Given the rise in popularity of the transfer portal and programs electing to prioritize older players who are ready-made impact players, high school prospects are ending their recruitments earlier and earlier. Very few recruits are opting to wait around until the spring, when coaches focus far more on the portal than the high school landscape.
There are only around 20 players in the ESPN 100 still available, with several more expected to come off the board between now and the end of next week.
With only a couple of days until the early signing period, it's time to take stock of the best recruiting classes in the country -- and the big storylines surrounding the best of the best.
Can anyone catch Duke at No. 1?
Duke's lead for the top recruiting class in the country is going to be difficult to erase, regardless of where the rest of the uncommitted five-star prospects land. Cooper Flagg, the best prospect in the country by some distance, simply gives the Blue Devils a different caliber of player. If Rutgers lands No. 2 recruit Dylan Harper (more on that in a second), the Scarlet Knights will have two of the top three prospects in the country -- and that still might not be enough to overcome Duke's quintet of top-50 prospects. And if the Blue Devils counter with V.J. Edgecombe, it likely ends the debate for the rest of the cycle.
So ... Rutgers?
Rutgers already has a commitment from No. 3 prospect Airious "Ace" Bailey, who is enough to almost single-handedly get the Scarlet Knights into the top 10 classes nationally. But Steve Pikiell's program is also the heavy favorite for Dylan Harper, the No. 2 overall recruit and the top uncommitted player in the 2024 class. Not only would the Scarlet Knights be beating out blue bloods for Harper, but it would give them one of the elite recruiting classes in the country. Consider this: Rutgers has six total ESPN 100 commitments in the 17 recruiting classes since the ESPN recruiting database began in 2007. Only one was ranked in the top 50.
Where's Kentucky?
The Wildcats are a mainstay near the top of the recruiting rankings and are coming off the No. 1-ranked class in the country in 2023. But as we enter the early signing period, John Calipari's class is currently ranked outside the top 10. Kentucky did swing and miss on a few notable targets, and it has only two pledges right now: Boogie Fland (No. 18) and Somto Cyril (No. 55). It's not quite time to worry yet, though. The Wildcats are the favorite for Jayden Quaintance (No. 14) and Billy Richmond (No. 34).
Four classes to watch
There could be a handful of new schools in the top 10 by the time the early signing period ends, and here are four we're keeping a close eye on: Baylor, Georgia, Indiana and Texas.
Baylor already has two top-40 commits in Jason Asemota (No. 29) and Robert Wright III (No. 37), so the Bears are knocking on the door regardless. But they're also one of two finalists for elite guard Tre Johnson (No. 4), the second-best uncommitted prospect in the country. That's where the Longhorns fit into this equation as well. Rodney Terry secured a pledge from top-25 wing Cameron Scott (No. 24) and ESPN 100 forward Nic Codie (No. 67). Texas would move into the rankings with Johnson in the fold.
Outside of Rutgers, Georgia could end up being the surprise package of this year's recruiting rankings. Late last month, the Bulldogs landed Asa Newell (No. 11), just the second five-star prospect to commit to Georgia since the ESPN recruiting database began in 2007. And they were the favorite to get Derrion Reid (No. 9) a couple of days later, before he suddenly delayed his announcement. They're still in the mix for Reid, though, as well as top-25 forward Khani Rooths (No. 23).
Then there's Indiana, which entered the fall with three primary targets: Liam McNeeley (No. 13), Boogie Fland (No. 18) and Derik Queen (No. 15). The Hoosiers beat out Kansas for McNeeley, lost out late to Kentucky for Fland and are now in a neck-and-neck battle with Maryland for Queen, who is expected to commit soon.
Note: Class rankings are determined by a mathematical formula weighting different factors related to the quality and quantity of players in the class.
1. Duke Blue Devils
Top commit: Cooper Flagg (No. 1)
Duke has a sizable lead in the race for the No. 1 class in the country, with three five-star commits, four top-25 commits and five inside the top 50. It starts with Cooper Flagg, the best player in high school basketball and the heavy favorite to be the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA draft. On his own, Flagg would be enough to give Duke a shot at the top class. But when he committed, coach Jon Scheyer already had commitments from Isaiah Evans (No. 8), Kon Knueppel (No. 22) and Darren Harris (No. 45). And then Duke added another five-star in the form of Pat Ngongba (No. 19), one of the few top-tier bigs in the class. The Blue Devils are still in the hunt for elite wing V.J. Edgecombe (No. 5).
2. North Carolina Tar Heels
Top commit: Drake Powell (No. 12)
This class could have given Duke a run for its money at No. 1 had Elliot Cadeau stuck in 2024, but the elite passing point guard reclassified up a year, so Carolina will have to settle for No. 2 for now. The Tar Heels are still bringing in two five-star wings in Drake Powell (No. 12) and Ian Jackson (No. 17), as well as four-star power forward James Brown (No. 68). Powell is a terrific athlete who contributes at both ends of the floor, while Jackson is a former top-five prospect who has dropped spots in the rankings due to inconsistency. But when he's at his best, he can score points in a hurry.
