2015 Committed Recruits Who Would Be Starters for Their Future Teams This Season

College basketball teams are gearing up for the start of the 2014-15 season, and barring some strange late additions, they are stuck with the rosters they have at this point.

If only it were possible to get a few of the best recruits from the 2015 class to be eligible for this season.

Looking at the top prospects who have already committed for 2015-16, we've identified 20 who likely would be starters in college during what would actually be their senior years of high school. Either because their future team has a hole right now at that position, or because their talent far outweighs what is currently available, these are the guys who fans would love to see on the court sooner rather than later.

Players are listed alphabetically, rather than by recruiting ranking or importance to their team. And one player you will not see on this list is top overall prospect Ben Simmons, an LSU commit who happens to play the same position as the Tigers' best returning player.

Esa Ahmad, PF, West Virginia

Height, weight: 6'7", 218 lbs

247Sports rank: 57th

West Virginia scored a significant piece of its 2015-16 class earlier this month when it stole Esa Ahmad away from the likes of Big Ten schools Maryland, Ohio State and Wisconsin. The Cleveland-based product visited the Mountaineers on Sept. 5 and then committed five days later.

Though Ahmad plays a similar position to where West Virginia is currently heavy on bodies, his talent would likely put him at the front of the line for big minutes in the frontcourt. Nathan Adrian, a 6'9" sophomore, was the top returning producer of potential 4 men, averaging 5.4 points and 2.9 rebounds, while 6'10" senior Kevin Noreen only managed 2.0 points and 2.7 rebounds despite starting 20 games.

Ahmad would be a bit undersized, but would be a nice complement in the post alongside 6'9", 255-pound sophomore Devin Williams.

Dwayne Bacon, SG, Florida State

Height, weight: 6'6", 190 lbs

247Sports rank: 19th

Even though he pledged to Florida State earlier this month, Dwayne Bacon is still getting heavily pursued by the likes of Georgetown and Tennessee. Each of them would love to have this swingman working out on the perimeter this season.

Bacon, who will be at Oak Hill Academy in Virginia after spending the previous years at a pair of schools in Florida, could provide the Seminoles with both the scoring from sixth man Ian Miller as well as some of the rebounding and defensive presence of seniors Robert Gilchrist and Okaro White.

Jalen Brunson, PG, Villanova

Height, weight: 6'1.5", 190 lbs

247Sports rank: 18th

Villanova has been lucky to get heady, spirited play from point guard Ryan Arcidiacono the past two seasons. But Arcidiacono is likely to take a back seat at the point to 5-star recruit Jalen Brunson during his senior year, so there's no reason to think he wouldn't lose his job to Brunson this fall.

Brunson, who chose the Wildcats over in-state suitor Illinois, among others, is rated as the second-best point guard in the 2015 class. He is Villanova's first 5-star commit since 2009 and is the highest-rated player it's landed since 247Sports started rating recruits in 1999.

Arcidiacono averaged 9.9 points and 3.4 assists last season. Brunson averaged 17.2 points, 6.9 assists and 2.7 steals in 15 Nike EYBL circuit games this past summer, according to CBS Sports.

Haanif Cheatham, SG, Marquette

Height, weight: 6'5", 185 lbs

247Sports rank: 69th

Marquette is basically starting over under first-year coach Steve Wojciechowski, with half of the current roster made up of players who weren't available to the Golden Eagles last season. That lack of experience was heightened when guard Todd Mayo announced in July he was leaving the program to go pro instead of playing his senior year.

Though height will be Marquette's biggest issue this season, as 6'11" Indiana transfer Luke Fischer (who isn't eligible until December) is the team's only player taller than 6'7", a lack of athleticism and scoring could also plague the team. That's why having a talented shooter and slasher like Haanif Cheatham would help this season.

Cheatham picked the Warriors over a final group that included California, Florida State, Georgia, Georgetown and Wichita State.

Deyonta Davis, PF, Michigan State

Height, weight: 6'8", 205 lbs

247Sports rank: 23rd

Though Michigan State lost a lot of talent and experience from last year's Elite Eight team, Tom Izzo usually has reinforcements in place ahead of time and shouldn't have any trouble replacing what he lost from the backcourt.

