College Basketball: Recruiting Roundup

By Andrew Musur on June 12, 2015

The college basketball season is still several months away, but that does not mean that there is no news to report. The signing period for college basketball recently ended as teams finalized their recruiting classes in preparation for the 2015-2016 season.

There were a lot of teams that made a strong push towards the end of the recruitment process and I am here to break down the top five college basketball recruiting classes.

No. 1) Duke University (Rating, Player, Position, National Rank According to 247 Sports)

Signees:

  • 5 *, Brandon Ingram, SF, 3
  • 5 *, Derryck Thornton, PG, 14
  • 5 *, Chase Jeter, PF, 15
  • 5 *, Luke Kennard, SG, 22
  • 3 *, Antonio Vrankovic, PF, 198
  • 3 *, Justin Robinson, PF, 365

If there was one way the Duke Blue Devils could make sure they would be able to compete for back-to-back National Championships, it would be to bring in a strong recruiting class. Duke did just that. The Blue Devils will be bringing in a total of six players next year, including four five-star prospects all ranked in the top 25.

Coach Krzyzewski proved last season what he is capable of doing with talented freshman and this year’s class will have no problem learning his system. With Jahlil Okafor, Justise Winslow and Tyus Jones all testing the NBA Draft waters, there will be plenty of expectations on this highly touted freshman class. Brandon Ingram, an instate recruit, passed up offers from the likes of North Carolina, Kentucky and Kansas to play for the Blue Devils.

Look for Ingram to grow up quickly and make the leap to the NBA after this season.

No. 2) The University of Kentucky (Rating, Player, Position, National Rank According to 247 Sports)

Signees:

  • 5 *, Skal Labissiere, C, 2
  • 5 *, Isaiah Briscoe, PG, 11
  • 4 *, Charles Matthews, SG, 56
  • 3 *, Mychal Mulder, SG, Junior College

With the loss of seven players last season, Coach John Calipari knew he had his work cut out in terms of recruiting. Unfortunately for Coach Cal he struck out on several high caliber recruits towards the end of the signing period. Although Kentucky was unable to add another high caliber prospect, their list of commits is already dripping with talent.

Wildcat fans will quickly forget the names Willie Cauley-Stein and Karl-Anthony Towns with 6-foot-10 center, Skal Labissiere, coming in. Labissiere is already ranked as the second best prospect in the 2016 NBA Draft. Isaiah Briscoe is another player that will have a huge impact for Kentucky next season. He will have to fill some big shoes as the Harrison twins both entered the draft, but for a kid that is used to thriving under pressure it shouldn’t be a problem.

Charles Matthews is another player I can see being a great fit in Calipari’s system. Matthews is a player I’ve had the privilege of watching throughout his high school career in Illinois. Matthews was a highly touted player nationally as a freshman and sophomore. He fell down rankings as he aged, because other players were getting just as good if not better than him.

However, Matthews’ rankings do not determine the type of player he is. I fully expect Charles Matthews to come into Lexington with a chip on his shoulder, hoping to prove many wrong. (P.S.: Don’t forget Kentucky is still in the running for five star 7-foot big man, Thon Maker.)

No. 3) Louisiana State University (Rating, Player, Position, National Rank According to 247 Sports)

Signees: 

  • 5 *, Ben Simmons, SF, 1
  • 5 *, Antonio Blakeney, SG, 16
  • 4 *, Brandon Sampson, SG, 52

LSU at the number three spot may startle a few people, but let me reassure you this Tiger’s class is the real deal. For a university usually known for its football success, there will be a ton of excitement surrounding a different sport next season. The Tigers are bringing in the number one recruit in the nation, Ben Simmons.

Simmons has all the intangibles you want in a basketball player. He is a 6-foot-8 small forward that is all over the top of NBA draft boards. His lefty stroke is nice to watch and he brings a style of play LSU has not seen in a long time. Some say he is the next Tracy McGrady. Along with Simmons, Antonio Blakeney is another guy that will help the Tigers out immediately next season. Blakeney is a fringe top 15 recruit with the potential to be huge for LSU next season.

Lastly, the Tigers made sure to take care of business close to home. LSU rounded out their recruiting class with Brandon Sampson. Sampson was the number one recruit in the state of Louisiana and he pledged his talents to the purple and gold. Hey Kentucky, the SEC may be a little more interesting next season.

No. 4) The University of Arizona (Rating, Player, Position, National Rank According to 247 Sports)

Signees:

  • 5 *, Allonzo Trier, SG, 13
  • 5 *, Ray Smith, SF, 19
  • 4 *, Justin Simon, PG, 34
  • 4 *, Chance Comanche, C, 49

It is amazing to see what Sean Miller has done for the Arizona basketball program. Miller has made Arizona a force to be reckoned with. However, the young coach has yet to make a Final Four, but with the fourth ranked recruiting class in the country, that may change. Miller used his west coast ties to pull in five star small forward, Ray Smith and four star center, Chance Comanche.

Miller was also able to pull in a duo of guards that will make Arizona’s backcourt one of the best in the nation. Allonzo Trier and Justin Simon are two guys that will develop into great players–players that can bring consistent Final Four and National Championship runs back to Arizona.

Sean Miller may have lost a lot of key pieces from last year’s Elite Eight team, but bringing in a recruiting class that features four guys in the top 50 will make Arizona forget about that loss to Wisconsin.

No. 5) The University of California (Rating, Player, Position, National Rank According to 247 Sports)

Signees:

  • 5*, Jaylen Brown, SF, 4
  • 5 *, Ivan Rabb, PF, 7
  • 4 *, Tyson Jolly, SG, 117
  • 3 *, Davon Dillard, SG, 153

California is a team that came out of nowhere on the recruiting trail. The Golden Bears pulled in two late commitments from a pair of five stars, Jaylen Brown and Ivan Rabb. Rabb’s commitment made a little more sense. He was a California kid that wanted to put his home school back on the map.

Brown on the other hand was a little more confusing. A Georgia native and top 5 recruit, Brown decided to team up with Rabb to create what some Cal fans are saying will be the best team in their program’s history. Brown and Rabb are two guys that will be in college for a year, but what they do in that year is limitless. The five star duo will both be lottery picks in the 2016 NBA Draft, but until then they have the opportunity to make California a team to remember.

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