We’re trending toward an awfully familiar situation at the top of the 2022 recruiting class rankings: Kentucky and Duke finishing at No. 1 and No. 2.
Arkansas looked set to crash the party earlier this fall after landing top-10 prospects Nick Smith and Jordan Walsh in a three-week span. Eric Musselman’s Razorbacks jumped Kentucky, which was No. 2 at the time, and closed the gap on top-ranked Duke.
Kentucky hit back with top-10 prospect Cason Wallace, the No. 2-ranked point guard in the class. With Wallace in the fold, Kentucky vaulted past Duke and Arkansas to move to No. 1. Shaedon Sharpe remains in the 2022 class for now, although what happens once he enrolls at Kentucky after the first semester remains to be seen.
The biggest riser since our last class rankings update was Alabama, which went from outside the top 25 to inside the top five, at No. 4 overall. The Crimson Tide had five-star Jaden Bradley — the No. 1 point guard in the country — in the fold entering November, then closed in a major way. Five-star forward Brandon Miller committed, followed by ESPN 100 frontcourt pieces Noah Clowney and Rylan Griffen. Junior college transfer Nick Pringle also pledged to Nate Oats’ program.
Kansas adding Ernest Udeh to its top-five class and UCLA signing five-star Adem Bona were enough to keep it within striking distance of the top tier.
With only nine ESPN 100 prospects still uncommitted — including zero five-stars — it’s unlikely we’re going to see much movement in the winter and spring. But there are some things to watch:
Further decommitments: There are four uncommitted players in the ESPN 100 who recently reopened their recruitments: Kamari Lands (No. 34), Judah Mintz (No. 43) and Amarr Knox (No. 67). Will anyone else join them, especially once the coaching carousel starts spinning?
Mark Mitchell: Ranked No. 30 in the ESPN 100, Mitchell is one of the highest-ranked prospects still on the board in 2022. He’s likely down to UCLA and Duke, and a decision one way or the other could change the class rankings. The Bruins adding Mitchell could push them into the top three or four, while Duke could close the gap on Kentucky.
Memphis making its move: Penny Hardaway’s Tigers finished with the No. 1 class in 2019 and the No. 2 class in 2021, but their lone commitment right now is four-star wing Noah Batchelor. It’s unlikely Memphis sits idly, though. The Tigers are in the mix for Yohan Traore (No. 29), Zion Cruz (No. 56) and Lands (No. 34).
Judah Mintz: Mintz decommitted from Pittsburgh on the first day of the early signing period and immediately became a sought-after prospect. Tennessee, Xavier, Florida, Penn State, Marquette, LSU, Arizona State, Northwestern, Texas and DePaul all reached out quickly, and Kansas joined the fray soon after.
Reclassifications: Memphis looked far from a threat to land a highly touted class in 2021, until Jalen Duren and Emoni Bates reclassified in August. Especially with name, image, likeness a factor in recruitments now, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see a few players move up from 2023 late in the process.
Previous ranking: 3
Top commit: SG Shaedon Sharpe (No. 1)
Kentucky overtook Duke for the No. 1 spot after point guard Cason Wallace (No. 9) committed to the Wildcats. Wallace was one of the best point guards in the class, and Kentucky beat out Tennessee and Texas for his commitment. John Calipari already had three five-star prospects in the fold. 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, has elite physical tools and is a finisher at the rim. He’s expected to enroll at Kentucky after the first semester and practice with the team before playing in games next season. 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 remained in 2022.
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. As 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.
Previous ranking: 2
Top commit: SG Nick Smith (No. 6)
The biggest riser in the class rankings earlier in the fall, Arkansas landed the top two uncommitted prospects in the country in October. 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.
Previous ranking: unranked
Top commit: PG Jaden Bradley (No. 8)
Remember when Nate Oats was coming to Alabama from Buffalo and people questioned if he’d be able to recruit in the SEC? It was only a few years ago, but it seems like a distant memory. Oats and his staff continue to prove their ability to land top national talent on an annual basis. This year, the current class features five commits, four of whom are high schoolers ranked in the ESPN 100, including two five-star prospects. It began with Bradley, one of the top point guards in the country who should be able to make an immediate contribution from day one. Brandon Miller is an elite long-term prospect with extreme versatility in his game and still plenty of untapped upside. Noah Clowney is a similar high-ceiling type of prospect at the center position, while Rylan Griffen is a long wing with a quick first step, good lift at the rim and other two-way tools.
Previous ranking: 4
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. The fourth piece to the puzzle was another frontcourt addition, with 6-foot-10 center Ernest Udeh picking the Jayhawks. The top-50 prospect plays with high energy and is excellent on the glass and at the rim in transition.
Previous ranking: 11
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. Pushing UCLA into the top 10 of the class rankings was five-star center Adem Bona, who picked the Bruins over Kentucky. Bona is an elite defensive big man with unbelievable physical tools. The Bruins have a chance to continue rising, as they remain in the mix for top-30 prospect Mark Mitchell.
