NCAA Basketball Recruiting: The 25 Best Uncommitted Players in 2014 Class

Light years remain between now and the next college basketball signing day by recruiting standards, but that doesn’t mean coaches aren’t doing everything they can to lock up some of the nation’s most talented prospects.

There are still plenty of 4- and 5-star studs remaining as the top programs in the nation battle it out for their services. Read on to find out the 25 best uncommitted players for the class of 2014.

Star ratings, bio information, schools of interest and measurables (height, weight, etc.) courtesy of Scout.com.

Jahlil Okafor

If your school is looking for a big man in 2014, it doesn’t get any better than Jahlil Okafor.

He is an efficient and dominant post scorer who has a number of moves in his offensive arsenal. He has soft touch around the rim, a consistent mid-range jump shot and can back down defenders who try to size him up.

Okafor is also one of the best rebounders in the 2014 class, despite the fact there are taller prospects. He will be a force on the defensive end as well for whichever school lands his services.

Arizona, Baylor, Duke, Kansas and Kentucky are all listed as schools of interest, while Ohio State, Michigan State and Illinois can all still be considered dark-horse candidates.  

Tyus Jones

Tyus Jones is a great player in his own right, but the most intriguing thing about the pursuit of Jones is the fact that he and Jahlil Okafor insist they will play together at the collegiate level.

Landing arguably the top point guard and center in the class of 2014 would be an incredible haul for whichever school does so and will immediately make that team a national title contender (especially considering the fact it will likely be a premier program anyways). Scout.com says Baylor, Kentucky, Duke, Kansas, Michigan State and Minnesota (not going to happen) are all interested.

Jones is a great scorer from the point guard position and can hit the three with consistency. He has excellent court vision and can set up his teammates effectively when defenders crash on his penetration or jumper.

He could improve on his defense a bit, but Jones is an elite prospect.

Myles Turner

Myles Turner may not be quite as talented as Jahlil Okafor, but whichever school lands the Texas big man will be getting one of the best players in the entire country.

His wingspan will pose problems for opposing offenses, and Turner could find himself atop the blocks leader board as a freshman if he is in the right defensive system. His athleticism and leaping ability will make him a force on defense and on the boards, and he is quick enough to get out in transition.

On the offensive end he can face up defenders or back them down and will be lethal in pick-and-roll situations with a talented point guard.

Kansas is considered the heavy favorite at this point to land Turner, but Arizona, Duke, Ohio State, Louisville, Kentucky, Oklahoma State, SMU and Texas are all pursuing him to one degree or another.

Cliff Alexander

Cliff Alexander isn’t as tall as some of the other elite big man prospects in the 2014 class, but he is as physical as they come.

He will have no issues banging around down low against collegiate competition, and his strength and toughness will help in the rebounding department. He is also more athletic than he gets credit for and will get out in transition when necessary.

If there is an area Alexander needs to improve it is his overall offensive game. For as good as he is defensively, Alexander isn’t yet a go-to scorer and needs to develop more interior moves and softer touch around the rim.

Arizona, Baylor, DePaul, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisville, Memphis and Michigan State are all interested in the Chicago product.

Stanley Johnson

If a college coach was creating an ideal small forward in a lab somewhere, Stanley Johnson’s frame would probably be the direction the experiment went.

He is a lengthy 6’6” with an impressive wingspan but weighs in at 225 pounds of almost pure muscle. He is incredibly athletic for his size and will bully smaller defenders that try to press up on him in the lane. His strength allows him to get to the rim, rebound and finish through contact.

Johnson is also a formidable passer from the forward spot but will have a bigger impact at the next level as a scorer. Arizona, Florida, Kansas, Kentucky, Oregon, UCLA, USC and Duke are all interested in Johnson’s services.

Trey Lyles

Trey Lyles was once thought to be heading to Bloomington to join Tom Crean’s program, but that is no longer the case. As a result, Florida, Kentucky, Louisville and Butler are seen as the contenders for his services, and the Hoosiers are left looking elsewhere for elite talent in an effort to remain among the Big Ten’s best.

Lyles is a premier scorer who can find the basket on the low block or from mid-range. He even as a three-point shot as part of his offensive arsenal and will find a way to score against both bigger power forwards and quicker small forwards.

He isn’t the best ball handler, but he is athletic enough to get out in transition and is an impressive defender.

