The high school basketball season is generally the slowest time of the year for commitments. The early signing period ends as the season gets underway, and the late signing period follows the end-of-season all-star games.
In between, most prospects are focused on the high school season and college coaches are busy with their own seasons. Seeds are planted for future classes and breakout names are monitored, but we should be entering a fairly quiet commitment period -- meaning class rankings won't be changing much over the next couple of months.
Of course, we're not in a normal recruiting cycle, so we'll see whether that sticks. But with new player rankings coming out, it's time to reshuffle the class rankings. Here are the big storylines:
Kentucky jumped Duke into the top three. The Wildcats are back in a familiar area after a slow start to their 2021 class. While none of their commitments are among the elite prospects nationally, it's a very solid three-man group with a high-ceiling big man leading the way in Daimion Collins. Bryce Hopkins and Nolan Hickman should also help immediately. But John Calipari is likely not done in 2021. Five-star 2022 guard Skyy Clark committed to Kentucky back in October, and he's a prime candidate to reclassify into 2021. The Wildcats are also in heavy pursuit of five-star guards Jaden Hardy and Hunter Sallis, and landing one of them could put them into the mix for the overall No. 1 spot.
Where's Ohio State? The Buckeyes were No. 8 in the post-signing-period class rankings, and now they're out. That's through no fault of their own, nor did we significantly drop any of their commitments. But Meechie Johnson, a top-50 prospect in the 2021 class, decided to enroll early at Ohio State and therefore was longer considered a member of Chris Holtmann's 2021 group. Malaki Branham and Kalen Etzler still form a quality two-man group.
UCLA rises into the top 10. The Bruins bounced around the top 25 classes for most of the fall, but the addition of ESPN 100 center Mac Etienne pushes them solidly into the top 10. Etienne was one of the top big men left on the board in 2021 and will provide a boost for UCLA's frontcourt. He joins a pair of ESPN 100 shooting guards in Peyton Watson, the jewel of the Bruins' class, and Will McClendon. The Bruins also still have one big name on their 2021 board: Jaden Hardy.
1. Michigan Wolverines
Previous ranking: 1 
The Wolverines enter the early signing period with as much recruiting momentum as anybody in America, jumping to the No. 1-ranked class with commitments from top-10 seniors Caleb Houstan and Moussa Diabate in the past two weeks. Houstan, a Canada native, reclassified from the 2022 class and chose Michigan over Alabama, Duke and Virginia. Diabate kept his recruitment close to the vest, but the Wolverines made up a ton of ground when they secured the French big man's commitment. Those two join ESPN 100 guards Frankie Collins and Kobe Bufkin, along with summer commits Isaiah Barnes and Will Tschetter. Juwan Howard showed promise in his ability to get players when he landed four ESPN 100 prospects in 2020, including five-star Isaiah Todd, who eventually decided to opt for the G League. But a No. 1 class at this point in the cycle cements his status as a high-level recruiter.
2. Oregon Ducks
Previous ranking: 2
The Ducks have secured college basketball's best incoming frontcourt to date with three prospects in the top half of the ESPN 100: Nate Bittle, Franck Kepnang, and Johnathan Lawson. Bittle and Kepnang will form a strong tandem at 6-foot-11 and 6-foot-10, respectively, and while that will create a different type of lineup than Altman has used in recent season, Bittle's skill and floor-spacing ability should fit nicely alongside Kepnang's power at the rim. Lawson is a budding big and versatile wing who has drawn notice since he was younger, but he has started to really ascend within the past year. With four seniors and two more players contemplating an early jump to the NBA draft, Oregon is now focused on building its backcourt for what could be a very deep class.
3. Kentucky Wildcats
Previous ranking: 6 
With three commitments in a 10-day span, John Calipari's class is starting to take shape. Nolan Hickman, a point guard with emerging upside, got things started in August before the momentum built in October. Bryce Hopkins is a big-bodied combo forward and mismatch scorer who can make contributions offensively from the get-go. Daimion Collins is a big man who fits the Kentucky prototype up front as a rim runner, explosive finisher and shot-blocker with tons of room for future growth. ESPN 60 five-star guard Skyy Clark is also on board but still technically a part of the Class of 2022, although a future reclassification up to 2021 remains a legitimate possibility. Still left on Kentucky's board are top-25 talents Jaden Hardy and Hunter Sallis.
