2016 Team Recruiting Rankings
With very few players left to commit in the 2016 class, we have decided to rank how schools did in recruiting. Below we rank the top 15 recruiting classes.
1. Duke
5-star F Harry Giles (ranked #2 by CBB Latest)
5-star SF Jayson Tatum (ranked #3 by CBB Latest)
5-star PG Frank Jackson (ranked #9 by CBB Latest)
5-star C Marques Bolden (ranked #16 by CBB Latest)
4-star PF Javin DeLaurier
3-star SF Jack White
Duke's 2016 class is unreal. Led by 5-star forward Harry Giles and 5-star small forward Jayson Taum, this class is one of the most talented classes in recent memory. It is indescribable how phenomenal this class is. Giles and Tatum are both arguably the best players in the class. Frank Jackson, a point guard from American Fork, UT, has been very impressive this season, winning Co-MVP of the Jordan Brand Classic. Bolden is expected to be the staring center for the Blue Devils next season and is one of the best post players in the class. Javin DeLaurier and Jack White will provide depth at the forward positions for Duke next season. Duke also has guard Grayson Allen (21.6 PPG) returning for his junior season next year. Anything short of a Final Four is a failure for Duke in the 2016-17 season. Duke should be the pre-season #1 team.
2. Kentucky
5-star PG De'Aaron Fox (ranked #6 by CBB Latest)
5-star CG Malik Monk (ranked #7 by CBB Latest)
5-star PF Bam Adebayo (ranked #12 by CBB Latest)
5-star PF Wenyen Gabriel (ranked #18 by CBB Latest)
5-star PF Sacha Killeya-Jones
The Wildcats class is not much worse than Duke's. Duke had the advantage because they had more overall commitments and have better 5-star recruits. Nevertheless, Kentucky's class is sensational. Most of the recruits Kentucky has coming will either start or play large roles off the bench. With the class John Calipari put together, Kentucky appears to be the way-too-early SEC champion.
3. Arizona
5-star SG Terrance Ferguson (ranked #15 by CBB Latest)
5-star SG Kobi Simmons (ranked #19 by CBB Latest)
5-star SG Rawle Alkins (ranked #20 by CBB Latest)
5-star PF Lauri Markkanen
JUCO 3-star PF Keanu Pinder
Looking at the class Arizona has put together, there is one question: Who will start in the backcourt for the Wildcats next year? Point guard Allonzo Trier (14.8 PPG) announced he will be staying in school for his sophomore season, and will definitely start next season. Arizona has three incoming shooting guards, all capable of starting next year. Deciding which of the recruits listed above will start for Arizona next season is hard to predict. No matter how the situation plays out, Arizona will have a deep bench, which is a big advantage as they have backups in case of injuries or fatigue.
4. Michigan State
5-star SF Miles Bridges (ranked #11 by CBB Latest)
5-star SG Joshua Langford
4-star PG Cassius Winston
4-star PF Nick Ward
Michigan State and UCLA are neck-and-neck in terms of their 2016 recruiting classes, and the Spartans gain the edge having one more 4-star commitment than the Bruins. Small forward Miles Bridges highlights this class, and all the analysts agree, Bridges will be something special in college. Bridges is explosive and an athletic wing from Michigan. I love everything about Bridges. Langford is a very talented player as well, though he is unranked by CBB Latest. Langford is likely the #21 prospect in the class. The four-star recruits are solid acquisitions to Tom Izzo's club as well. Both are ranked in the top-45 by 247Sports.
5. UCLA
5-star PG Lonzo Ball (ranked #4 by CBB Latest)
5-star PF T.J. Leaf (ranked #14 by CBB Latest)
4-star C Ike Anigbogu
3-star PG Kobe Paras
UCLA is a Pac-12 threat next season and have very talented freshman in Lonzo Ball and T.J. Leaf joining the program next season. Loans Ball is an incredible point guard from California and some analysts have named Ball a Preseason All-American, which may be an overestimate of how successful Ball will play at the collegiate level. Leaf, who may seem to be ranked too high by CBB Latest, is underrated in my eyes. I could see Leaf being an excellent player as a Bruin, however, another half of me sees Leaf struggling at UCLA his freshman year and needing to stay another year or two. Ike Anigbogu and Kobe Paras are the icing on the cake to this strong recruiting class UCLA has created.
