Jemarl Baker asks to be let out of Cal basketball letter of intent

Bad news: Cal will lose at least one commit from their 2017 recruiting class, and most likely their best prospect.

Jemarl Baker has asked out of his letter of intent from the California Golden Bears. Baker was arguably Cal’s best commit for the 2017 recruiting class, a consensus four-star prospect. Baker just finished competing in the state championships, where he led Eastvale Roosevelt to a Division I title.

The departure of coach Cuonzo Martin played the biggest factor in Baker’s decommitment. Here’s the statement Baker made to Josh Gershon at Scout:

I committed to Cal as a high school sophomore and signed with the Golden Bears last fall primarily based upon my close relationship with Cuonzo Martin and his ability to develop me not only as a player but also as a person.

Unfortunately that possibility no longer exists for me at Cal due to Coach (Cuonzo) Martin deciding to accept the Missouri job.

Due to those factors I just listed, I have decided to re-open my recruitment and explore all possible opportunities and options. This is in no way a reflection on Cal as an institution or program. Cal is a tremendous school with a historic basketball tradition.

I just feel that due to the current circumstances, I need to consider all my options. I appreciate people understanding the current situation I am in.

The good news for Cal is it appears the rest of the recruiting class is staying intact. Juhwan Harris-Dyson, Justice Sueing, Trevin Knell, and Grant Anticevich have all stated they are in with new head coach Wyking Jones. But with the Bears losing every major wing contributor (including Jabari Bird, Grant Mullins, Stephen Domingo and Roger Moute), Baker figured to come in and be a first year stand-in.

That will no longer be the case. A rebuild is coming.