4. Duke Blue Devils
Previous ranking: 3 
The Blue Devils have a small but talented group so far. Paolo Banchero (No. 3) has a case to be the top-ranked prospect in the country. He has been consistently productive for most of his high school career and will make an impact in Durham, North Carolina, from day one. A.J. Griffin (No. 14) committed to Duke back in November 2019, and he hasn't wavered at all in the year since. Griffin has great size and physical tools for the wing and can make plays at both ends of the floor. Not surprisingly, coach Mike Krzyzewski isn't close to done in the 2021 class, and the Blue Devils are in a good position for both Patrick Baldwin Jr. and Trevor Keels.
5. Baylor Bears
Previous ranking: 4
Scott Drew's club was the talk of the recruiting world in July when the Bears reeled off three commitments within the span of a week from a pair of highly touted ESPN 100 products in Langston Love and Kendall Brown, along with an ultra-versatile and productive forward in Jeremy Sochan. All three are multipositional, experienced against top competition and capable of making an immediate impact. Brown is a 6-foot-7, 195-pound combo forward. Love is a powerful scorer on the wing, while Sochan is skilled up front.
6. Villanova Wildcats
Previous ranking: 10
Villanova's 2021 recruiting class has been two years in the making, so it was no surprise to see Jay Wright and his staff land four strategic pledges by the end of July. The prototype remains the same for the Wildcats, as they added skilled and versatile pieces from the top half of the East Coast who all fit their culture. Trey Patterson, a versatile and efficient combo forward, headlines the class. Fellow ESPN 100 product Nnanna Njoku provides a long and powerful big man in the middle with some developing face-up skill. Jordan Longino and Angelo Brizzi are versatile and also possess the perimeter size Villanova has historically valued in the backcourt.
7. UCLA Bruins
Previous ranking: 18
Mick Cronin had some unfortunate luck in his first full recruiting class in Westwood, seeing five-star point guard Daishen Nix choose the G League route rather than enroll at UCLA as originally expected. But Cronin has bounced back in the 2021 class, landing the ESPN 100 wing duo of Peyton Watson (No. 12) and Will McClendon (No. 67). Watson has continued to boost his stock over the past year and could rise further up the rankings by the time his senior season is done. Meanwhile, McClendon has a very good frame and is effective getting to the rim. Cronin is also still swinging for the fences with some of the remaining five-star prospects, with elite guard Jaden Hardy atop the Bruins' board.
8. Michigan State Spartans
Previous ranking: 7
Emoni Bates is only a high school junior and might never play college basketball, but when he made an early verbal commitment to Michigan State, it gave the Spartans an undeniable surge on the recruiting trail and the momentum necessary to build their latest top-10 class. They already held a commitment from Pierre Brooks, a 6-foot-5, four-star wing from nearby Detroit, and less than 10 days after Bates' pledge, they landed Max Christie, a five-star guard who recently sprouted up to 6-foot-7. Later in the summer, they landed another big guard and Michigan native in Jaden Akins, solidifying a three-man class from inside the ESPN 100 and reasserting their dominance in the Midwest region.
9. Florida State Seminoles
Previous ranking: 5
The Seminoles had the top recruiting class in the country until top-35 prospect Bryce McGowens decommitted earlier this month, but Leonard Hamilton still has yet another strong group headed to Tallahassee. The headliner now is Matt Cleveland (No. 30), who was one of the most impressive prospects during the spring and early summer at various livestreamed events. Jalen Warley (No. 46) can play both backcourt positions and is another player who has truly broken out over the past year. John Butler (No. 66) will bring upside to the center position, while 7-foot-3 Naheem McLeod is considered one of the top junior college prospects in the country. All four of the commits pledged during a two-week span in July and August.
10. UConn Huskies
Previous ranking: 11
Dan Hurley and the Huskies went from an empty class to a three-man group in just over two weeks in July and August. It started with Rahsool Diggins (No. 54), a tough combo guard from the Philadelphia area whom opponents struggle to keep out of the lane. After Diggins came Jordan Hawkins (No. 59), an upside wing who can really shoot it from the perimeter. Capping off the stretch was center Samson Johnson (No. 61), who might not be an advanced offensive prospect just yet but will make an immediate impact on the defensive end and is improving at the other end of the floor. The Big East was bound to help UConn on the recruiting trail, and the 2021 group has already provided some proof.
11. Louisville Cardinals
Previous ranking: N/A
Louisville has built up a deep five-man class including three of ESPN 100 prospects, two more high school players and one from the junior college ranks. The two biggest priorities going into the year were to add a true big man and point guard. They achieved those goals with ESPN 100 prospects Roosevelt Wheeler, a physically imposing presence on both ends of the floor, and point guard Bobby Pettiford. Eric Van Der Heijden is a skilled perimeter forward who can stretch the floor while Mike James is a wing with untapped potential. El Ellis solidifies the program's backcourt depth with Louisville's latest junior college commitment.
