The current 2024-25 NCAA season is providing a glamorous view of what the future of the sport can offer to the audience. There have been plenty of epic performances, but the fanbase hasn’t hesitated to look at the high school wrestling scene too. But why so? There are many prospects to look into, among which is Bo Bassett.

The Bishop McCort High School wrestler has been under the radar of many for a long time. And how? Bassett is not only a wrestler; he’s a complete package. The youngster has a huge fan following at such a young age, not only owing to wrestling but also due to his personality, which has captivated many. Apart from maintaining his social media fame, he’s very serious about his future in the sport and is already on a journey to find his perfect college, for which he has these five colleges in his sight.

The top five among many

NCAA offers a wide range of schools to choose from. There are 77 programs in the 2024-25 season, and in the future, the league is looking forward to extending it more. Surely, there are a lot of options for Bo Bassett to choose from, but this will be a defining moment in his career, and he knows it. Carefully, since June he’s been looking at all the programs and keeping his fans updated through social media. His first post regarding the procedure came in the same month, stating, “Recruiting Update: Every Wednesday my plan is to give a recruiting update and continue to narrow down the list. I can honestly say that was a dream come true. I had the chance to talk, text, FaceTime, and communicate with every major college & some of the biggest legends.”

Undoubtedly, it garnered significant attention, but as January approaches, only a handful of colleges remain, specifically the top five he’s considering. Iowa, Oklahoma State, Penn State, Virginia Tech, and Ohio State are on this list (not in any specific order), and he has visited them all. On September 13, the wrestler visited Iowa and had a good session with coach Ryan Morningstar and head coach Tom Brands. After his visit, Bassett took to social media, stating, “Another great morning! Coach Brands and Coach Morningstar flew in, we had the meeting, and they were back in Iowa running workouts this afternoon.” What makes Iowa a potential fit for him? Bassett looked up to Spencer Lee, a three-time NCAA champion with the Hawkeyes. So, following in his footsteps, he might try to achieve the greatness Lee had with the team. 

Right after visiting Iowa, he didn’t waste much time and met with assistant coach Jared Frayer, Zach Tanelli, and head coach Tony Robie from Virginia Tech, stating, “Last night Virginia Tech was here. Lots of exciting things are happening in Blacksburg. The last few recruiting classes have been loaded.” So what attracted him the most to this college? It’s all about the fans, as the wrestler was captivated by the atmosphere. Furthermore, by mentioning the famous documentary Hokie Nation, he opened up about his interest in the university’s tradition.

Prior to his simultaneous visits to Iowa and Virginia Tech, Bassett had the opportunity to visit Ohio State. Taking to social media, Bassett opened up on his visit, stating, “Great visit with Ohio State today. I got to learn about Columbus and the Buckeye Program. There are so many great coaches and programs.” Afterwards, he returned to Ohio State and donned their singlet for a photo session. Furthermore, the wrestler was seen at Penn State prepping up for a workout on the university’s premises.

Bassett’s most recent visit was to Oklahoma State University. Due to their dominance this season, OSU has emerged as one of the top-tier colleges under David Taylor’s leadership. The Olympic champion has implemented several changes, particularly by instilling a strong mindset in his team of wrestlers. The rumors were also brewing up when Bassett himself announced his visit to the college. And when he did, the community went wild with predictions. But why? It was no regular visit, as the wrestling prodigy was seen training with coach Thomas Gilman. He also went candid about his experience, stating, “Amazing workout with Coach Gilman. He brought it for two hours! Blessed to little so many small details. His enthusiasm was contagious. I loved the talk about enthusiasm and how it means inspired by God.”

Overall, there aren’t many universities that are left to be checked out by Bassett. He knows that he has time on his hands, but when the day will come, believing in his faith and talent, he will be making one of the major decisions of his life. The 2026 season promises to be exciting, as it will showcase talents akin to those of a prodigy. However, despite his college aspirations, he has already achieved a new accolade in his high school career.

Bo Bassett claims third Ironman Wrestling title

Bo Bassett has been concentrating on his high school season and recently dominated the Ironman Wrestling Tournament. He secured his third consecutive title in the event in the 144 lbs division. With this feat, he has cemented himself in American wrestling history, but he didn’t shy away from acknowledging the difficulties he had to go through, especially competing in the last match of the tournament. 

During a post-match interview, he admitted about the high-stakes bout, stating, “Yeah, being the last match is a little bit more difficult than knowing exactly when you’re going to be up. You don’t know until basically two hours before the final start, so for me, it’s an adjustment I’m ready for… I’ve been second to last, close to the end before, but being last, the so-called main event, is an honor, and it’s exciting.” Surely, there’s a ton of pressure to compete in the last match of the day, but these are the conditions that Bassett thrives in. He doesn’t let it go over his head and ruin his performance, but he gives the best when there’s a high-stakes match that could further enhance his career.