Arizona Basketball 2018 Recruiting Class Ranked #4, USC is #1 at the moment

[DWIZZ]

Expect Arizona to move up as they will be adding some big time recruits to the 2018 class. 5 Star Emmanuel Akot also reclassified from 2018 to 2017, which affected the ranking. Check out the Top 15 below.

With the amount of 2018 prospects flying off the board prior to the July evaluation periods, the 2018 class rankings were in need of an update. With their recent run of pledges, USC tops Louisville for the No. 1 recruiting class.


#1 USC Trojans

It's been a big time start for USC's 2018 recruiting class, as the Trojans hold commitments from two Top 30 prospects and one Top 100 one, all of which committed in the last week and a half. This class is headlined by Taeshon Cherry, a 6-foot-9 Top 25 hybrid forward who is an extremely versatile prospect that can shoot, rebound, defend and pass. Top 30 shooting guard Kevin Porter will be able to play both the two and three for Andy Enfield and staff with his size, length, athleticism, handle and shooting plus scoring ability. Top 100 post J'Raan Brooks is another versatile player who can play both the four and five at the next level given his motor, rebounding ability and the fact he can face or post up.

Notable Commitments: Taeshon Cherry (24), Kevin Porter Jr. (26) and J'Raan Brooks (86).


#2 Louisville Cardinals

With two Top 30 commitments early, it's safe to say that Louisville is off to a good start in 2018. The class is currently headlined by Top 20 point guard Courtney Ramey, a five-star prospect with good size, plus quickness, high level vision, the ability to get to the basket and finish who plays with a chip on his shoulder. The Cardinals also hold a commitment from one of the top scorers in the country in Anfernee Simons. The 6-foot-3 shooting guard is a big time scorer who can drain jumpers from three, pull up from midrange or get to the basket.

Notable Commitments: Courtney Ramey (19) and Anfernee Simons (27).


#3 Maryland Terrapins

Maryland has landed two Top 50 prospects to start off its 2018 class, giving the Terrapins one of the top initial hauls in the country. Jalen Smith is a four-star post who could be a high level rebounder in college. He has good size, has potential as a defender, can shoot out to midrange, runs the floor and is filled with upside. Four-star shooting guard Aaron Wiggins is one of the most promising wing prospects in the class. Wiggins has good size and length, can shoot it from three, pull up from midrange and get to the basket.

Notable Commitments: Jalen Smith (31) and Aaron Wiggins (45).


#4 Arizona Wildcats

Sean Miller and Arizona's staff have done a good job keeping top West Coast prospects home and the Wildcats are doing the same in 2018. Four-star point guard Brandon Williams has been sidelined for almost a year with a knee injury, but before he got hurt was a Top 25 prospect due to his handle, quickness, shooting ability and vision. Shareef O'Neal, the son of Hall of Famer Shaquille O'Neal, is a face up four man with good size and length who is a quality athlete that can really shoot it from deep.

Notable Commitments: Brandon Williams (35) and Shareef O'Neal (40).


#5 Notre Dame Fighting Irish

It has been an excellent start for Notre Dame to their 2018 recruiting class. The Fighting Irish have loaded up in the backcourt. Notre Dame has landed three pledges, all of which play on the perimeter. The highest rated is combo guard Prentiss Hubb who committed from the Washington D.C. are. Hubb is a scoring point guard who also has good athleticism. After landing Hubb, the Irish got a pair of talented wings who can really shoot the ball. Dane Goodwin might be the best pure shooter in the Midwest while Robby Carmody is tough as nails and can fill it up from deep as well. Now Notre Dame will try to address their frontcourt, but already they have one of the most talented trio of guards of any school in the country.

Notable Commitments: Prentiss Hubb (56), Dane Goodwin (89), Robby Carmody (94)


#6 Michigan State Spartans

The Michigan State Spartans are off to a tremendous start on the recruiting trail with four in-state commitments. The headliner for Tom Izzo and his staff is Marcus Bingham. Bingham has a ceiling that is as high as any prospect in the class with his combination of length, athleticism, and skill. Beyond him, shooter Gabe Brown could emerge as one of the more underappreciated wings in the class, while Foster Loyer is a tough point guard who can shoot, and Thomas Kithier will bring depth and versatility down low.

Notable Commitments: Marcus Bingham (55), Gabe Brown (100), Foster Loyer, Thomas Kithier


#7 North Carolina Tar Heels

The North Carolina Tar Heels got off to an excellent start reeling in two in-state prospects. The leader of the class is big time scorer Coby White. White proved all spring and summer that he is one of the truly elite bucket getters in the class. He is very adept at getting into the lane off the bounce, and once there he has a variety of tricks for how to score. Also he is a good mid-range shooter and also has three point range. Rechon Black gives the Tar Heels a versatile wing with length and a skill set. He has all the tools to be a major talent if he can turn up his motor.

