Liberty basketball picked up their first commitment of the 2022 class on Sunday evening from 6’8″ forward Zach Cleveland. His commitment continues a strong recruiting trend under head coach Ritchie McKay in recent seasons as the Flames continue to build into one of the household names at the mid-major level.
With the strong recruiting push the Flames have made in recent seasons, several of those prospects have cracked the top 10 rated recruits in program history. Here’s an updated list of the top 10 rated recruits Liberty basketball has ever had, based on 247Sports’ ratings.
No. 10 Evan Gordon
Class: 2009
High school: Hargrave Military Academy (Indianapolis, IN)
Position: Point guard
Rating: 3-star 0.8111
Overview:
Gordon spent his first two seasons at Liberty and was named Big South Freshman of the Year in 2010 after averaging 12.0 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game. His sophomore season, those numbers were 14.4 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game. He then transferred to Arizona State and then Indiana, spending one season at each.
No. 9 Stephen Baird
Class: 2010
High school: New Home School (San Antonio, TX)
Position: Power Forward
Rating: 3-star 0.8111
Overview:
Baird never lived up to the hype he had coming into the program. He spent just one season playing college ball, playing in 16 games while starting three during his true freshman season. He averaged 2.5 points and 1.1 rebound per game.
No. 8 Carter McMasters
Class: 2008
High school: Chattanooga Christian School (Chattanooga, TN)
Position: Power Forward
Rating: 3-star 0.8444
Overview:
McMasters was part of the highest rated recruiting class in school history as he joined the Flames as part of Ritchie McKay’s seven person class that made up his first on the Mountain. McMasters was plagued by injuries early in his career and never had the impact most expected he would have. He finished his career playing in 52 games while starting 11 at Liberty with career averages of 2.6 points, 2.2 rebounds and 0.8 blocks per game.
No. 7 Joseph Venzant
Class: 2021
High school: Midland Christian (Midland, TX)
Position: Shooting Guard
Rating: 3-star 0.8528
Overview:
Venzant just made his way onto campus earlier this month as he hopes to live up to his billing as one of the highest rated recruits in school history. The 6’3″ guard has been billed as an Elijah Cuffee type “Three-and-D” wing player.
No. 6 Seth Curry
Class: 2008
High school: Charlotte Christian (Charlotte, NC)
Position: Shooting guard
Rating: 3-star 0.8556
Overview:
We all know the Curry story very well. Joining the Flames under Coach McKay he put together the best freshman season in school history and led the team to 23 wins and a CIT appearance while being named the Big South Freshman of the Year. He averaged 20.2 points per game for Liberty and elected to transfer to Duke for his final three seasons. His senior year with the Blue Devils, Curry averaged 17.5 points per game. He has spent the past seven seasons making aname for himself in the NBA, playing for the Mavericks, Trail Blazers, 76ers, Kings, Suns, Cavaliers, and Grizzlies. Curry has played in 313 career NBA games while averaging 10.5 points per game including 12.5 points per game this season with the 76ers.
No. 5 Rashad Robinson
Class: 2004
High school: San Jacinto Christian Academy (Amarillo, TX)
Position: Power Forward
Rating: 3-star 0.8556
Overview:
Robinson played just one year for the Flames during the 2004-2005 season where he started 10 of the 28 games he played in while averaging 4.4 points and 5.6 rebounds per game and shooting 40.7% from the field.
No. 4 Rell Porter
Class: 2004
High school: Pittsburg (Pittsburg, TX)
Position: Power Forward
Rating: 3-star 0.8556
Overview:
Porter had a very solid career for the Flames as he started all but 10 games he played in during his final three seasons at Liberty. He was a glue guy on the floor for the team and played in 121 career games while making 85 career starts with career averages of 3.5 points and 3.4 rebounds per game.
No. 3 Chris Perez
Class: 2009
High school: Oldsmar Christian School (Oldsmar, FL)
Position: Shooting guard
Rating: 3-star 0.8556
Overview:
Perez lasted just one year at Liberty before transferring to Stetson and then Canisius. As a true freshman at Liberty, he averaged 5.5 points and 1.7 rebounds per game while starting three games and playing in 31. He then averaged double figures in each of his remaining three collegiate seasons finishing with a career scoring average of 11.74 points per game.
No. 2 Isiah Warfield
Class: 2020
High school: Central Valley (Monaca, PA)
Position: Combo Guard
Rating: 3-star 0.8678
Overview:
Warfield just completed his first year with the Flames where he played in 20 games while averaging 1.1 points, 0.6 rebounds, and 0.3 assists per game.
No. 1 Kyle Rode
Class: 2019
High school: Lexington Christian Academy (Lexington, KY)
Position: Power Forward
Rating: 3-star 0.8678
Overview:
Rode and Warfield have gone back and forth in the ratings system for the honors of highest rated recruit in school history, but 247Sports gives Rode the slight edge. Rode started all 29 games during his sophomore season this past year while averaging 7.4 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game. He also started five games and played in 33 during his true freshman season as he has developed into one of the leaders of the team.
