levels. Between his obvious bloodlines and constant improvement, there are plenty of reasons to believe in Pippen’s future.”
Vanderbilt has three more offers on the table for 2019 recruits per 247 Sports, including five-star power forward Trendon Watford.