The same can't be said from in the paint, where in addition to Adreian Payne graduating the Spartans saw  forward Kenny Kaminski leave the program in August. The 6'9" sophomore contributed at times last season but also ran afoul of Izzo, yet he would have been a top option in the frontcourt this fall.

His loss wouldn't be as significant if MSU could somehow have 2015 commit Deyonta Davis a year early. The 5-star product from Dearborn, Michigan has been committed to the program since December, and though he plays center at the prep level, he would work best as a 4 in college.

Eric Davis, SG, Texas

Height, weight: 6'3", 172 lbs

247Sports rank: 41st

Texas has one of the most loaded frontcourts in the country for this season, a lineup made even more dominant with Myles Turner coming on board to join Cameron Ridley and Jonathan Holmes. The Longhorns have a lot of talent in the backcourt, too, but they got a little thinner on the depth side during the offseason.

Guard Martez Walker, a 6'4" sophomore, has been arrested twice in the past month and has been suspended from the program. He was one of Texas' more consistent shooters, and he could have challenged inconsistent starters Javan Felix and Isaiah Taylor for playing time.

Eric Davis could beat all of them out this season, if he were eligible. The Michigan product just committed on Sept. 16, choosing Texas over Florida, Kansas, Michigan, Michigan State and Ohio State.

Moustapha Diagne, PF, Syracuse

Height, weight: 6'9", 240 lbs

247Sports rank: 61st

Syracuse fans keep waiting for Rakeem Christmas to develop into a physical presence in the paint, but now entering his senior year, those fans are resigned to the fact that he won't ever provide much in terms of production.

If the Orange had 2015 commit Moustapha Diagne available this season, there'd be no need for such settling. Diagne projects to be everything that the 6'9", 250-pound Christmas was expected to be but never became, according to Jeff Borzello of CBS Sports.

"The Orange haven't relied on their big men to be go-to offensive weapons the past few years, but Diagne can finish on dump-offs and on offensive rebounds," Borzello wrote. "His upper body enables him to play effectively around the rim, whether it's finishing in the paint or grabbing rebounds – especially on the offensive end."

That's what Syracuse would have liked to come from Christmas, but that's yet to happen.

Daniel Giddens, C, Ohio State

Height, weight: 6'10", 235 lbs

247Sports rank: 44th

Ohio State will have a lot of new players expected to make big contributions this season, and while that mix of returners and newcomers have most areas covered well, the Buckeyes may struggle to produce at the center position. Amir Williams averaged 7.8 points and 5.8 rebounds last season, but without LaQuinton Ross next to him, he might not be able to manage on his own.

Future OSU center Daniel Giddens would be a better option this fall, if that were doable. The 4-star recruit from Georgia, who picked the Buckeyes over Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Indiana and Kansas, has a reputation for being both an offensive and defensive force. He averaged a double-double in high school last season, per Chales Doss of SB Nation's Land Grant Holy Land blog.

D.J. Hogg, PF, Texas A&M

Height, weight: 6'8", 217 lbs

247Sports rank: 30th

Texas A&M is gearing up to have a loaded team in 2015-16 with a strong recruiting class led by D.J. Hogg to go with transfers from Houston and SMU.

Former SMU wing Jalen Jones won't be eligible until December, while ex-Houston guard Danuel House likely won't be able to play until 2015-16 unless the NCAA approves his hardship waiver. Both will first appear with Hogg a year from now, but the Aggies would be absolutely stacked if all three could be eligible this fall.

Hogg, from Plano, Texas, is considered by 247Sports' Jerry Meyer to be "arguably the top long-range shooter in the 2015 class."

Chase Jeter, PF, Duke

Height, weight: 6'11", 225 lbs

247Sports rank: 8th

Very few of Duke's highly rated recruits ever have to sit around for a chance to play, especially when many of them end up playing only one or two seasons in college before going pro. Chase Jeter could be on that list of short-timers when he gets to Durham in 2015, but he'd very likely be in the Blue Devils' lineup this fall as well.

