For most of the past couple of months, it looked like there were just two schools with any chance at the No. 1 men's basketball recruiting class in the country: Duke and Kentucky. The Blue Devils and Wildcats had returned to the top of the pecking order after a couple of seasons away, and the two recruiting powerhouses were poised to battle for the next few months.
Then coach Eric Musselman came crashing through the door, landing two top-10 prospects in a three-week span and vaulting Arkansas to the No. 2 spot in the rankings. Nick Smith was the top uncommitted player in the country in late September; he picked the Razorbacks. With Smith off the board, Jordan Walsh became the top uncommitted player. Then 2½ weeks later, he committed to Arkansas.
Those commitments -- the two highest-ranked Arkansas recruits since the ESPN recruiting database started in 2007 -- throws a wrench into the Duke-Kentucky battle at the top, as does the news that Shaedon Sharpe, the No. 1 recruit in the class, could opt to enroll at Kentucky for the second semester. If that happens, Sharpe comes out of Kentucky's 2022 class and the Wildcats would see their ranking fall. Throw in the fact that J.J. Starling, Duke's top-ranked remaining target, committed to Notre Dame, and there might be more No. 1 suspense than we expected.
With the early signing period less than a month away, here are four recruitments to watch in the race for the No. 1 class:
PG Cason Wallace (No. 9): The new highest-ranked uncommitted prospect in the country, Wallace is expected to announce in early November. Texas made him a priority early in coach Chris Beard's tenure and Tennessee made a strong move coming out of July, but Kentucky looks to be the favorite down the stretch.
C Adem Bona (No. 17): Long thought to be a Kentucky lean, UCLA has made up a ton of ground in this recruitment. Kentucky's top center target was Dereck Lively, but when he went to Duke, the Wildcats shifted to Bona. It's considered a tight battle between the Wildcats and Bruins, with a decision a couple of weeks away.
SF Anthony Black (No. 26): Arkansas is still recruiting Black, but it has been an uphill battle for the Razorbacks against Gonzaga and Oklahoma State. If they were to somehow land Black, could they push Duke for No. 1?
PF Mark Mitchell (No. 30): Duke's top target left on the board, Mitchell is coming off a visit to Duke for Countdown to Craziness -- alongside Blue Devil commits Lively and Dariq Whitehead. This one isn't quite a done deal for Duke, however. UCLA is very much in play and had received most of the buzz entering the trip to Duke.
1. Duke Blue Devils
Previous ranking: 1
Top commit: C Dereck Lively (No. 2)
It was imperative the Blue Devils start strong on the recruiting trail after they announced Jon Scheyer would succeed Mike Krzyzewski for the 2022-23 season. With Coach K not out this summer, Scheyer and his staff have solidified the Duke brand by landing three five-star talents in Lively, Dariq Whitehead and Kyle Filipowski. Lively's commitment is the one that ultimately could give the Blue Devils the top class in America. He's an elite shot-blocker with a skill set offensively that includes range out to the perimeter. Whitehead is an elite defender and competitor with natural leadership skills and tons of intangibles. He has been a high-profile prospect since he was younger, but he has maintained his humility and continued to improve with each passing year. Filipowski, on the other hand, has come on strong in the past two years. A playmaking big man who stands just under 7 feet but can still attack off the dribble and facilitate for others, Filipowski's game has exploded alongside a new commitment to conditioning and consequent gains in mobility and quickness off his feet around the rim. Duke also landed top-50 guard Jaden Schutt, one of the best shooters in the 2022 class.
2. Arkansas Razorbacks
Previous ranking: unranked
Top commit: SG Nick Smith (No. 6)
The biggest riser in the class rankings, Arkansas landed the top two uncommitted prospects in the country in the past month. Smith is a talented guard who can play on or off the ball but is at his best with the ball in his hands. He's a big-time scorer who can shoot it from the perimeter. Jordan Walsh had a breakout showing over the summer, dominating from a physical skills and motor standpoint. He's terrific in transition and really competes. Even before those two top-10 prospects decided to play for Eric Musselman, the Razorbacks already had three ESPN 100 prospects in the fold: Derrian Ford, Barry Dunning and Joseph Pinion. Ford and Pinion -- along with Smith -- continue Arkansas' stronghold on in-state talent, while Dunning had a stellar June before committing.