3. Kansas Jayhawks
Top commit: Flory Bidunga (No. 6)
Kansas has three ESPN 100 prospects already in the fold, led by Flory Bidunga (No. 6), the best big man in the country. Bidunga is a big-time recruit who can finish around the rim, rebound at both ends and make an impact as a shot-blocker on the interior. It's his motor that will separate him at the next level. Along with Bidunga, Bill Self is bringing in point guard Labaron Philon (No. 35) and Rakease Passmore (No. 52). Philon is a former Auburn commit, while the Jayhawks made up a ton of ground toward the end of Passmore's recruitment to land his pledge.
4. Arizona Wildcats
Top commit: Carter Bryant (No. 10)
Tommy Lloyd did his work early in the 2024 cycle, picking up the two anchors in his recruiting class before the summer began. Guard Jamari Phillips (No. 26) picked the Wildcats last December. Phillips can play either guard spot, continues to improve his offensive game and is capable of getting to the rim or shooting from the perimeter. Carter Bryant (No. 10) popped into the fold this spring. He has been on the radar for a couple of years and really started to put things together over the past few months with length, shooting ability and feel as his strengths. Emmanuel Stephen (No. 95) rounded out the trio in early October.
5. Michigan State Spartans
Top commit: Jase Richardson (No. 28)
Could Tom Izzo land back-to-back top-five recruiting classes? The Spartans finished at No. 4 in the 2023 cycle, led by big man Xavier Booker. At this point, they don't have a five-star prospect in the group, but there are three ESPN 100 talents in the Spartans' class. Top-40 guards Jase Richardson (No. 28) and Kur Teng (No. 39) lead the way. Richardson, the son of former NBA veteran Jason, is an adept playmaker, creating his own shot and taking care of the ball. Teng is a perfect Izzo player, demonstrating toughness and scoring ability. The third member of the class is Ohio native Jesse McCullough (No. 98), a 6-foot-9 center.
6. Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Top commit: Airious "Ace" Bailey (No. 3)
Rutgers could end up with one of the elite classes in college basketball, as mentioned above. But even if the Scarlet Knights don't land Harper, Steve Pikiell already has an immediate difference-maker in Bailey (No. 3). A 6-foot-8 wing from Georgia, Bailey has incredible physical tools and can make an impact on the offensive end with his ability to get to the rim, shoot from the perimeter and distribute. The Scarlet Knights also have ESPN 100 center Lathan Sommerville (No. 87), four-star power forward Dylan Grant and three-star forward Bryce Dortch.
7. Georgetown Hoyas
Top commit: Thomas Sorber (No. 60)
Ed Cooley's first full recruiting class in the nation's capital is in great shape. The Hoyas have four four-star prospects, including three ranked inside the ESPN 100. Drew McKenna (No. 71) initially planned to reclassify into 2023 after committing to Georgetown, but he's not going to suit up until the 2024-25 season, so he's remaining in the ESPN 100 until further notice. Along with McKenna, there's 6-9 center Thomas Sorber (No. 60) and 6-6 wing Kayvaun Mulready (No. 75), both ESPN 100 prospects. Four-star Washington, D.C., product Caleb Williams rounds out the quartet.
8. Missouri Tigers
Top commit: Annor Boateng (No. 30)
Missouri was involved in some high-level recruiting battles this cycle, winning some and losing some -- and still entering the early signing period with a very strong five-man class. Annor Boateng (No. 30) is the top name in the group. Dennis Gates was able to get him out of the state of Arkansas, and Boateng should be a perfect fit for his system at both ends of the floor. The same goes for Florida native Marcus Allen (No. 64), a tough, versatile, two-way player who plays with energy. Four-star center Peyton Marshall, a former Auburn commit, provides plenty of size on the interior, while 7-2 Trent Burns has a noteworthy ceiling. Point guard T.O. Barrett will provide depth.
9. USC Trojans
Top commit: Trent Perry (No. 42)
A year after landing the No. 1 prospect in the 2023 class, Andy Enfield is tracking for his third consecutive top-15 recruiting class. The Trojans aren't going to sign the best player in the country again, but they already have three ESPN 100 prospects ready to go. The highest-ranked of the bunch is Trent Perry (No. 42), who committed last month. He's a steady and unselfish point guard who showed promise as a scorer over the summer. Joining Perry are four-star shooting guard Liam Campbell (No. 76) and four-star forward Brody Kozlowski (No. 97), both of whom should help immediately as perimeter shooters.
10. Miami Hurricanes
Top commit: Jalil Bethea (No. 7)
The momentum from Miami's Final Four run has carried over to the recruiting trail with the Hurricanes landing top-10 senior Jalil Bethea (No. 7) -- the program's highest-ranked recruit in nearly 40 years. Bethea is coming off a breakout summer in which he cemented himself as one of the best backcourt players in the country. He can score at all three levels and will be able to get points immediately in Coral Gables. Next to him in Miami's future backcourt is Austin Swartz (No. 51), another high-level scorer who can really shoot it from 3. Three-star Isaiah Johnson-Arigu is the third member of the group.