While Duke has superstar freshmen penciled in to start at point guard (Tyus Jones), small forward (Justise Winslow) and center (Jahlil Okafor), its situation at the 4 isn't as cut and dry.

Bleacher Report's Scott Polacek called 6'9" junior Amile Jefferson Duke's "most improved player" last season, but he likely wouldn't be able to hold this spot if he had to compete against Jeter. Jeter has shone on the national circuit the past year, rising in the recruiting rankings, and picked the Blue Devils over Arizona, UCLA and UNLV.

K.J. Lawson, SF, Memphis

Height, weight: 6'6", 185 lbs

247Sports rank: 42nd

K.J. Lawson figures to get a shot at the 3 when he arrives at Memphis next year, but if he were able to join the Tigers this season, he'd serve as a great option for an inexperienced backcourt that has to replace a lot of weapons from last season.

Lawson, a local product who has been pledged to Memphis since before the 2013-14 season began, showed how he can take over and contribute all over when he led his travel team to the finals of the Peach Jam tournament in July. He had 20 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists in the title-game loss, playing alongside brother (and 2016 Memphis pledge) Dedric Lawson.

Those two will be fun to watch with the Tigers in the future. K.J. Lawson would be just as exciting working alone this season, as he'd make a great inside-out complement to Shaq Goodwin.

Dejounte Murray, SG, Washington

Height, weight: 6'4", 180 lbs

247Sports rank: 46th

Washington has been on a downward trend the last few seasons, partly due to inconsistent play on the court and an inability to grab the best recruits from its own backyard. So it was a positive sign that Dejounte Murray, the top-rated player from the state in 2015, is planning to play for the Huskies next year.

But Murray would be able to contribute right away for Washington this season, as it is looking to replace a lot of production lost by the departure of C.J. Wilcox. Wilcox was the Huskies' leading scorer and top shooter, two things Murray is expected to provide when he joins the program.

The best Washington teams under coach Lorenzo Romar have been ones with multiple effective outside shooters, and Murray would be part of such a mix.

Justin Patton, PF, Creighton

Height, weight: 6'10", 215 lbs

247Sports rank: 99th

After four years of being unofficially known as "Doug McDermott and his band of role players," Creighton will undergo an identity change this season with the loss of McDermott, Ethan Wragge and others. Justin Patton will be a part of the new regime, but not for another year, though he'd make an instant impact for the Blue Jays in 2014-15.

Patton, from Omaha, would start ahead of any frontcourt players Creighton have available this season. Combined with transfers Mo Watson from Boston University and Cole Huff from Nevada, both of whom won't be eligible until 2015-16, that trio will be very strong in another year.

Josh Reaves, SG, Penn State

Height, weight: 6'4", 185 lbs

247Sports rank: 96th

Penn State will be mostly guard D.J. Newbill and that's it this season, as Tim Frazier won't be there anymore to provide a second option on offense for the Nittany Lions.

Josh Reaves could be the next Frazier when he gets to PSU in 2015-16. Arrive a year earlier, and he'd be the perfect complement to Newbill despite playing almost the same position. Reaves, who will play at Oak Hill Academy this season after spending the previous three years at Paul VI Catholic in Fairfax, Virginia, more more known for a mid-range shot than for the outside shooting that Newbill has brought.

Pair them together, though, and PSU could have two weapons that could make it actually contend for the upper half of the Big Ten this season.

Horace Spencer, PF, Auburn

Height, weight: 6'8", 215 lbs

247Sports rank: 49th

Bruce Pearl has wasted little time upgrading the talent that he'll have at his disposal at Auburn. He landed numerous transfers and fringe recruits for 2014-15, and his class for 2015-16 sits at No. 7 in the rankings after landing four players in a 10-day span in late August.

All four of those guys should contribute heavily in another year, but of that group, the one who could put the upcoming season's team over the hump in the SEC is power forward Horace Spencer. He'd play the same spot as junior college transfer Cinmeon Bowers, but if Spencer were on board, Auburn could play both inside instead of having to rely on a holdover from the old regime like Matthew Atewe or Jordon Granger.