3. Kentucky Wildcats
Previous ranking: 2
Top commit: SG Shaedon Sharpe (No. 1)
Kentucky is one of the programs that can catch Duke in the class rankings -- although it's a task that became much harder when Dereck Lively picked the Blue Devils over the Wildcats. But John Calipari already has three five-star prospects in the fold and can be perceived as the favorite for two more. No. 1 overall prospect Sharpe wasn't ranked at all a summer ago, but he established himself this past summer as the premier prospect in the class. He has good size and strength, elite physical tools and is a finisher at the rim. Chris Livingston has been a name to watch since early in his high school career, and he remains one of the top 15 prospects in 2022. He's a versatile weapon at both ends of the floor and is at his best in transition. Then there's Skyy Clark, a 6-foot-3 point guard who missed the summer with an ACL injury. Clark pledged to the Wildcats last October, and despite rumors of a reclassification to 2021, he has remained in 2022. Kentucky is still heavily in the mix for Cason Wallace (No. 9) and Adem Bona (No. 17).
4. Kansas Jayhawks
Previous ranking: 3
Top commit: SF M.J. Rice (No. 20)
While Bill Self has built one of the best rosters in college basketball this season by conquering the transfer market, he once again has the Jayhawks recruiting the high school market at an elite national level. It began with a commitment from local Kansas product Gradey Dick last spring. Dick will provide them with a productive and reliable big wing who is proven against elite competition and well rounded with his floor game. Rice gives them a power wing with an improved skill level. He'll remind Jayhawk fans of Wayne Selden a little bit and provide an ideal complement to Dick on the wing. Zuby Ejiofor is a throwback-style power forward who could play some small-ball 5 in the modern game. He's powerful, explosive and ultra-aggressive with a high motor.
5. North Carolina Tar Heels
Previous ranking: 4
Top commit: C Jalen Washington (No. 22)
Hubert Davis is making quick inroads on the recruiting trail. He was ahead of the curve when it came to Seth Trimble, a big point guard from Wisconsin who pledged to the Tar Heels in June, a few weeks prior to delivering a huge performance during the July recruiting period. Washington is a highly skilled big who can stretch the floor, pick-and-pop and also play alongside another post should Davis elect to explore bigger lineups. Tyler Nickel is one of the premier shooting forwards in the entire country with a pure release on his jumper. Will Shaver may not be ready to make the same immediate contributions, but he has a combination of size and inside-out skill that could ultimately pay dividends.
6. Michigan Wolverines
Previous ranking: unranked
Top commit: C Tarris Reed (No. 33)
After landing the No. 1 recruiting class in the country in 2021, coach Juwan Howard is back in the top 10 after two recent commitments. Reed is the headliner, and he'll be one of the players to help replace Hunter Dickinson in 2022-23. He's a physical inside player and a terrific offensive rebounder. Point guard Dug McDaniel committed before the July period. Howard had to rely on a grad transfer point guard last season -- and he'll do so again this season -- but perhaps McDaniel can stop that trend. The recent commit to push the Wolverines up the rankings was four-star power forward and ESPN 100 forward Jett Howard -- Juwan's son, of course. Howard is a legit talent in his own right, though. He can shoot it from the perimeter and plays with confidence.
7. Ohio State Buckeyes
Previous ranking: 5
Top commit: PG Bruce Thornton (No. 50)
No one did more work early in this recruiting class than Chris Holtmann and his staff at Ohio State. Not only do they hold five early pledges, including three ESPN 100 prospects, but they're all strategic additions who fit their system and culture. Thornton is the leader. A proven point guard and consummate winner, he'll put his stamp on the program from day one. Roddy Gayle is a versatile wing who is capable of scoring in high volume but also of blending his individual talents with other high-level players. Felix Okpara is a bouncy big man in the middle with a very high long-term ceiling. Brice Sensabaugh is the sleeper; a big-bodied mismatch playmaker on the perimeter with versatile guard skills, he's just outside the ESPN 100 for now but could be as good as anyone in the class for the Buckeyes. Bowen Hardman is a local product from the state of Ohio who adds perimeter shooting and floor-spacing ability to the attack. This group has as much depth as any class in the country to date.