Notable Commitments: Coby White (30), Rechon Black (84)


#8 Auburn Tigers

It is only a one man class so far for the Auburn Tigers, but the prospect is a very talented one. Five-star power forward E.J. Montgomery made an early pledge to Bruce Pearl and his staff, and he brings a big time combination of skill, athleticism, and size. While at times Montgomery doesn't dominant like he is physically capable of, he does have big time upside. Also Montgomery has taken steps forward with his motor and consistency over the last year. As he continues to gain confidence, the sky is the limit for Montgomery.

Notable Commitments: E.J. Montgomery (13)


#9 LSU Tigers

From the day Will Wade got the job at LSU priority number one on the recruiting trail was keeping five-star point guard JaVonte Smart home. Smart, who has been a star since his freshman season, is a local product who has significant talent. At his best Smart is a good athlete who can really shoot it and also get to the rim. He can be a bit ball dominant at times, but the natural tools are through the roof, and Smart sets the tone for what could be a tremendous class for Wade.

Notable Commitments: JaVonte Smart (17)


#10 Villanova Wildcats

Jay Wright and his staff always do a good job of evaluating and figuring out the right players for their system, and they got two good ones to begin the 2018 class. The Villanova now have commitments from a pair of four-star prospects. The higher rated of the two is wing Brandon Slater. Slater is from Washington D.C. and has long arms, a nice shooting stroke, and brings a lot of defensive versatility. The only question with Slater is how hard will he play consistently. Also Villanova landed Cole Swider who might be the best shooting power forward in the class, and should fit right in with what Wright and staff like from that position.

Notable Commitments: Brandon Slater (43), Cole Swider (69)


#11 California Bears

It hasn't taken long for new Cal coach Wyking Jones to make a splash on the recruiting trail, reeling in a pair of top 75 recruits in Matt Bradley and Jacobi Gordon in his first few months on the job. Matt Bradley and Jacobi Gordon give the Bears two impactful wing players. Bradley is a tough, competitive perimeter player that impacts the game with his scoring and defense. Gordon, a native of Texas, is a bigger wing with good athleticism and scoring ability.

Notable Commitments: Matt Bradley (65), Jacobi Gordon (75)


#12 Michigan Wolverines

John Beilein didn't have to travel far to secure his 2018 recruiting class. All three prospects that made early pledges hail from the state of Michigan. Brandon Johns is the highest rated of the bunch and is in the midst of a terrific spring playing for Spiece on the EYBL Circuit. A versatile forward, Johns is a good athlete that can play either forward spot. Taylor Currie, a four-star prospect, gives the Wolverines a true post in the class, while David DeJulius gives them a combo guard that can fill it up.

Notable Commitments: Brandon Johns (99), Taylor Currie, David DeJulius


#13 Stanford Cardinal

Jerod Haase and his staff are having immediate recruiting success at Stanford. Their 2017 class was rated as a top 10 class and their 2018 group is certainly off to a strong start. Stanford went across the country to snag one of the nation's best shooters in Cormac Ryan. Ryan, a top 50 recruit, is much more than just a knockdown shooter, as he's skilled, has a high basketball IQ and is capable of making shots off the bounce. To go with Ryan, Stanford reeled in three-star 7-footer Keenan Fitzmorris, who is more of a longterm player, but is equipped with upside and natural ability.

Notable Commitments: Cormac Ryan (46), Keenan Fitzmorris


#14 DePaul Blue Demons

DePaul has had success in the transfer market and on the recruiting trail as of late. To go with adding Jalen Coleman-Lands, a transfer from Illinois, the Blue Demons also recently snagged four-star point guard Tyger Campbell. A crafty player, Campbell is a good passer, is equipped with a quick first step and is also a capable shot maker. Speaking of shooters, DePaul also holds a pledge from John Diener.

Notable Commitments: Tyger Campbell (53), John Diener


#15 Arkansas Razorbacks

With four commitments already - all of which play on the same AAU team - Arkansas's 2018 recruiting class has been almost completed for several months. Top 25 power forward Reginald Perry is easily the signature commitment of this group. The 6-foot-8 four man has good size and long arms and score facing the basket with his jumper or by posting up. Ethan Henderson is a four-star power forward with a high upside given his size and athleticism, while Isaiah Joe gives the Razorbacks a player who can really stretch the floor with his shooting.


Read 2018 Top 15 Class rankings Click Here

[mvpreed2]

Nothing to worry about in July.
How about we check this list in April/May after the tourney?
By then, Arizona will be sitting atop the PAC-12.

USC has hit their "available" scholarship total, so unless they have extra departures that will be their class.
We will have about 3-5 extra bodies to bring in, and the way Miller has been recruiting, all of them will be ranked.
This may be the year we upend Duke/Kentucky for their run as the top two recruiting classes in the country.