The 2014-15 college basketball season is officially over. Coaches will switch their focus over to recruiting in the next few days as programs try to reload for the next season. Recruiting is an obviously important factor in a coach’s success, as the National Champion Duke Blue Devils showed us this past season. The Blue Devils signed four five-star players at this time last year, and it paid off. Without half of their freshman, there is no way Duke wins the championship.
It’s easier said than done, though. While there are seven five-star recruits available, successful programs like North Carolina, Wisconsin, Virginia, ect won’t touch any of them. That’s not saying they can’t win the championship next year, and stars don’t always tell a recruit’s whole makeup, but it certainly can’t hurt to have these talented young men.
There are seven five-star recruits that have yet to decide on a home for next season. Each decision could change college basketball’s landscape next season, so it’s only fitting to preview it.
Possible Destinations For Top Unsigned Recruits
#2 Jaylen Brown – 6’7″ – 220 lbs – SF
Top Three: UCLA, Kentucky, Kansas
Jaylen Brown is a solid wing that has the makeup and skills to make a huge impact next season. Brown’s recruitment has been all over the place, and features a dark-horse team that is making a legitimate push: California. The athletic scorer has been in rumors that include two other unsigned five-stars packaging themselves with Brown to go to Cal. He also took a surprise visit to the Golden Bears campus, even with Cal not on his list. His decision could very well depend on what Kentucky players like Devin Booker or Trey Lyles decide to do themselves. A player of Brown’s talent should not be coming off the bench next season. Kansas’ Kelly Oubre is reportedly entering the NBA draft, and Oubre just happens to play the same position as Brown. Playing time could be a major factor in this decision, and it will be hard to turn down that AND Bill Self. That package at Cal is quite interesting, though..
Prediction: Kansas Jayhawks
#4 Malik Newman – 6’3″ – 175 lbs – SG
Top Three: Kentucky, Mississippi State, LSU
Malik Newman has an elite scoring ability at the high school level, and can really shoot the ball well if he is on. He’s a confident kid. Newman cut his list to four schools, as Kansas is the other school in consideration. While Kentucky has been considered the frontrunner, it seems as though Mississippi State and LSU are making a push. SB Nation’s Paul Crewe pointed out that a close source thinks Newman to LSU is a “done deal” because of his ties to other recruits like the number one player in the country Ben Simmons and five-star Antonio Blakeney. Newman apparently wants to play point guard at the next level, too. Newman wants to play. LSU might be that stop.
Prediction: LSU Tigers
#6 Ivan Rabb – 6’11” – 210 lbs – PF
Top Three: California, Arizona, Kansas
Ivan Rabb is a lanky forward that is finds ways to affect the game in a positive way. He is one of the other members of this so-called package deal to California, but he looks to be the most legitimate of the three. Rabb really has his list down to Cal and Arizona, but all indications point to Cal. There isn’t nearly as much confusion with his recruitment as there is with Brown and Newman.
Prediction: California Golden Bears
#8 Caleb Swanigan – 6’8″ – 275 lbs – C
Top Three: Michigan State, California, Duke
Caleb Swanigan, a back to the basket big, has had a weird recruitment. Michigan State was thought to be the clear leader for a while, but his recruitment has opened up. He is the third banana in this California package, and they are definitely in the mix. Purdue and Chicago State — not a typo — are also in the mix. Swanigan is to make his decision Saturday at the Nike Hoop Summit. His decision could be heavily affected by Brown and Rabb’s decisions, but he will ultimately make the best decision for him.
Prediction: Duke Blue Devils
#10 Stephen Zimmerman – 7’0″ – 230 lbs – C
Top Three: UNLV, Arizona, Kentucky
Stephen Zimmerman is a very good offensive center, and even has a smooth lefty shot that is pretty consistent from the mid-range. Kansas and UCLA are also in his recruitment, and Zimmerman told Scout.com’s Evan Daniels that he wants to see “where everyone is going, who’s staying, who’s leaving, and how everything’s playing out.” This could point to a bigger program that is losing players to the draft. That said, Zimmerman is from Las Vegas, so UNLV makes some sort of sense. With forward Kevon Looney leaving UCLA for the draft, don’t count out the Bruins on Zimmerman.
Prediction: UCLA Bruins
#11 Cheick Diallo – 6’9″ – 225 lbs – PF
Top Three: Kansas, St. John’s, Kentucky
Cheick Diallo is the ultimate competitor, and always plays hard no matter the situation. He showed his competitive spirit to the whole country when he was named the MVP at the McDonalds All-American game with an 18 point, 10 rebound performance. Diallo’s recruitment has been pretty open, but is coming down to the three teams listed above, and Iowa State. The Cyclones have made a push for the forward as of late, but so has new St. John’s head coach Chris Mullin. Mullin, an alum of SJU, could very well start his coaching career off with a bang.
Prediction: St. John’s Red Storm
#12 Brandon Ingram – 6’8″ – 180 lbs – SF
Top Three: Duke, North Carolina, Kansas
Brandon Ingram could have the most pro-potential of anyone in the 2015 class. He is long and smooth with the ball, but should look to bulk up during his freshman year. Ingram has powerhouse schools on his list, Kentucky is the fourth school, and every one of them would be a good choice. It seems as though Duke and North Carolina are the clearly the two contenders, though. The unknown cloud above North Carolina’s academic problems, and possible sanctions, could lead Ingram to Duke, as reported by Rob Harrington of Scout.com. Coach Krzyzewski could land another late five-star to his team next year.
Prediction: Duke Blue Devils.
Ranking per ESPN.com
Top three schools per 247sports.com
Main Photo Credit: Under Armour/Kelly Klein