8. Virginia Cavaliers
Previous ranking: 6
Top commit: PF Isaac Traudt (No. 45)
Virginia's 2022 recruiting class is shaping up to be one of the best the program has seen since 2016, which was the class that ultimately led Virginia to a national championship. Isaac McKneely is a skilled big guard who is tough, smart and capable of playing either on or off the ball, not unlike Ty Jerome once did for the Cavaliers. Leon Bond is an attacking wing with a strong body, burst in the open floor and all the attributes to evolve into a high-level defender. Traudt is a skilled 6-foot-8 forward who can stretch the floor to the arc and also operate off of different spots on the floor within offensive structure. Together, that trio gives Tony Bennett not just three ESPN 100 prospects but three players with complementing skill sets who should all fit into his system. And then Bennett went out and landed fast-rising wing Ryan Dunn, who didn't have a single Division I offer six months ago. At 6-6, he has size and length and can make shots from the perimeter.
9. USC Trojans
Previous ranking: 7
Top commit: C Kijani Wright (No. 37)
Andy Enfield has recruited elite frontcourt prospects at a higher rate than most coaches in the country, and he's continuing to stockpile talent up front in the 2022 class. The Trojans will welcome one of the better inside duos in the country in five-star center Vincent Iwuchukwu and top-40 power forward Wright. Iwuchukwu has steadily improved throughout his high school career and emerged as one of the most productive big men on the Nike EYBL circuit in July. Wright is a throwback big man who does most of his damage in the paint and on the backboard. He's a physical, effective rebounder. Four-star Oziyah Sellers is the third member of the Trojans' 2022 group; he's a local product who should make an impact on the offensive end.
10. Baylor Bears
Previous ranking: 8
Top commit: SG Keyonte George (No. 3)
What did Scott Drew do after winning a national championship? He landed one of the very best prospects in local product George, outdueling in-state rival Texas and a variety of others. George is one of the most polished shot-creators in high school basketball and tailor-made to make an immediate impact at the college level. He's joined by Dillon Hunter, another multidimensional offensive threat in the backcourt who has length, shooting touch and evolving playmaking ability to match. Australia native Joshua Ojianwuna committed in September; the four-star center should be one of the top international prospects entering college next season.
11. UCLA Bruins
Previous ranking: 9
Top commit: SG Amari Bailey (No. 4)
Coming off last year's Final Four run, Mick Cronin has the Bruins poised to rejoin college basketball's elite. He built off the momentum of last March's run by delivering a star-studded early recruiting class with some of the top prospects on the West Coast. Bailey isn't just one of the best players in high school basketball; he's also one of the most visible, so his commitment, which actually happened last February, will attract other players to follow suit. One such player is Dylan Andrews, a dynamic big guard with an attacking style who excels in the open floor but will also have the ability to defend the way Cronin demands.
12. Oregon Ducks
Previous ranking: 10
Top commit: PG Dior Johnson (No. 15)
Year in and year out, the Ducks continue to recruit at an elite level. Last year, they had one of the best incoming frontcourts in college basketball, and this year, they have one of the most college-ready point guards in Johnson. A true alpha who has grown up under the microscope after establishing himself as an elite prospect at a young age, Johnson appeared to be bound straight for the professional ranks before Oregon landed his pledge. He's joined by one of the most intriguing prospects in the ESPN 100 -- Kel'el Ware, a highly talented big man with size, skill, mobility and leaping ability, but a still inconsistent motor. If and when he figures that out, we could be looking at one of the best incoming tandems in the country yet again this year.
