4-star PG JJ Mandaquit breaks down his recruitment talking BYU, Stanford, LSU, Louisville, and others

JJ Mandaquit is On3’s No. 7 point guard in the 2025 On3 150. The 6-foot-1 guard, who is originally from Hilo, Hawai’i is a rising senior at Hurricane (UT) Utah Prep. He is plaing this summer with the Compton Magic program on the Adidas 3SSB Circuit, helping lead them to an 11-2 regular season record.

“I’ve worked a lot on my body,” Mandaquit told On3. “Being a point guard, the FIBA game is very physical, I have to be physical at the point of attack. I knew I needed to put on some strength for my development in getting ready for college and I feel like that has helped me a lot recently.

Mandaquit earned a spot on the USA Basketball U17 National Team this summer. This is after winning gold with the U16 group last year.

“My goals for this USA Basketball experience was to set the standard,” Mandaquit said. “I knew that because I made the team and won the gold last year I would have a target on my back. So, I want to come out for USA Basketball and just make everyone around me better.”

On3 caught up with four-star JJ Mandaquit after a recent live viewing to discuss the latest in his recruitment.

“I’ve taken official visits to Washington State, with the old coaching staff, and Hawai’i, so far,” Mandaquit said. “Coach (Kyle) Smith is now recruiting me at Stanford and I have not heard from the new Washington State staff yet.”

Mandaquit talks Kyle Smith, Stanford, and Hawai’i

“I have a great relationship with Coach Smith,” Mandaquit said. “They have been recruiting me since my ninth grade year, so for a very long time. We have constant communication and they have built a really good relationship with me and my family.

“I think he’s a very good coach. I think he surprised a lot of people last year with how they did. You know, they didn’t have the most talented roster in the PAC 12 last year, but they won a lot of games. I think a lot of that had to do with his ability to get the right guys and coach them up.”

HAWAI’I: “It was very special to go back home. The whole coaching staff was there to welcome me in. I’ve heard a lot of stuff about the campus and the program over the phone, but going there and meeting with everyone in person and seeing their plan for me was pretty cool to see.

“A lot of their pitch was to come back home and do something special. I’m regarded as one of the best players to ever come from Hawai’i, so being able to go back home and make an impact on the community would be huge.”

JJ Mandaquit dives into his recruitment

“I’m talking with schools like Creighton, LSU, Louisville, Stanford, and BYU about possible official visits,” Mandaquit said. “My priority was USA Basketball and then to get through the summer. The plan is to hopefully narrow my list down at the end of the summer and set my visits for the Fall, when it is closer to decisions time.”

CREIGHTON: “They play basketball the right way, I really love how they play, and that is something that they have been telling me. They pay attention to all of the little details, like my leadership, and the ways that I impact a game. That is something that I really respect from the coaching staff because I feel like a lot of people just overlook the things that don’t show up in the stat book.”

LSU: “Coach (Matt) McMahon has been recruiting me for over a year now. The communication is constant with them. He just wants to get me and my family out there for a visit so I can see everything.”

LOUISVILLE: “Coach Ronnie Hamilton has been recruiting me for over a year now, he started when he was still at LSU. When he went over to Louisville, I was one of their first calls. I’ve been building a relationship with Coach (Pat) Kelsey, I talk to him a lot. I’m excited to see what they can do this year. You know, they have a new staff so I’m excited to see how it looks on the floor.”

STANFORD: “Stanford is Stanford, you know, everyone knows Stanford. It’s a very prestigious school. Academics are really important to me and my family, and it is hard to ignore a Stanford degree.”

Mandaquit and BYU

“Coach Brandon Dunson was the first assistant on staff there,” Mandaquit said. “He’s been recruiting me since my freshman year. He’s been on me since Day 1 and we have a really, really good relationship. The week Coach (Kevin) Young got the job I was able to go on an unofficial visit to get to meet him. I have a really good relation ship with their staff. BYU is close to me too, so I’m sure I’ll be around campus a lot.

“I’ve been to campus there a few times with the old coaching staff as far as football games or basketball games. I already knew they had one of the best fan bases. They fill up the Marriott Center really well. Coach Young is a great guy and his plan is impressive. He has a lot of NBA experience and knows what it takes to develop great guards. You know, when I went there, he put me on the phone with Chris Paul. He’s very connected and those guys like Chris Paul, Kevin Durant, and Devin Booker all said they want to come see Coach Young at BYU. So having guys like that around as mentors would be special.”

In his words

“I’m not sure when I’m going to sign, so right now, there is no plan to be honest,” JJ Mandaquit said. “We’ll see how things go, a lot can happen, you know. I want to take my time and not make a rushed decision.

“For me, in this recruiting process, the coaching staff is huge. As a point guard, I have to be like a coach on the floor. So having that relationship with the head coach is especially big for me. Player development also. I’m always looking to get better and trying to reach the next level.

“I want to play up-tempo and I’m comfortable playing in a lot ball screens. More importantly though, I want to be surrounded by a lot of shooters with a lot of space and play with great bigs to throw lobs to and set screens.”

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