Previous ranking: 9
Top commit: C Vincent Iwuchukwu (No. 11)
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 Iwuchukwu and top-40 power forward Kijani 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 who does most of his damage in the paint and on the backboard. He’s a physical, effective rebounder. Four-star Oziyah Sellers was the third member of the Trojans’ 2022 group; he’s a local product who should make an impact on the offensive end. Rounding out the group — and keeping the Trojans near the top of the Pac-12 class rankings — was top-50 prospect Tre White, an aggressive wing who can really score. He has good size and playmaking ability, and is also a capable defender.
Previous ranking: 5
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.
Previous ranking: 6
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.
Previous ranking: 7
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.
Previous ranking: 8
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.
Previous ranking: 25
Top commit: PF Jarace Walker (No. 19)
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 program-record three ESPN 100 products. The big fish is Walker, the top-ranked power forward in the 2022 class. Walker was the program’s highest-ranked commitment since Danuel House committed back in 2012. He’s a powerful scorer around the rim with one of the better low-post games in the class. Emanuel Sharp is a big-bodied scoring guard with creativity and playmaking ability with the ball. Terrance 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.
Previous ranking: 10
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.
Previous ranking: 12
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. Junior college transfer Tyrone Williams rounds out the group.
Previous ranking: unranked
Top commit: SF Dillon Mitchell (No. 18)
Chris Beard has a pair of immediate impact players coming his way in the class of 2022, both of whom should help upgrade the roster. Five-star forward Mitchell gives him the type of effortless and extreme mover and leaper that Texas may not have on its roster right now. He thrives in transition and is an emphatic finisher and highly versatile defender with some developing skills. Arterio Morris is a big guard with one of the highest upsides of any guard in the country. He has explosiveness and competitiveness to match his size and the ability to change the game on both ends of the floor. The Longhorns are likely not done yet though and will undoubtedly continue to be active both in the high school ranks and on the transfer market.
Previous ranking: 22
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. White shored up his frontcourt with the addition of ESPN 100 center Jalen Reed, a skilled 6-foot-9 frontcourt prospect. He can make shots when facing up and only needs to add physicality to continue being a matchup problem at the college level.
Previous ranking: 13
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.
Previous ranking: 18
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. The Hurricanes then signed four-star center Favour Aire during the early signing period. Aire has been a touted name for a few years, and still possesses a high ceiling up front.
Previous ranking: 21
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 six-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. Four-star guard Chandler Jackson will provide backcourt depth; he had a number of high-major programs chasing him in the fall. Three-star wings Tom House and Jeremiah Bembry, as well as 7-foot-2 center Alaaeddine Boutayeb, round out the group.
Previous ranking: unranked
Top commit: SG J.J. Starling (No. 27)
Mike Brey needed an immediate impact class, and he and his staff have put together just that. They went head-to-head with Duke and others to land a commitment from five-star guard Starling, a skilled shot-maker with rapidly expanding playmaking ability to match. Ven-Allen Lubin gives them a mismatch forward who can attack and facilitate both in the open floor and half-court. He should benefit from the freedom Brey has historically allowed his frontcourt. Finally, Dom Campbell provides a skilled 5 who can stretch the floor, create space in the lane, and pass the basketball.
Previous ranking: 14
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.
Previous ranking: unranked
Top commit: Ty Rodgers (No. 49)
The Fighting Illini made a late surge into the rankings after Ty Rodgers picked Brad Underwood’s program on the final day of the early signing period. They beat out a final list that also included Michigan State, Memphis and Alabama, although the conference rival Spartans were making the biggest push. Rodgers has been a known commodity in recruiting circles during the entirety of his high school career, and he’s considered an impressive recruiting get for Underwood. He’ll thrive in the mid-range and around the rim, and the versatile Rodgers is also a factor in transition. The other ESPN 100 prospect in the class is Jayden Epps, a former Providence commit who reopened his recruitment back in May. Epps can play both backcourt positions and can score in a variety of ways. Four-star guard Sencire Harris rounds out the class; he’s a lefty who should make an impact on the offensive end, especially from the perimeter.
Previous ranking: unranked
Top commit: SF Chris Bunch (No. 97)
Syracuse has built a class loaded with both depth and versatility. Bunch is a bouncy forward with shot-making ability on the wing while fellow ESPN 100 forward Justin Taylor provides another floor-spacer. Quadir Copeland is the type of big guard that has historically thrived in Syracuse’s system with a rare combination of size at 6-foot-6 and playmaking ability for others. Maliq Brown is a high-motored big who is active and bouncy around the floor with the ability to change ends and win rebounds and 50/50 balls. Peter Carey is more of a long-term project but has a clear upside as a lob-threat and rim protector. Together, five players can play multiple positions and have clear value in the zone.
Previous ranking: 15
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.
Previous ranking: 16
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.
Dropped out: Virginia Tech (17), Michigan State (19), UConn (20), Oklahoma (23), Xavier (24)