Atewe and Granger only combined for 2.5 points and 5.2 rebounds on a team that finished 14-16, so Spencer would be a major upgrade.

Stephen Thompson Jr., SG, Oregon State

Height, weight: 6'3", 165 lbs

247Sports rank: 72nd

There's something to be said about family connections, as Oregon State fans will soon learn in the second year of the Wayne Tinkle era as coach. Not only did the former Montana coach land a commitment from his son (see next slide) for 2015-16, he also landed 4-star guard Stephen Thompson Jr.

Thompson is the son of new OSU assistant Stephen Thompson Sr., hired by Tinkle from Division II Cal State-Los Angeles in June. A strong shooter who has considered Arizona State and UCLA, among others, he would be an instant starter on the upcoming version of the Beavers, which had massive roster turnover even before Tinkle was hired to replace Craig Robinson.

Tres Tinkle, SF, Oregon State

Height, weight: 6'6", 180 lbs

247Sports rank: 74th

As with fellow 2015 commit Stephen Thompson Jr. (see previous slide), Tres Tinkle is a coach's son who is choosing to play college ball for his father, Oregon State coach Wayne Tinkle. Though that seems like it would be a foregone conclusion, it's not like Tres Tinkle is any slouch.

In fact, he wouldn't have any trouble starting at the 3 for the Beavers this season, if he were eligible to, after winning Montana's Gatorade Player of the Year award last season as a junior in Missoula. He had offers from the likes of Boston College, USC and Utah, and he would be a major upgrade at his position this fall.

Allonzo Trier, SG, Arizona

Height, weight: 6'4", 185 lbs

247Sports rank: 11th

Arizona isn't rebuilding as much as reloading this season, even having lost Aaron Gordon and Nick Johnson early to the NBA draft. Incoming freshman Stanley Johnson figures to fill Gordon's role, while Johnson's athleticism and guard play will be handled by junior college transfer Kadeem Allen, sophomore Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and junior Gabe York.

The Wildcats would only need one guy to handle what all three of those players are expected to do this season if Allonzo Trier could reclassify to the 2014 class and play a season early.

Trier, a Maryland native who will finish up at Findlay Prep in Nevada for his senior year, is "arguably the most potent scorer in the class of 2015," according to Jeff Goodman of ESPN.com. That sounds like how Johnson, Arizona's leading scorer on last year's Elite Eight team, would be described.

Glynn Watson, PG, Nebraska

Height, weight: 6'0", 160 lbs

247Sports rank: 71st

With as capable as Terran Petteway is at creating his own shot, the Nebraska wing was able to shine last season and lead the Cornhuskers into the NCAA tournament without having a reliable point guard to work with.

That will again be the case this season, with 5'9" junior Benny Parker likely to be the guy bringing the ball up. Things would look a lot different if 2015 commit Glynn Watson were doing that job this season, something he'd very likely get a chance to do if he were able to play a year early.

Watson isn't much bigger than Parker, but he's got more of a reputation as being a multi-threat guy who can score and distribute, according to Raphielle Johnson of NBC Sports.

Damon Wilson, SG, Pittsburgh

Height, weight: 6'4", 170 lbs

247Sports rank: 77th

Pittsburgh lost its top two scorers, its top rebounder and top assist man in the form of seniors Lamar Patterson and Talib Zanna, leaving a lot of production to be taken on by role players and newcomers.

Damon Wilson wouldn't be able to help out with what the 6'9" Zanna did inside, but he could certainly help step in for some of Patterson's play as a shooter, defender and ball-handler. Wilson has been committed to the Panthers since February, and he likely got to see a lot of the games when Patterson would take over.

Expecting a freshman to do all that himself might be asking too much, but if Wilson were able to join the group of projected backcourt contributors such as senior Cameron Wright and freshman Sheldon Jeter, he would have a good chance of starting ahead of them.

All recruiting info courtesy of 247Sports.

Follow Brian J. Pedersen on Twitter at @realBJP.