13. Indiana Hoosiers
Previous ranking: unranked
Top commit: PG Jalen Hood-Schifino (No. 24)
Mike Woodson and his staff continue to recruit at a high level, and in the class of 2022, that includes a trio of commitments, two of whom are ESPN 100 prospects. Hood-Schifino is one of the most versatile players in high school basketball. He's a big guard who defends at a high level, passes, attacks off the dribble and is capable of playing multiple positions. Kaleb Banks is an ultra-long forward who has come on strong since last spring and still has a huge upside left to discover. C.J. Gunn has untapped potential of his own as a rangy athlete with good perimeter size and shot-making ability on the wing.
14. Villanova Wildcats
Previous ranking: unranked
Top commit: PF Cameron Whitmore (No. 36)
Unlike nearly every other coach in the country, Jay Wright has mostly eschewed the transfer portal and relied more heavily on player development and recruiting high schoolers to fit his system. He's doing it again in the 2022 cycle with a solid three-man class so far. Whitmore is the perfect Villanova player. He's a high-motor forward who is relentless in transition and on the glass. He doesn't need plays run for him; he's productive regardless. Fellow ESPN 100 prospect Mark Armstrong is aggressive with the ball in his hands and difficult to keep out of the lane because of his ability to change speeds and directions. Rounding out the group is four-star Brendan Hausen, a terrific shooter from the perimeter who understands his role.
15. LSU Tigers
Previous ranking: unranked
Top commit: SF Julian Phillips (No. 14)
Will Wade has a pair of commitments inside the ESPN 100, including one of the best long-term prospects in the class in Phillips. A fluid big wing with skill and physical attributes alike, Phillips is still early in his overall arc but could end up being one of the best players to come out of this class. Devin Ree is a similar upside prospect with length, versatility and some emerging skill of his own. Don't expect LSU to be done yet, though, as the Tigers have brought in five or more freshman in three of the past four years and shown a willingness to recruit deep into the spring, or even summer, in order to do it.
16. Penn State Nittany Lions
Previous ranking: unranked
Top commit: C Kebba Njie (No. 79)
Micah Shrewsberry's first full recruiting class as the head coach of the Nittany Lions is shaping up to be a good one. It's a five-man group that ticks a lot of boxes, bringing a point guard, a pair of wings and then a couple of big guys -- including their lone ESPN 100 prospect in Njie. Njie blew up over the spring and summer and should be able to make an immediate impact, especially defensively and on the glass. The four-star duo of Jameel Brown and Kanye Clary should form the foundation for Penn State's backcourt. Clary is fearless going to the rim and crafty with the ball in his hands, while Brown is versatile and is a two-way contributor. Center Demetrius Lilley and small forward Evan Mahaffey round out the group.
17. Virginia Tech Hokies
Previous ranking: unranked
Top commit: SG Rodney Rice (No. 48)
Mike Young's best recruit this year might just be on his coaching staff, as he persuaded longtime DeMatha Catholic head coach Mike Jones to join his staff. Jones' presence helped land the commitment from DeMatha guard Rice, a top-50 player and one of the toughest shot-makers in the country. He will team up with another dynamic scoring guard, M.J. Collins, to give the Hokies two potent bucket-getters in the class. Pat Wessler gives them a 7-foot southpaw center with interior size, touch, passing acumen and instincts who should be an ideal fit in Young's system.
18. Miami Hurricanes
Previous ranking: unranked
Top commit: PF A.J. Casey (No. 57)
The Hurricanes made a late jump into the rankings after two commitments in one day in mid-October. First off the board was Danilo Jovanovich, a four-star forward from Wisconsin. He boosted his stock during the spring and summer, and Miami jumped into the mix following a strong July on the Nike EYBL circuit. The Hurricanes pulled Casey, the top recruit in the class, out of the Midwest, with DePaul among his finalists. Casey is an immediate-impact player who can really play in transition. The third member of the class is ESPN 100 wing Christian Watson, another player who had an impressive July. He has good physical skills and can make shots.
