2018 Recruiting Class Could Be The Best Yet

[GumbyDamnit!]

So I believe 2018 is completely done at this point (anyone can correct me if I am wrong).

Here's the final class (top 150) according to 24/7:
25. Quinerly (G) - Nova
39. Swider (F) - Nova
42. Duke (G) - Prov.
44. Reaves (G) - Prov.
45. Hauser (F) - Marq.
49. Slater (G) - Nova
95. Akinjo (G) - Gtown
102. Zegarowski (G) - CU
112. LeBlanc (F) - Gtown
115. Cameron (G) - Depaul
127. Bishop (F) - CU
130. Froling (F) - CU
147. Williams (G) - SJU

Top 50 = 6
Top 100 = 7
Top 150 = 13
Per School = 1.3

Big12 -
Top 50 = 5
Top 100 = 9
Top 150 = 15
Per School = 1.5

Big 10 -
Top 50 = 4
Top 100 = 12
Top 150 = 25
Per School = 1.8

ACC (did not include Duke as they are an outlier that would skew the #'s since they are a OAD factory)
Top 50 = 4
Top 100 = 14
Top 150 = 18
Per School = 1.3

SEC (did not include UK as they are an outlier that would skew the #'s since they are a OAD factory)
Top 50 = 8
Top 100 = 15
Top 150 = 20
Per School = 1.5

AAC
Top 50 = 0
Top 100 = 2
Top 150 = 3
Per School = 0.25

We continue to recruit at a very high rate in the sweet spot of talent (not OAD, but players that can mature in the programs). I could have sworn that there was an actual discussion a few years back that our recruiting would slowly decline and be swallowed up by the "big" schools. Still waiting for that to happen.

[GumbyDamnit!]

Team Rankings:
14. Nova
18. PC
29 . Gtown
35. Creighton
45. Depaul
53. X
54. SHU
72. SJU
97. Marq.
139. Butler

[stever20]

So I believe 2018 is completely done at this point (anyone can correct me if I am wrong).

Looking at 247 there are still 8 guys left undecided(plus the one who decided to go straight to the G-League) in the top 150. So not quite done yet. And another 9 in the 151-200 range.

Any reason why you didn't do the Pac 12?
Top 50= 9
Top 100= 15
Top 150= 23
Per School= 1.9

Yeah I guess I see why you wouldn't put them on there.

[gtmoBlue]

The Jays are doing some late Easter/early Christmas shopping, but the gifts they pick up shouldn't affect this list.
Mainly transfers, but maybe a late 2018er. Who are you using...247 - okay

Nice pickup Nova...another Paschall. I'm gonna be spending a truckload of money on Krispy Kremes this season.

[GumbyDamnit!]

So I believe 2018 is completely done at this point (anyone can correct me if I am wrong).

Looking at 247 there are still 8 guys left undecided(plus the one who decided to go straight to the G-League) in the top 150. So not quite done yet. And another 9 in the 151-200 range.

Any reason why you didn't do the Pac 12?
Top 50= 9
Top 100= 15
Top 150= 23
Per School= 1.9

Yeah I guess I see why you wouldn't put them on there.

Yeah, good catch. I did forget the Pac12. But it's not some grand conspiracy as you think. As a conference they were so irrelevant this year (did they win any games in March?) that I honestly just overlooked them. But thanks for doing the legwork. They had a good year on the recruiting trail in 2018, no doubt. Let's hope it translates to March success.

BTW, no comments whatsoever on the AAC recruiting classes, huh? Yeah, I guess I see why you'd be quiet there. To be 100% transparent, I did find 1 other Top 150 kid in that AAC class that I had missed so there is hope.

There is a troubling trend that I'd like to show you that you will not enjoy. I looked at the differences in recruiting over the past 5 recruiting cycles, since both new conferences were formed. For those with children at home you might want to have them leave the room at this point.

247 Top 150 recruits per conference :

BE:
2018 - 13
2017 - 15
2016 - 15
2015 - 14
2014 - 20

AAC (and I even counted WSU recruits even when not yet in the conference):
2018 - 4
2017 - 1
2016 - 6
2015 - 11
2014 - 7


I think it is important to look at 3 year averages to see true effectiveness and weed out outliers, and perhaps see a trend. This is in order to not over-penalize for light classes when a program might be stuffed to the brim with players or over-reward one good class. Also this should be divided by # of schools so conferences like the BE and B12 are not competing with 14 and 15 team leagues. So using this methodology:

BE
2018 - 2016 = 1.43 Top 150 players per school, per year
2017 - 2015 = 1.46
2016 - 2014 = 1.63

AAC
2018 - 2016 = 0.31 Top 150 players per school, per year
2017 - 2015 = 0.50
2016 - 2014 = 0.67

So the BE has been pretty consistent in the mid teen range year after year. But man, the AAC is trending downhill and fast. I mean look at WSU as an example. They are graduating a ton of talent but G. Marshall has not been able to replenish with quality recruits. They are in a shiny new conference; you'd think his recruiting message would resonate. But it hasn't. Why can't Cronin get good players to come to Cincy anymore? Temple? SMU? What the hell is going on? What are these latent BB powers in the AAC selling to these kids that they are not buying? I guess you'll have to put all your stock in Penny and Hurley to get the job done because it's clear that the current leadership does not have what it takes.

