After a slow winter that saw only three ESPN 100 prospects commit between the end of the early signing period and our most recent rankings update in January, there was a flurry of activity toward the end of the men’s college basketball season and in the first couple weeks of the offseason.
As always, it was mostly due to the coaching carousel. Coaching changes led to decommitments from more than a dozen players — although a couple of them, Skyy Clark (Kentucky to Illinois) and Dillon Mitchell (originally committed to Baylor), were not due to the carousel.
So while the rankings at the top didn’t change drastically, there were plenty of headlines with the newest — not final, which we’ll get to shortly — class rankings update.
Arkansas moves to No. 2: Eric Musselman has established himself as one of the best transfer recruiters in the country, but in the 2022 class, Musselman and the Razorbacks were excellent on the high school trail. They already had top-10 prospects Nick Smith and Jordan Walsh committed in the fall, and then they added a third five-star prospect in the spring in Anthony Black. Landing Black, for whom Arkansas beat out Gonzaga and others, solidified Arkansas behind only Duke in the rankings.
Indiana rises into the top 10: Coach Mike Woodson continues to answer questions about his recruiting ability. After landing Tamar Bates in the 2021 class, Woodson added two more top-25 prospects in 2022, getting former Florida commit Malik Reneau to join the fold earlier this week. Reneau and Jalen Hood-Schifino should be impact players, while ESPN 100 forward Kaleb Banks has plenty of upside.
LSU and Florida see biggest fall: Both SEC programs had coaching changes and essentially saw their entire classes disappear. The Tigers saw the bigger impact. Out the door went ESPN 100 prospects Julian Phillips — a five-star wing — Yohan Traore and Devin Ree following Will Wade’s firing, and the Tigers dropped from the rankings. LSU coach Matt McMahon has done well in the transfer portal thus far, however. In Gainesville, the Gators went from Mike White to Todd Golden and lost five-star Reneau and ESPN 100 frontcourt prospect Jalen Reed. But Golden has already landed multiple transfers and is also in the mix for former Xavier commit Tyrell Ward.
Who’s left in the ESPN 100? There aren’t too many ESPN 100 prospects left, but there has been a significant increase in the past few weeks. Former LSU five-star recruit Julian Phillips is the biggest prize left on the board; Tennessee and Auburn seem to be the leaders here. The aforementioned Tyrell Ward has Virginia Tech, LSU, Florida and others on his list. Seven-footer Adrame Diongue is considering UNLV, Washington State and others, while former Mississippi State commit Riley Kugel is also on the board. Two more recent decommits are also still available: Devin Ree (LSU) and Jalen Reed (Florida). Ree visited Louisville, while Reed just decommitted on Monday night.
What’s next? There are always going to be more twists and turns as we enter the summer. One, there will likely be reclassifications. Last year, Emoni Bates and Jalen Duren both reclassified and committed to Memphis, which created a seismic shift to the class rankings — and the preseason college hoops rankings. Two, there will be some late international commitments, with the biggest prize remaining clearly being Canadian-born Leonard Miller. He’s considering Kentucky, Arizona and the G League. Speaking of the G League, will it — or Overtime Elite — look to snag any currently signed 2022 prospects? And lastly, will any transfer commitments have a domino effect and cause any more decommitments?
Previous ranking: 1
Top commit: C Dereck Lively (No. 1)
It was imperative the Blue Devils start strong in recruiting after they announced Jon Scheyer would succeed Mike Krzyzewski for the 2022-23 season. With Coach K not out on the recruiting trail 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 foot 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. It wasn’t until the Blue Devils earned a commitment from top-30 forward Mark Mitchell that they took over the No. 1 class, however. Mitchell is a strong, slashing lefty who can really pass. Duke also landed top-50 guard Jaden Schutt, one of the best shooters in the 2022 class, and Christian Reeves, a 7-foot-1 center out of Oak Hill Academy (Virginia).
Previous ranking: 3
Top commit: SG Nick Smith (No. 3)
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. In the spring, the Razorbacks went out and landed a third five-star prospect in Anthony Black — arguably the biggest stock-riser last spring and summer. Black is a terrific playmaker and passer, especially at his 6-foot-7 size.
Previous ranking: 5
Top commit: SF Brandon Miller (No. 9)
Remember when Nate Oats was going to Alabama from Buffalo and people questioned whether 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 Jaden Bradley, one of the top point guards in the country who should be able to make an immediate contribution from day one. 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. Rounding out the class is Nick Pringle, a 6-foot-9 power forward considered one of the best junior college prospects in the country.