19. Michigan State Spartans
Previous ranking: unranked
Top commit: C Jaxon Kohler (No. 40)
The Spartans have only two commitments in the 2022 class so far, but both are ESPN 100 prospects who addressed major needs in the 2022-23 season: point guard and post. Starting on the perimeter, Tre Holloman committed in early August, choosing Michigan State over a slew of Midwest programs. He is a two-way player, a highly capable playmaker who can create for himself and his teammates but also an adept defender who can rack up steals. Up front, Kohler has a wide variety of post moves, perhaps the deepest arsenal of anyone in the 2022 class. He's also a very good passer to take advantage of double-teams. It wouldn't be a surprise to see Kohler make one of the biggest freshman impacts in the Big Ten next season.
20. UConn Huskies
Previous ranking: unranked
Top commit: PF Alex Karaban (No. 42)
The Huskies have reasserted themselves as one of the preeminent recruiting powers in the Northeast since Dan Hurley took the reigns. They've successfully recruited the tri-state area down through Philadelphia and into the DMV (D.C., Maryland, Virginia). This year, they've asserted their dominance in their own backyard, solidifying commitments from the two best local prospects in New England: Karaban and Donovan Clingan. Karaban is an ultra-efficient forward who is a versatile scorer but will provide UConn with the type of frontcourt facilitator it hasn't yet had under Hurley. Clingan is the most dominant prospect to come out of Connecticut high school basketball in the past 15 years with game-changing size, soft touch and passing acumen of his own.
21. Florida State Seminoles
Previous ranking: unranked
Top commit: PF De'Ante Green (No. 63)
Leonard Hamilton has been one of the more underrated recruiters in the country during his time at Florida State, and while there's no Scottie Barnes-level player in this class, the Seminoles have produced a number of first-round picks who weren't highly touted coming out of high school -- so keep an eye on this group. There are a pair of ESPN 100 prospects headlining the three-man class. Green is an inside-outside frontcourt weapon who has the size and finishing ability around the rim but can also step out and make face-up shots. Another frontcourt addition is center Cameron Corhen, a skilled big man who can stretch defenses. Three-star small forward Tom House is the third member of the trio.
22. Florida Gators
Previous ranking: unranked
Top commit: C Malik Reneau (No. 23)
Keeping Reneau home in the state of Florida was absolutely huge for Mike White and his staff. The lefty big man is fundamentally sound with versatile tools and, maybe most importantly, continues to ascend at a rapid rate. Denzel Aberdeen is another local product. A combo guard with good size, he should be capable of playing either on or off the ball, and he brings intangibles as well as tools on both ends of the floor.
23. Oklahoma Sooners
Previous ranking: unranked
Top commit: PG Milos Uzan (No. 52)
Porter Moser and his staff have not only landed a pair of ESPN 100 prospects who fit their planned system, but they've proved they can recruit coast to coast while doing it. Uzan is a big point guard from Las Vegas who is a high-level facilitator and deep shooter, and he should thrive in Moser's five-out system full of ball screens and handoffs. Otega Oweh is an explosive and powerful wing from New Jersey who gets downhill as well as any prospect in the country and has all the tools to be an elite defender.
24. Xavier Musketeers
Previous ranking: unranked
Top commit: SF Tyrell Ward (No. 55)
The Musketeers' two-man class of Ward and Kam Craft had as good a July as any duo in the country. Ward has plus length and makes plays at both ends of the floor. He's outstanding in transition but also crashes the glass and competes defensively. He's not a great shooter yet, but he had several games with multiple 3s, so there's clearly room for growth. Craft is an outstanding offensive player who can get going from the perimeter, but he can really attack the rim off the bounce and finish in the lane. He plays with plenty of confidence and is really difficult to handle when he gets hot from 3.
25. Houston Cougars
Previous ranking: unranked
Top commit: SG Emanuel Sharp (No. 60)
Kelvin Sampson and his staff are riding the wave of momentum coming off last year's Final Four run by building an early 2022 recruiting class that includes a pair of ESPN 100 products in Sharp and Terrance Arceneaux. Sharp is a big-bodied scoring guard with creativity and playmaking ability with the ball. Arceneaux is a local Houston native and a "head on the rim" type of athlete who can impact the game in a multitude of ways on both ends of the floor and on the glass.