12. Auburn Tigers
Previous ranking: 9
Auburn has no seniors and only two upperclassmen on this year's roster, so the 2021 recruiting class was always going to be more about quality than quantity. The Tigers couldn't have gotten off to a better start than a commitment from Jabari Smith, the fifth-ranked prospect in the ESPN 100 and highest-rated recruit to commit to the program since at least 2007, when ESPN's recruiting database began. He's arguably the most fundamentally sound frontcourt player in the class, extremely versatile and able to impact the game on both ends. Four-star guard Trey Alexander gives them a big combo guard who is capable of contributing on a deep roster immediately as a freshman, but also has lots of potential to grow into more of an offensive focal point a couple of years down the road.
13. Creighton Bluejays
Previous ranking: N/A
With four commitments, including three four-star prospects and a pair of ESPN 100 products, this is as good of a recruiting class as Creighton has brought in -- not just because of the individual talent but also because of the quality of their fit together. TyTy Washington is the headliner. A big, playmaking guard, he has rapidly ascended up the national rankings. Mason Miller is a skilled southpaw forward with some bounce who's only going to keep emerging as he fills out his frame. John Christofilis and Ryan Nembhard are equally good fits in Greg McDermott's system. Christofilis is a pure shooter, while Nembhard is a true point guard capable of running Creighton's offensive system.
14. UNLV Rebels
Previous ranking: 14
Zaon Collins has turned out to be a more important recruit than T.J. Otzelberger may have even realized. Not only is Collins a local product from nearby powerhouse Bishop Gorman, the first ESPN 100 prospect to commit to Otzelberger at UNLV and the program's point guard of the future, but he has also proven to be an outstanding recruiter. Collins' close friend, Arthur Kaluma, decided to follow suit, giving the Rebels their highest-rated recruit since 2017. Kaluma is a versatile scoring forward with a college-ready body who should be able to step in from day one. UNLV also holds a commitment from another local point guard, Keshon Gilbert.
15. Tennessee Volunteers
Previous ranking: N/A
After landing a top-five group that included two five-star prospects in the 2020 class, Rick Barnes has reeled in another highly touted crop of recruits. It's only a two-man class, but one is Kennedy Chandler, the top-ranked point guard in 2021. The Volunteers beat out the likes of Duke, Kentucky, North Carolina and Memphis for the Memphis native. Chandler should have the ball in his hands from day one next season; he loves to attack the rim and will consistently make plays off the dribble. He's the third-highest-ranked recruit to pick Tennessee since the ESPN recruiting database began in 2007. Chandler is joined in Tennessee's 2021 class by Jahmai Mashack, a four-star wing from California. Mashack should make an immediate defensive impact.
16. Nebraska Cornhuskers
Previous ranking: 19
This may be the best recruiting class in Nebraska history. The focal point is Bryce McGowens, a versatile 6-6 guard who had initially committed to Florida State but is now joining the Huskers. Older brother Trey McGowens transferred in from Pittsburgh the year prior. Fred Hoiberg has another ESPN 100 product in the class as well in Wilhelm Breidenbach, a skilled frontcourt player who hopes to follow the same trajectory on which Hoiberg guided Georges Niang at Iowa State. Together, they become the first ESPN 100 tandem to commit to Nebraska since 2015.
17. Dayton Flyers
Previous ranking: 17
Anthony Grant's club made national waves last year both with its collective success and with the individual stardom of Obi Toppin. Now, the Flyers are riding that wave of momentum to take them to new heights on the recruiting trail with a handful of four-star commitments, including ESPN 100 big man DaRon Holmes, the highest-ranked prospect to ever commit to Dayton. Holmes has emerging physical tools inside, along with developing face-up skills to complement his interior game. Kaleb Washington also has a ton of physical tools and potential up front, while Mustapha Amzil is an ideal complement to Holmes and Washington as a skilled big forward. The point guard of the future is Malachi Smith, a reliable guard who continues the Flyers' pipeline into the New York City area.
18. LSU Tigers
Previous ranking: 13
Will Wade continues to recruit at a high level since arriving in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. There are no five-star prospects in the group just yet, but two top-60 prospects and a pair of players from elite high school programs. The two ESPN 100 players will provide a boost to the frontcourt: Jerrell Colbert (No. 50) and Alex Fudge (No. 51). Colbert brings a high ceiling to the paint, and he'll be able to help at both ends of the floor. Fudge committed to the Tigers in early October, and he'll bring versatility and length to the wing. Rounding out the class are IMG Academy (Florida) guard Brandon Murray and Oak Hill Academy (Virginia) big man Bradley Ezewiro, who originally signed in the 2020 class but decided over the summer to reclassify and wait a year.