Previous ranking: 6
Top commit: SG Amari Bailey (No. 5)
Coming off the 2021 Final Four appearance, coach 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 in February 2020, 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.
Previous ranking: 4
Top commit: SF Gradey Dick (No. 14)
While Bill Self built this season’s national champions with veterans and a few key additions in the transfer portal, 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. M.J. 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: 2
Top commit: SF Chris Livingston (No. 12)
Kentucky overtook Duke for the No. 1 spot after point guard Cason Wallace committed to the Wildcats in early November, and it held on to that position until Duke landed Mark Mitchell a month later. 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 — although he’s now technically down to just one other. Former No. 1 overall prospect Shaedon Sharpe wasn’t ranked at all in the summer of 2020, but he established himself last 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 enrolled at Kentucky after the first semester but didn’t play and recently entered the NBA draft. 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. Skyy Clark, a 6-foot-3 point guard who missed the summer with an ACL injury, was the first member of the class in October 2020, but he decommitted in early March.
Previous ranking: 8
Top commit: SF Dillon Mitchell (No. 4)
Chris Beard has a trio of immediate impact players coming his way in the class of 2022, a group that should help upgrade — and balance out — the transfer-heavy roster. Five-star forward Mitchell gives him the type of effortless and extreme mover and leaper that Texas might 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 third member of Texas’ class is ESPN 100 guard Rowan Brumbaugh, who picked the Longhorns shortly after decommitting from Northwestern in late December. Texas finished second to the Wildcats when Brumbaugh originally committed, but the Longhorns got their man the second time around.
Previous ranking: 18
Top commit: C Malik Reneau (No. 22)
Mike Woodson and his staff continue to recruit at a high level, and in the 2022 class, that includes a quartet of commitments, featuring two top-25 recruits and three ESPN 100 prospects. High school teammates Reneau and Jalen Hood-Schifino are the headliners. Reneau committed in mid-April after decommitting from Florida; he’s a productive inside player who enjoyed a breakout summer on the EYBL circuit. 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 contributor with good perimeter size and shot-making ability on the wing.
Previous ranking: 7
Top commit: SF Brice Sensabaugh (No. 42)
No one did more work early in this recruiting class thanChris Holtmann and his staff at Ohio State. Not only did they land five early pledges, including three ESPN 100 prospects, but they’re all strategic additions who fit their system and culture. Bruce 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. Sensabaugh was the sleeper, but he is now the highest-ranked prospect in the class. He’s a big-bodied mismatch playmaker on the perimeter with versatile guard skills. 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: 9
Top commit: SF Tre White (No. 28)
Andy Enfield has recruited elite frontcourt prospects at a higher rate than most coaches in the country, and he continued 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 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-30 prospect White, an aggressive wing who can really score. He has good size and playmaking ability and is also a capable defender. He ended up as the highest-ranked prospect in USC’s class.
Previous ranking: 22
Top commit: PG Skyy Clark (No. 25)
The Fighting Illini made a late surge into the fall 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. He’ll thrive in the midrange and around the rim, and the versatile Rodgers is also a factor in transition. The Fighting Illini then made another jump in the spring after landing former Kentucky commit Clark a few weeks after he reopened his recruitment. When fully healthy, Clark is one of the best point guards in the 2022 class. 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: SG T.J. Caldwell (No. 97)
Kermit Davis’ program sees the biggest rise of any in the final rankings update thanks to two guards entering the ESPN 100. Caldwell slots in at No. 97 and Amaree Abram is right behind him at No. 98. Caldwell had a strong high school season, showing a more versatile offensive game in addition to his open-court explosiveness. Abram committed in March; he’s another very good scorer who can also distribute. Four-star center Malique Ewin dropped out of the top 100, but the Georgia-born standout is another quality pickup for the Rebels, while four-star shooting guard Robert Cowherd is the fourth member of the group. Davis needs a big 2022-23 campaign, and the incoming quartet should help.
Previous ranking: 11
Top commit: C Tarris Reed (No. 31)
After landing the No. 1 recruiting class in the country in 2021, coach Juwan Howard is back in the top 15 with three ESPN 100 commitments. Reed is the headliner, and he’ll be one of the players to help replace Hunter Dickinson in 2022-23 if Dickinson leaves for the NBA. He’s a physical inside player and a terrific offensive rebounder. Point guard Dug McDaniel committed before last summer. Howard had to rely on a grad transfer point guard the past two seasons, but perhaps McDaniel can stop that trend. The third 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. Four-star forward Gregg Glenn rounds out the class.