Indiana missed out on an elite prospect.

Justise Winslow

If basketball is gradually heading toward becoming a game without true positions thanks to the excellence of weapons like LeBron James, players like Justise Winslow will thrive.

Winslow is athletic and a talented enough ball handler to play the point guard position. He is a formidable enough shooter to play the shooting guard spot. Winslow is also big and strong enough to play small forward or even power forward in a small-ball lineup.

He can get to the basket with ease, has an impressive three-point shot and a high basketball-IQ that leads to a number of solid passes every night. His quickness and explosiveness not only help on offense but also allows him to stay in front of opponents on defense.

Arizona, Duke, Florida, Kansas, Kentucky, Stanford, Texas A&M and UCLA are all interested parties.

Kelly Oubre

There are few prospects in the class of 2014 that have the type of explosive athleticism that Kelly Oubre does.

Oubre can get to the basket with a nearly unstoppable first step and impressive ball-handling skills. He can also jump out the arena when he gets to the rim, which will result in a number of entertaining dunks when he gets to the next level.

Oubre is also a formidable defender because of the very same traits that allow him to get to the rim on offense. He helps on the glass and should contribute right away no matter where he attends. His jump shot could use some improvement, but that will come with time at a premier college program.

Connecticut, Florida, Georgetown, Kansas, Kentucky, Oregon and UNLV are all interested in Oubre and his athleticism.

Isaiah Whitehead

Isaiah Whitehead is the top ranked shooting guard in a class that is not particularly deep at that position.

Whitehead doesn’t need any help getting open. He creates his own shot as well as anyone in the class of 2014 thanks to his strength, ball-handling abilities and explosive athleticism. He is tough enough to finish through contact at the rim and is an impressive jump shooter when given space.

Whitehead is also a solid passer and will find open teammates when opponents key in on his scoring attack. Furthermore, Whitehead is a formidable defender and has the strength and quickness to stay in front of people.

Arizona, Indiana, Louisville, Minnesota, Saint John's (NY), Seton Hall, Syracuse and UCLA are all pursuing Whitehead.

Rashad Vaughn

If the bottom line in basketball is which team can get the most buckets, then whichever program lands Rashad Vaughn will be in great shape.

There is one thing that really jumps out about Vaughn’s game—his ability to score. He is constantly looking for ways to put the ball in the basket, be it from the perimeter with long-range shooting or by getting to the basket off the dribble.

Vaughn also contributes in the rebounding department, especially on the offensive end with putbacks and follow up looks. Vaughn can also defend at a solid level, but it is his offense that has teams interested.

Arizona, Baylor, Iowa State, Kansas, Kentucky, Minnesota, North Carolina, UCLA and UNLV are all interested, but look for the Tar Heels to eventually win this race.

Kevon Looney

Stretch forwards are in style this season for college basketball, and Kevon Looney will give one lucky school the versatility it is looking for from that position.

Looney is listed as 6’8” and 210 pounds who can rebound, handle the ball and score on the block and from mid-range. He can even hit the three-point shot at times and has soft touch around the basket when he gets it in the lane.

He is athletic and quick enough to get out in transition and stay in front of smaller ball handlers on the defensive end. Looney can fill a number of positions and should contribute immediately as a freshman.

Duke, Florida, Michigan State, Tennessee, UCLA and Wisconsin are all currently pursuing Looney.

Kameron Chatman

Now is the part of the list that we begin to venture from 5-star studs to 4-star prospects, but there is plenty of talent available in this “second” tier. In fact, chances are some of these 4-star players will be All-Americans one day and could stay at the collegiate level longer than many of the 5-star prospects.

Kameron Chatman is a lengthy small forward who plays bigger than his 6’7” height would indicate. He is a formidable rebounder, gets in the passing lanes with his wingspan and can finish through contact with ease.

The lefty’s jump shot still needs some work, but much of his scoring comes from following shots and cleaning up on the offensive glass. He is also an impressive passer and will find open teammates on the perimeter or in the block.

Schools of interest at the time being are Arizona, Connecticut, Michigan, Oregon and USC.

Devin Robinson

Few players in the class of 2014 have shot up recruiting rankings quicker than Devin Robinson.