6. Mississippi State
4-star C Schnider Herard
4-star SF Mario Kegler
4-star SG Eli Wright
4-star PG Lamar Peters
4-star SF Tyson Carter
4-star C Abdul Ado
3-star SF E.J. Datcher
7. Virginia
4-star CG Kyle Guy
4-star PG Ty Jerome
4-star PF Jay Huff
4-star SG DeAndre Hunter
8. Kansas
5-star SF Josh Jackson (ranked #1 by CBB Latest)
4-star C Udoka Azubuike
4-star PF Mitch Lightfoot
9. Connecticut
4-star PG Alterique Gilbert
4-star PF Juwan Durham
4-star SF Vance Johnson
4-star PF Mamadou Diarra
3-star CG Christian Vital
10. Maryland
4-star PG Anthony Cowan
4-star SG Kevin Huerter
4-star SF Justin Jackson
3-star SF Micah Thomas
11. Miami
4-star PF Dewan Huell
4-star CG Bruce Brown
3-star C Rodney Miller
3-star CG Dejan Vasiljevic
12. NC State
5-star PG Dennis Smith Jr. (ranked #8 by CBB Latest)
5-star C Omer Yurtseven
3-star PF Darius Hicks
13. Gonzaga
4-star C Zach Collins
4-star PF Jacob Larsen
4-star SG Zach Novell
4-star PF Killian Tillie
3-star SF Rui Hachimura
14. Florida State
5-star SF Jonathan Isaac (ranked #13 by CBB Latest)
4-star SG Trent Forrest
3-star PG C.J. Walker
3-star SF Mfiondu Kabengele
UNR SG Braian Angola-Rodas
15. UNC
5-star C Tony Bradley
4-star CG Seventh Woods
4-star SG Brandon Robinson
1. Duke
5-star F Harry Giles (ranked #2 by CBB Latest)
5-star SF Jayson Tatum (ranked #3 by CBB Latest)
5-star PG Frank Jackson (ranked #9 by CBB Latest)
5-star C Marques Bolden (ranked #16 by CBB Latest)
4-star PF Javin DeLaurier
3-star SF Jack White
Duke's 2016 class is unreal. Led by 5-star forward Harry Giles and 5-star small forward Jayson Taum, this class is one of the most talented classes in recent memory. It is indescribable how phenomenal this class is. Giles and Tatum are both arguably the best players in the class. Frank Jackson, a point guard from American Fork, UT, has been very impressive this season, winning Co-MVP of the Jordan Brand Classic. Bolden is expected to be the staring center for the Blue Devils next season and is one of the best post players in the class. Javin DeLaurier and Jack White will provide depth at the forward positions for Duke next season. Duke also has guard Grayson Allen (21.6 PPG) returning for his junior season next year. Anything short of a Final Four is a failure for Duke in the 2016-17 season. Duke should be the pre-season #1 team.
2. Kentucky
5-star PG De'Aaron Fox (ranked #6 by CBB Latest)
5-star CG Malik Monk (ranked #7 by CBB Latest)
5-star PF Bam Adebayo (ranked #12 by CBB Latest)
5-star PF Wenyen Gabriel (ranked #18 by CBB Latest)
5-star PF Sacha Killeya-Jones
The Wildcats class is not much worse than Duke's. Duke had the advantage because they had more overall commitments and have better 5-star recruits. Nevertheless, Kentucky's class is sensational. Most of the recruits Kentucky has coming will either start or play large roles off the bench. With the class John Calipari put together, Kentucky appears to be the way-too-early SEC champion.