I think before you continue questioning the BE programs, you need to join with other like-minded AAC fanatics and hold these AAC coaches and programs to a higher standard. As a true fan, you should be equally embarrassed and outraged. You deserve better from your league. I mean the A10 has recruited the same # of Top 150 players the last 2 years as the AAC. That's not good.

[Jet915]

Get ready for the stever goalpost maneuver!

[FriarJ]

So I believe 2018 is completely done at this point (anyone can correct me if I am wrong).

Here's the final class (top 150) according to 24/7:
25. Quinerly (G) - Nova
39. Swider (F) - Nova
42. Duke (G) - Prov.
44. Reaves (G) - Prov.
45. Hauser (F) - Marq.
49. Slater (G) - Nova
95. Akinjo (G) - Gtown
102. Zegarowski (G) - CU
112. LeBlanc (F) - Gtown
115. Cameron (G) - Depaul
127. Bishop (F) - CU
130. Froling (F) - CU
147. Williams (G) - SJU

Top 50 = 6
Top 100 = 7
Top 150 = 13
Per School = 1.3

Big12 -
Top 50 = 5
Top 100 = 9
Top 150 = 15
Per School = 1.5

Big 10 -
Top 50 = 4
Top 100 = 12
Top 150 = 25
Per School = 1.8

ACC (did not include Duke as they are an outlier that would skew the #'s since they are a OAD factory)
Top 50 = 4
Top 100 = 14
Top 150 = 18
Per School = 1.3

SEC (did not include UK as they are an outlier that would skew the #'s since they are a OAD factory)
Top 50 = 8
Top 100 = 15
Top 150 = 20
Per School = 1.5

AAC
Top 50 = 0
Top 100 = 2
Top 150 = 3
Per School = 0.25

We continue to recruit at a very high rate in the sweet spot of talent (not OAD, but players that can mature in the programs). I could have sworn that there was an actual discussion a few years back that our recruiting would slowly decline and be swallowed up by the "big" schools. Still waiting for that to happen.

Gumby, what list is this? 247 has Jimmy Nichols at 114 for 2018.https://247sports.com/Season/2018-Basketball/RecruitRankings?InstitutionGroup=HighSchool

[jfan]

So I believe 2018 is completely done at this point (anyone can correct me if I am wrong).

Here's the final class (top 150) according to 24/7:
25. Quinerly (G) - Nova
39. Swider (F) - Nova
42. Duke (G) - Prov.
44. Reaves (G) - Prov.
45. Hauser (F) - Marq.
49. Slater (G) - Nova
95. Akinjo (G) - Gtown
102. Zegarowski (G) - CU
112. LeBlanc (F) - Gtown
115. Cameron (G) - Depaul
127. Bishop (F) - CU
130. Froling (F) - CU
147. Williams (G) - SJU

Top 50 = 6
Top 100 = 7
Top 150 = 13
Per School = 1.3

Big12 -
Top 50 = 5
Top 100 = 9
Top 150 = 15
Per School = 1.5

Big 10 -
Top 50 = 4
Top 100 = 12
Top 150 = 25
Per School = 1.8

ACC (did not include Duke as they are an outlier that would skew the #'s since they are a OAD factory)
Top 50 = 4
Top 100 = 14
Top 150 = 18
Per School = 1.3

SEC (did not include UK as they are an outlier that would skew the #'s since they are a OAD factory)
Top 50 = 8
Top 100 = 15
Top 150 = 20
Per School = 1.5

AAC
Top 50 = 0
Top 100 = 2
Top 150 = 3
Per School = 0.25

We continue to recruit at a very high rate in the sweet spot of talent (not OAD, but players that can mature in the programs). I could have sworn that there was an actual discussion a few years back that our recruiting would slowly decline and be swallowed up by the "big" schools. Still waiting for that to happen.

Gumby, what list is this? 247 has Jimmy Nichols at 114 for 2018.https://247sports.com/Season/2018-Basketball/RecruitRankings?InstitutionGroup=HighSchool

Friar, I can answer. You have listed the 24/7 only rankings of players for Nichols. Gumby has the 24/7 composite rankings of the 4 services. Nichols is 174 in the composite rankings. It gets a little confusing

[GumbyDamnit!]

Gumby, what list is this? 247 has Jimmy Nichols at 114 for 2018.https://247sports.com/Season/2018-Basketball/RecruitRankings?InstitutionGroup=HighSchool

247 has a “composite” ranking that takes into account other services rankings and creates an average. The 247 ranking you linked is their own ranking system. It’s not an exact science but it’s as good a baseline as any.

[adoraz]

Thanks Gumby.

So, as was discussed in this thread months ago, we don't have as many top 150 (4/5*) recruits as previous years, however we have more Top 50. We have 6 Top 50 going to 3 different schools. The next closest was the 2014 class with 4 Top 50.

I think the fact that the Big East got more high ranking recruits this year than in any other is a stronger sign for the future of the Big East than if we just got a bunch of 100-150 players.

I mean, sure someone (lol) could argue that higher volume (in the tradition BE range of 50-150) would lead to better results on the court. And that could be true as those players are more likely to stay four years. But, this was a statement class when you see that the BE is outperforming nearly everyone else for the big time recruits. Also, I think most BE players in the Top 50 will stay at least 2-3 years. Not too many (if any) one and dones. Win-win.

So, I'm going to say the class lives up to the thread's title, because this was a clear statement class. Even though I just made the title to annoy Stever .