There was a time when he wasn’t even considered a top-100 prospect, but he is now a 4-star stud ranked in the Top 25 who is drawing interest from Connecticut, Florida, Indiana, Notre Dame and Oklahoma State. If the Hoosiers can land Robinson it will certainly help make up for the loss of Trey Lyles.

Robinson is particularly athletic, which allows him to get out in transition, play solid defense and get to the lane with the ball in his hands. He is 6’8” but needs improvement on his rebounding and interior defending against bigger opponents.

If he adds some strength, Robinson can be one of the best players in the entire class.

Malik Pope

Think of all the traits that make an excellent small forward excellent at the collegiate level. Chances are, Malik Pope possesses all of them.

The 6’8” and 210 pound forward is incredibly fast and will beat plenty of defenders down the court. His explosiveness and leaping ability will allow him to finish at the rim in transition, often in exciting fashion.

Pope is also a formidable ball handler and can create his own shot off the dribble. When he gets in the lane he has soft touch and can finish through contact, and if a defender backs off he can hit from mid-range.

Seemingly the entire West Coast is in on Pope’s recruiting, but noticeable schools of interest include Gonzaga, Kansas, San Diego State, California, UCLA, Arizona, Oregon, USC, Washington.

Tyler Ulis

The 2014 class is loaded with top-notch prospects from the Chicago area, and Tyler Ulis is yet another one.

If there is an obvious issue with Ulis it is his startling height, or lack thereof. Ulis is listed at 5’8” and 150 pounds, which means he will be at a size disadvantage against some eighth graders, let alone collegiate players in power conferences. However, as is so often the case with little guards, Ulis is so quick it almost doesn’t matter.

His explosiveness will allow him to get to the rim against almost any defender, and he can maneuver through traffic in much the same way a small and shifty running back hides behind big offensive lineman. His passing ability within congestion will allow his teammates to have plenty of looks at the rim.

Ulis is also an impressive jump shooter and defender, and his quick hands will allow him to rack up plenty of steals. Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan State, USC, DePaul, Florida State, Northwestern, Purdue and Vanderbilt are all pursuing Ulis’ services.

Devin Booker

If your college program of choice is looking for a three-point threat in the class of 2014, it could do much worse than landing Devin Booker.

He has incredible range, and when he has a hot hand it becomes very difficult to prevent him from racking up the points. Booker also has a formidable mid-range jumper that he often uses after coming to a jump stop off the dribble.

Booker is a solid passer, and thanks to his basketball-IQ finds open teammates when opposing defenders crash in on his jumper. Booker isn’t the most athletic shooting guard in this class, but he overcomes his lack of quickness with other strengths.

Florida, Kentucky, Michigan, Michigan State and Missouri are all interested in landing the sharp-shooting Booker.

Quentin Snider

The 2014 class is filled with lightning-quick point guards, and Quentin Snider fits that bill exactly.

The Kentucky-native has the speed and explosiveness to get out in transition, blow past defenders in the half-court set and apply constant ball pressure on defense. Furthermore, Snider has an impressive three-point shot and can hit from mid-range when necessary.

As with any good point guard, Snider can set up his teammates when opposing defenses crash in on his penetration and should be able to contribute right away because of it. He could use a bit more strength before competing at the college level though.

Cincinnati, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Memphis, Michigan State, Oklahoma State, UCLA and USC are all still in on what has to be considered as a wide-open race.

Goodluck Okonoboh

If there is a better name in the class of 2014 than Goodluck Okonoboh you would be hard pressed to find it.

While his name may be the first thing to stand out on the game program, Okonoboh’s overall game is impressive. He is listed as a 6’9” and 205 pound center, which is a bit undersized for a premier collegiate big man, but Okonoboh has impressive quickness and a lengthy wingspan that allow him to compete against taller players.

He will swat plenty of shots on defense, can rebound with the best prospects in this class and will get out in transition when needed. If he can develop more of an offensive attack, Okonoboh will be one of the best big men in this class.

Duke, Florida, Indiana, Ohio State and UNLV are all pursuing Okonoboh.

Alex Robinson

Alex Robinson is not a score-first point guard, and there is nothing wrong with that in today’s game.

If Robinson lands at a program with a handful of elite playmakers, it will be the perfect fit. He runs the point effectively in a half-court set, is solid coming off of pick-and-rolls and knows when to look for his own shot.

He is quick and athletic enough to lead fast breaks and is a formidable on-ball defender that could serve as the top man in a full-court press. His lengthy wingspan will allow him to disrupt passing lanes as well.