3. Arizona
5-star SG Terrance Ferguson (ranked #15 by CBB Latest)
5-star SG Kobi Simmons (ranked #19 by CBB Latest)
5-star SG Rawle Alkins (ranked #20 by CBB Latest)
5-star PF Lauri Markkanen
JUCO 3-star PF Keanu Pinder
Looking at the class Arizona has put together, there is one question: Who will start in the backcourt for the Wildcats next year? Point guard Allonzo Trier (14.8 PPG) announced he will be staying in school for his sophomore season, and will definitely start next season. Arizona has three incoming shooting guards, all capable of starting next year. Deciding which of the recruits listed above will start for Arizona next season is hard to predict. No matter how the situation plays out, Arizona will have a deep bench, which is a big advantage as they have backups in case of injuries or fatigue.
4. Michigan State
5-star SF Miles Bridges (ranked #11 by CBB Latest)
5-star SG Joshua Langford
4-star PG Cassius Winston
4-star PF Nick Ward
Michigan State and UCLA are neck-and-neck in terms of their 2016 recruiting classes, and the Spartans gain the edge having one more 4-star commitment than the Bruins. Small forward Miles Bridges highlights this class, and all the analysts agree, Bridges will be something special in college. Bridges is explosive and an athletic wing from Michigan. I love everything about Bridges. Langford is a very talented player as well, though he is unranked by CBB Latest. Langford is likely the #21 prospect in the class. The four-star recruits are solid acquisitions to Tom Izzo's club as well. Both are ranked in the top-45 by 247Sports.
5. UCLA
5-star PG Lonzo Ball (ranked #4 by CBB Latest)
5-star PF T.J. Leaf (ranked #14 by CBB Latest)
4-star C Ike Anigbogu
3-star PG Kobe Paras
UCLA is a Pac-12 threat next season and have very talented freshman in Lonzo Ball and T.J. Leaf joining the program next season. Loans Ball is an incredible point guard from California and some analysts have named Ball a Preseason All-American, which may be an overestimate of how successful Ball will play at the collegiate level. Leaf, who may seem to be ranked too high by CBB Latest, is underrated in my eyes. I could see Leaf being an excellent player as a Bruin, however, another half of me sees Leaf struggling at UCLA his freshman year and needing to stay another year or two. Ike Anigbogu and Kobe Paras are the icing on the cake to this strong recruiting class UCLA has created.
6. Mississippi State
4-star C Schnider Herard
4-star SF Mario Kegler
4-star SG Eli Wright
4-star PG Lamar Peters
4-star SF Tyson Carter
4-star C Abdul Ado
3-star SF E.J. Datcher
7. Virginia
4-star CG Kyle Guy
4-star PG Ty Jerome
4-star PF Jay Huff
4-star SG DeAndre Hunter
8. Kansas
5-star SF Josh Jackson (ranked #1 by CBB Latest)
4-star C Udoka Azubuike
4-star PF Mitch Lightfoot
9. Connecticut
4-star PG Alterique Gilbert
4-star PF Juwan Durham
4-star SF Vance Johnson
4-star PF Mamadou Diarra
3-star CG Christian Vital
10. Maryland
4-star PG Anthony Cowan
4-star SG Kevin Huerter
4-star SF Justin Jackson
3-star SF Micah Thomas
11. Miami
4-star PF Dewan Huell
4-star CG Bruce Brown
3-star C Rodney Miller
3-star CG Dejan Vasiljevic
12. NC State
5-star PG Dennis Smith Jr. (ranked #8 by CBB Latest)
5-star C Omer Yurtseven
3-star PF Darius Hicks
13. Gonzaga
4-star C Zach Collins
4-star PF Jacob Larsen
4-star SG Zach Novell
4-star PF Killian Tillie
3-star SF Rui Hachimura
14. Florida State
5-star SF Jonathan Isaac (ranked #13 by CBB Latest)
4-star SG Trent Forrest
3-star PG C.J. Walker
3-star SF Mfiondu Kabengele
UNR SG Braian Angola-Rodas
15. UNC
5-star C Tony Bradley
4-star CG Seventh Woods
4-star SG Brandon Robinson