Welcome to this week's installment of "Weekly Whispers," our weekly series in which we keep Bearcat Nation updated on the latest recruiting news for the Cincinnati Bearcats. Let's see what happened this week on the recruiting trail.
Harden adds Bearcat offer
Last Thursday, it was '17 SG Elias Harden who was on the receiving end of a Cincinnati offer. When I asked the Fulton Leadership Academy (GA) guard how he felt when receiving the offer, he said "excited." We'll have to see if the Bearcats can get Harden on campus and build a relationship quickly as he is a fast-rising prospect in the class and surely UC won't be the last program to jump into the picture for Harden.
Blessed to receive another offer from Cincinnati‼️ #Bearcats pic.twitter.com/VvbQOlpTNV
— Elias Harden4⃣ (@easymoneyEII) September 23, 2025
Cincinnati joined programs like Auburn, Florida, Georgia Tech, LSU, Texas Tech, and a few others on the 6'4, 170-pounder's offer sheet. The Atlanta native is currently graded out as a four-star prospect in the 2017 class and is the 86th overall player in the nation. Harden also stands as the 19th best shooting guard in the country and the 9th best player in the Peach State.
Cincinnati after Okeke
Just one day after offering Harden, the Bearcats began their pursuit of another Georgia prospect in that same class - '17 SF Chuma Okeke. The news was reported by Hoop Seen's Corey Evans. The Langston Hughes (GA) forward is just ahead of Harden on the grading scale and is knocking on the door for a fifth star. Okeke stands at 56th in his class, 11th at his position, and 6th in the talented state of Georgia at the moment.
As expected, Okeke has some impressive offers from some programs that the Bearcats won't have the easiest time pulling out in front. Auburn, Clemson, Florida State, Georgia, Georgia Tech, SMU, UAB, and Wake Forest were schools that had offered the 6'7, 205-pounder prior to UC. Much like Harden, before anything serious comes about between the two sides, a visit will likely have to take place.