19. Memphis Tigers
Previous ranking: N/A
Memphis' recruiting class was built for two things: tempo and versatility. Penny Hardaway holds commitments from four players, all of whom are four-star prospects. Sam Ayomide is a true big man with tremendous size and physicality who has made significant strides in the past year. Every other player in the class is multipositional and designed to thrive in a fast-paced system. Josh Minott has a unique combination of size and playmaking ability on the perimeter that will undoubtedly remind some of his future head coach. Jordan Nesbitt is a power wing and finisher, while John Camden is an ideal complement as a skilled forward and floor-spacing shooter. Both are also capable of pushing the ball in the open floor themselves, though.
20. USC Trojans
Previous ranking: 15
The Trojans' first recruiting class without a Mobley since 2018, they nonetheless bring in two ESPN 100 prospects and have another positionally balanced group. Shortly after the coronavirus pandemic essentially shut down the sport, coach Andy Enfield landed two ESPN 100 prospects in the span of three days. Reese Dixon-Waters (No. 74) got the ball rolling, and he should become a very capable scorer for the Trojans early in his college career. Malik Thomas (No. 90) followed a couple of days later, and he's another player who will bring plenty of offensive ability. Harrison Hornery and Kobe Johnson round out the group, and Enfield also has a large group of transfers who will be able to play in 2021-22.
21. Colorado Buffaloes
Previous ranking: 25
Tad Boyle has six scholarship seniors in the program this season (although all six can technically return due to the new NCAA rule), but he expected to need something of a reload in the 2021 class -- and so he went out and landed four players, with a potential fifth. Top billing goes to ESPN 100 small forward Quincy Allen (No. 78), a talented wing scorer who can make shots. Four-star center Lawson Lovering, a 7-footer from Wyoming, should make an immediate impact. Guards Javon Ruffin and Julian Hammond III should provide depth, and Drew Carter is a dual-sport star who is expected to make a bigger impact on the court.
22. Stanford Cardinal
Previous ranking: 12
Coming off a 2020 class led by five-star forward Ziaire Williams, Stanford continues to raise the bar on the recruiting trail. It began with an early pledge from Isa Silva, a 6-foot-3 point guard and one of the most creative passers in the class. In September, the Cardinal won a recruiting battle for Harrison Ingram, one of the most versatile forwards in the country. Harrison should follow in the footsteps of both Williams, who is likely to pursue a one-and-done path, and KZ Okpala as the latest big, playmaking wing in Jerod Haase's system.
23. Kansas Jayhawks
Previous ranking: 24
The Jayhawks have a talented frontcourt tandem heading to Lawrence next year that should create a ton of matchup problems. Zach Clemence is a floor-spacing big man who possesses good size along with a beautiful shooting stroke. He'll pull opposing rim protectors away from the basket and open up the lane, which is ideal for fellow ESPN 100 forward K.J. Adams, a 6-foot-6 bulldozer forward who attacks the rim with relentless physicality. This is likely to be just the start for Bill Self and his staff as they continue to cast a wide net for the country's best available prospects.
24. Purdue Boilermakers
Previous ranking: 23
Purdue has landed a pair of ESPN 100 products from its home state of Indiana to solidify its frontline for years to come. Caleb Furst gives the Boilermakers a southpaw who can produce inside and is beginning to extend his game away from the basket. Trey Kaufman is a 6-foot-8 forward who is the ultimate mismatch problem offensively with his ability to score from multiple spots on the floor. In most lineups, that duo would line up at the 5 and 4 spots, but Matt Painter has shown a willingness to play very big in the past, so don't be surprised to see the Boilermakers return to that style.
25. North Carolina Tar Heels
Previous ranking: N/A
Coming on the heels of a 2020 recruiting class that brought in six freshmen and five ESPN 100 prospects, Roy Williams and his staff have focused on keeping talented local products close to home in 2021. Those efforts have resulted in commitments from a pair of ESPN 100 products from inside the state -- Dontrez Styles and D'Marco Dunn. Styles is a combo forward who is physical with a high motor. Dunn is a more polished offensive player with his skill set and scoring ability in the backcourt but isn't quite as explosive.
Dropped out: Ohio State (8), DePaul (16), Arizona (20), Miami (21), Gonzaga (22)