Previous ranking: 12
Top commit: PF Isaac Traudt (No. 47)
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 coach 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: 15
Top commit: C Kel’el Ware (No. 8)
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 will have a high-ceiling big man in Ware and one of the most college-ready point guards in Dior Johnson. Ware is one of the most intriguing prospects in the ESPN 100, a highly talented big man with size, skill, mobility and leaping ability, but an inconsistent motor. If and when he figures that out, we could be looking at one of the best incoming tandems in the country. Johnson is a true alpha who has grown up under the microscope after establishing himself as an elite prospect at a young age, and he appeared to be bound straight for the professional ranks before Oregon landed his pledge. Junior college transfers Tyrone Williams and Brennan Rigsby complete the quartet.
Previous ranking: 10
Top commit: C Jalen Washington (No. 37)
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 last 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 country with a pure release on his jumper. After reaching the national championship game in Year 1, Davis is adding depth to go with one of the best returning groups in the country.
Previous ranking: unranked
Top commit: C Yohan Traore (No. 27)
Bruce Pearl had one of the nation’s most talented teams this past season, and while he built the Tigers mostly via the transfer portal in 2021-22, he’s bringing in a couple of impact recruits — while still going hard on the transfer market, of course. Traore, a former LSU commit who reopened his recruitment and then picked Auburn, had a breakout summer in 2021. He’s versatile, runs the floor and is also highly effective around the rim. Chance Westry is another top-40 pledge. He has good size for the perimeter and will be able to fill multiple roles for Auburn. Four-star point guard Tre Donaldson is also in the fold; the Florida product will provide backcourt depth.
Previous ranking: unranked
Top commit: SG Judah Mintz (No. 33)
After finishing below .500 for the first time in Jim Boeheim’s 46 years at the helm, the Orange needed to reload — and quickly. There is only one ESPN 100 prospect in this group, but it’s a six-man class that will provide Syracuse with more depth and versatility than it had this past season. Mintz, who decommitted from Pittsburgh in the winter, is the immediate-impact player out of the group. He can play either guard spot and can score at different levels. He’s at his best going to the rim but can also make shots from the perimeter. The Orange also landed a trio of four-star prospects: forwards Justin Taylor and Chris Bunch and guard Quadir Copeland. Taylor can score at the rim or from the perimeter; Bunch has length and shooting ability; and Copeland brings good size to the backcourt. Maliq Brown and Peter Carey are also committed.
Previous ranking: 16
Top commit: SG J.J. Starling (No. 18)
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 the Irish 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: 19
Top commit: PF A.J. Casey (No. 55)
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 he still possesses a high ceiling up front.
Previous ranking: 20
Top commit: PF De’Ante Green (No. 60)
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 five-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 round out the class.
Previous ranking: 21
Top commit: PF Cameron Whitmore (No. 21)
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: 14
Top commit: PF Jarace Walker (No. 10)
Kelvin Sampson and his staff are riding the wave of momentum coming off a Final Four run in 2021, an Elite Eight appearance this past season — and preseason top-five hype for 2022-23 thanks in part to the Cougars’ incoming class. The big catch 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. ESPN 100 wing 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: unranked
Top commit: SG Rodney Rice (No. 45)
Mike Young continues to upgrade the talent level in Blacksburg, and after winning the ACC tournament and guiding the Hokies to their second straight NCAA tournament, they now have a top-25 recruiting class too. Rice is the big name. The top-50 recruit had a very solid summer, and Tech beat out Louisville for his signature. Rice’s offensive ability is what garners attention. He can score at the rim, create for his teammates and make shots from the perimeter. With Nahiem Alleyne and Storm Murphy leaving, Rice will be the focal point in Tech’s backcourt. M.J. Collins is another four-star guard heading to Blacksburg, while Pat Wessler and Darren Buchanan provide depth up front.
Previous ranking: 13
Top commit: SG Keyonte George (No. 6)
What did Scott Drew do after winning a national championship in 2021? 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 was joined by Dillon Hunter, a multidimensional offensive threat in the backcourt, but Hunter decommitted in mid-April. Joshua Ojianwuna committed in September; the four-star center should be one of the top international prospects entering college next season.
Dropped out: Florida (17), LSU (23), Penn State (24), Michigan State (25)