Even though teams are now playing games, coaches are always thinking a season ahead. The recruiting landscape is becoming a bit less chaotic, too, with additional eligibility from the pandemic coming to an end after next season and the transfer portal beginning to calm down. Slowly but surely, the high school prospect is becoming the focal point again.
Recruiting gives hope and excitement to every program. Today, we look ahead at the early top 25 classes for 2024 and break down who won big, which teams surprised and which school still has work to do.
Winners
There is a lot of anticipation for next season in Durham after Duke landed the early No. 1 class with the No. 1 player. Cooper Flagg is a different type of star who will have an impact at Duke. He'll also have plenty of help as Isaiah Evans arrives with a game reminiscent of Brandon Ingram, and Kon Knueppel may be the best shooter in the high school senior class. Big man Pat Ngongba is a paint presence and a scoring threat inside and out. His ability to see the pass gives him an extra dimension. Darren Harris is a shooting machine with a winning history. Jon Scheyer was a major factor in Duke's high-profile recruiting success as an assistant coach, and that has continued in his head coaching role. Duke's class has five prospects in the top 50 -- including three five-stars -- and the Blue Devils are battling Kentucky for five-star No. 5 VJ Edgecombe and Rutgers for No. 2 Dylan Harper. This group already rivals Duke's other No. 1 classes. If they land Edgecombe, it could be one of their best classes ever.
Winning in recruiting is paramount for any Kentucky coach. John Calipari has frequently recruited either the No. 1 or No. 2 class in the country since arriving in Lexington in 2009. The Wildcats ranked No. 1 last year and have another great class coming, landing four prospects in the top 100. They will entrust Boogie Fland with the ball. Somto Cyril has the physicality to crush opponents in the paint, while Jayden Quaintance is their best NBA prospect and has a legitimate chance to crack the top 10 in our next update. It's important to remember Quaintance needs to wait two years before entering the draft because he is only 16 years old, however. Travis Perry adds shot making and Kentucky is still in the hunt for Edgecombe and Billy Richmond. The debate around the top class in the country becomes very interesting if either -- or both -- end up committing to Calipari and Kentucky.
The Tar Heels don't have a large class, but the incoming recruits carry a big punch. Drake Powell brings five-star ability and work ethic following a great run this summer and fall. Ian Jackson is tracking toward a big senior season as well. He brings skill, energy and a sense of the moment. James Brown continues to improve in the post, too. Hubert Davis and his staff have brought in 10 top-100 prospects since taking over in 2021. North Carolina is one of the biggest brands in college basketball and is winning on the recruiting trail.
This is Georgetown's most impressive recruiting class since ranking No. 16 in 2021. Ed Cooley and his staff have changed the culture, narrative and recruiting landscape for the program in a hurry. Cooley assembled a talented group of transfers in Year 1, including former top-100 prospects Rowan Brumbaugh, Jayden Epps and Dontrez Styles. He now backs it up with an outstanding high school group that includes Drew McKenna, Kayvaun Mulready, Thomas Sorber and Caleb Williams. The Hoyas haven't landed three ranked players in one class since Isaac Copeland, L.J. Peak and Paul White in 2014. Cooley is a great evaluator of talent and a relatable recruiter who has enjoyed positive results dating back to his days at Rhode Island and Boston College as an assistant. Georgetown is back on the map from a recruiting perspective, and that will soon translate to the court.
Exceptional guard play wins games at every level. Incoming 2024 guards Jalil Bethea and Austin Swartz are two of the best in the country. They are both high-level shooters and two of the 10 best shot-makers in the ESPN 100. Both guards are exciting because they are equally dangerous and effective either in primary ball screen actions or lifting off out of the corner. They will be a major weapon against any zone defense.
Andy Enfield and his staff continue to bring in top talent that has big upside and high productivity. It's easy to see the emphasis they place on talented players who are good teammates and have the ability to develop over time to contend for Big Ten titles. Trent Perry will step in at the point guard spot, Liam Campbell has size, bounce and shot-making talent and Brody Kozlowski pairs inside-out scoring with solid rebounding. The Trojans have a great nucleus for the future.
Missouri hasn't landed multiple ranked players in one class since bringing in Michael Porter Jr., Jontay Porter and others in 2017. Dennis Gates and his staff identified, evaluated and landed immediate help in 2024. Their five-player class has both potential and production. Annor Boateng and Marcus Allen are the cornerstones. They are high-level athletes who compete with confidence and toughness. They are excellent half-court defenders and finishers. Considering Gates' proven coaching ability and recruiting prowess, this class could put Missouri near the top of the SEC.
Surprises
TCU has never signed a ranked class since ESPN recruiting rankings were first established in 2007. Furthermore, this is the first time TCU has landed multiple ranked prospects in one class. ESPN 100 prospects Micah Robinson and David Punch bring toughness and protection. Four-star big man Malick Diallo patrols the paint and battles hard in the competitive NIBC. Coach Jamie Dixon has a long track record of success developing three- and four-star talents into starters and all-conference types at Pittsburgh and TCU. Desmond Bane is a perfect example. He came from a small town in Indiana and reportedly had only one offer (Furman) before TCU offered late. He went on to become an All-Big 12 player at TCU and a first-round pick (No. 30 overall in 2020) in the NBA draft.
In a profession in which everything moves fast, Mike White and his staff are methodically rebuilding Georgia basketball with high school prospects. Georgia has landed four ranked prospects over the past two years. Their 2023 freshman class was nationally ranked, including three ESPN Top 100 recruits led by No. 56 Blue Cain. Georgia also landed Asa Newell, the No. 11 player in the Class of 2024. Newell will play a major role as a freshman. More help could be on the way, too. The Bulldogs are squarely in the mix for Derrion Reid, the No. 9 player in the class. Georgia's class could vault into the top 25 if it lands him.
Work to be done
It's hard to quibble with the nation's No. 8 recruiting class. But everyone knows the final piece of the puzzle is landing Dylan Harper, the No. 2 player in the country. Rutgers has known Harper and his family for years. His older brother, Ron Harper Jr., had a terrific career for the Scarlet Knights. Rutgers already has a special class after landing No. 3 overall Ace Bailey and No. 87 overall Lathan Sommerville. If Harper comes on board, it solidifies the Knights' best class ever on paper. Rutgers was one of the worst programs in college basketball when Steve Pikiell took over in 2016. For the Scarlet Knights to even be in this position is amazing.