There is still plenty of interest in Robinson, and the current schools pursuing his services are Florida State, Memphis, Minnesota, Pittsburgh, Texas A&M, Vanderbilt and Kansas.

Thomas Welsh

Thomas Welsh is going to have a size advantage against almost everyone he faces at the next level, and if he is going to be an elite college player he will need to improve his strength to fully utilize that.

There are plenty of reasons to be excited about Welsh’s game though. He has soft touch around the rim and finishes from the low block and mid-range, sometimes even with a hook shot. He is also a formidable rebounder, as all 7’ centers should be, and is a presence in the paint on the defensive end through blocked shots and contested looks.

Welsh isn’t particularly athletic, but he doesn’t necessarily have to be at his height. Arizona State, California, Colorado, Gonzaga, Notre Dame, Santa Clara, Stanford, UCLA and USC are all interested in the California native.

Paul White

Paul White has almost every trait you could ask for out of a stretch forward except for three-point range.

That being said, White has a solid mid-range jumper, has soft touch around the rim and is explosive off the dribble. He is listed at 6’8” and 210 pounds but has the low post moves and scoring ability of someone much bigger.

 He is also a formidable passer when defenders focus on his driving ability, and his length will allow him to apply pressure on passers and ball handlers when on defense. He is also athletic enough to get out in transition.

White, another elite prospect from the Chicago area in this 2014 class, has drawn interest from Arizona, Connecticut, DePaul, Georgetown, Memphis, Miami, Minnesota and Notre Dame.

Robert Johnson

The term versatility is often applied to stretch forwards who can play on the perimeter or in the post, but Robert Johnson is an example of a versatile prospect in the backcourt.

The Virginia native can play either the point or shooting guard spots and is long enough at 6’3” to guards bigger perimeter players. He is a streaky three-point shooter but is never afraid to pull the trigger regardless of how the previous attempts turned out.

If Johnson has an area to improve it is his explosiveness off the first step. He isn’t quite quick enough to beat elite collegiate defenders off the dribble and isn’t strong enough to muscle around down low.

Florida State, Georgetown, Indiana, Miami (Fl), North Carolina, Pittsburgh and Virginia are all interested in landing Johnson’s services as part of their 2014 class.

Jordan McLaughlin

Take all the stereotypes you typically hear about undersized but quick point guards and apply them to Jordan McLaughlin.

He is incredibly shifty who blows by slower defenders with ease, has quick hands that will cause havoc in a full-court press system, has impressive ball-handling skills and is a solid passer who will constantly look to set up his teammates before seeking out his own shot.

McLaughlin is also a solid shooter who will stretch the floor and force defenders to choose between pressing up on him and getting beat off the dribble or giving him space and allowing him to shoot over the top.

Indiana, Kansas, UCLA and USC are all interested parties in landing the California point guard.

Reid Travis

Reid Travis is going to be a force on the defensive end at the collegiate level regardless of which conference he ends up playing in as a freshman.

He is listed at 6’7” and 215 pounds and has a noticeably lengthy wingspan and enough athleticism that he is an excellent jumper. He will be a presence down low by blocking plenty of shots and swallowing up any rebounds that come his way.

Travis is a passable shooter to the point that he can stretch the floor a bit and will be able to finish through contact when he gets inside the lane. The list of schools that are pursuing the forward is extensive and includes Duke, Georgetown, Gonzaga, Michigan State, Minnesota, Notre Dame, Stanford, Iowa State, Michigan, Northwestern, UCLA, USC and Vanderbilt.

Jonah Bolden

Jonah Bolden is originally from Australian and is currently playing for Findlay Prep in Nevada.

Arizona, Boise State, Louisville, LSU, Michigan, Texas-San Antonio, UCLA and Washington are all pursuing the 6’8” forward. Bolden is versatile enough to play on the perimeter as a small forward or on the block as a power forward, but he could use a bit more strength on his frame before he reaches the collegiate level.

The first thing that jumps out about Bolden’s game is his ability to play above the rim. If paired with the right point guard in pick-and-roll scenarios, he will be the recipient of plenty of alley-oop lobs that will bring the crowd to its feet. 

He also can hit from mid-range and is a passable defender.

Follow and interact with college basketball writer Scott Polacek on Twitter @ScottPolacek.