NCAA Basketball Recruiting: Ideal Fits for Uncommitted 5-Stars in 2015 Class

A working knowledge of the X’s and O’s of the game is always important for college basketball coaches, but recruiting is the lifeblood of the sport and its top programs.

Teams like Duke, Kentucky, North Carolina, UCLA and Kansas wouldn’t have so many banners and championship rings if they weren’t constantly landing some of the top players in the country. If you want an indication of which college basketball teams will be good in the future, look no further than the recruiting rankings.

The 2015 recruiting cycle may be in the home stretch, but there are a handful of uncommitted 5-star prospects who have not chosen a school yet. Here is a look at the ideal fit for each of them based on factors such as expected roster turnover and the rest of the school’s recruiting class.

It is important to note these are just my takes on the ideal fits and not necessarily a prediction on where each player ends up.

Jaylen Brown: Kentucky

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Kentucky, UCLA and Kansas, among others, are interested in Jaylen Brown and for good reason.

Brown checks in at 6’7” and 217 pounds and is a physical load at small forward who is still extremely athletic and can run the floor. His best trait is the tenacity in which he attacks the rim and his ability to finish through contact when he does.

He can stretch the floor if needed, but he is excellent at attacking the basket and giving the rim a workout with powerful slams.

Kentucky already has an elite center (Skal Labissiere), point guard (Isaiah Briscoe) and shooting guard (Charles Matthews) in this recruiting class, and landing Brown would round out the group.

You can never make assumptions (just look at all the talent that came back for the Wildcats this year), but it is a fairly safe bet that there will be a number of current Kentucky players who declare for the draft after the season. That could open up a spot for Brown.

Malik Newman: Kansas

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Kentucky and Kansas, among others, are the ones interested in Malik Newman.

Newman is versatile enough to play either point guard or shooting guard and is more-than-comfortable in a ball-handling role where he is setting up his teammates. However, he is a natural shooting guard who is always looking to score and drain shots from the outside.

There is something of a logjam for the Wildcats at the guard positions with Tyler Ulis, Andrew Harrison, Aaron Harrison and Devin Booker on the current roster and at least Isaiah Briscoe and Charles Matthews coming in as part of the class of 2015. Sure, some of the current players could leave, but it is a safe bet that at least two are back next year.

As of now, Kansas only has power forward Carlton Bragg as part of its 2015 class, plus Kelly Oubre could turn pro, which would open up another spot in the rotation.

Cheick Diallo: Iowa State

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Kansas, Kentucky and Iowa State, among others, are the ones pursuing Cheick Diallo.

Diallo is one of the best rebounders in the entire class of 2015 and can control the glass on both ends. Plus, he gets out in transition and has soft touch around the rim. On defense, he will serve as a shot-blocker if needed.

Georges Niang is a junior and could be off to the NBA, and Bryce Dejean-Jones is a senior for Iowa State. The Cyclones could use an infusion of talent that is ready to contribute right away, and Diallo has the chance to be the face of the program in his first year.

Diamond Stone: Wisconsin

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Connecticut and Wisconsin, among others, are interested in landing Diamond Stone’s services.

Stone is one of the best post players in the draft and can score with his back to the basket with powerful moves and an impressive hook shot. What’s more, Stone’s game extends beyond the three-point line when the opposing defense gives him space to shoot from the outside.

If that sounds like someone, it is Frank Kaminsky from Wisconsin. Granted, there are differences to their games, and Stone is arguably a more physical presence on the post already, but Kaminsky is a senior and will leave giant shoes to fill in his shadow after leaving Madison.

The Badgers would get that giant to fill in those shoes if they somehow landed Stone.

Ivan Rabb: Arizona

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California and Arizona, among others, are listed as the schools of interest for this West Coast kid from California.

Ivan Rabb is the prototypical stretch forward who uses his athleticism to impact the game on both ends of the floor. He is a formidable shot-blocker and controls both the offensive and defensive glass. He can also get out in transition, hit from mid-range and post-up smaller defenders.

The Wildcats already have a point guard (Justin Simon), shooting guard (Allonzo Trier), small forward (Ray Smith) and center (Chance Comanche) arriving on campus next year. The only player missing from a potential starting five down the road is an elite power forward.

Rabb could be that guy.

Stephen Zimmerman: Kentucky

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Arizona, UNLV, Kentucky and UCLA are the most notable schools pursuing Stephen Zimmerman, and it is really no wonder why that’s the case.

He is arguably the best center in this class, thanks to his versatility and ability to dominate on the low block or run the offense from the high elbow. He has soft touch around the basket, but his passing from the elbow gives defenses fits.

Being the big fish at UNLV in his hometown of Las Vegas is tempting, but Kentucky is the best fit.

Yes, the Wildcats already have Skal Labissiere as a center in the 2015 class, but there is a very realistic possibility that Willie Cauley-Stein, Trey Lyles, Karl-Anthony Towns, Dakari Johnson and Marcus Lee could all depart for the NBA. That is a lot of attrition, and there may very well be multiple people in that group to come back, but there will be a spot for Zimmerman in the rotation.

A big-man tandem of Zimmerman and Labissiere will be difficult to deal with for opposing defenses. Plus, Zimmerman’s passing ability would work perfectly with the abundance of talent in Lexington.

Zimmerman commented on the Wildcats, via Larry Vaught of The Advocate Messenger: “I don’t think anything is bigger than the Kentucky name. It is all that rolled in one. Just the Kentucky name is a really big thing.”

Caleb Swanigan: Michigan State

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Michigan State, Kentucky and Arizona, among others, are the ones interested in Caleb Swanigan.

Swanigan is a physically imposing big man who uses his body to clear space on the blocks and dominate the boards. He never shies away from contact and can even run the floor at times, but his main role is as an anchor down low.

Swanigan is a bit undersized for a center at 6’8", but Michigan State has a track record of players producing, despite being somewhat undersized for their position. Look no further than Draymond Green as a 6’7” small/power forward hybrid for the Golden State Warriors.

Swanigan will inherit some Michigan State toughness that will help him at the next level as well.

Brandon Ingram: Duke

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Duke, North Carolina and Kansas, among others, are the blue-blood programs with their eyes on Brandon Ingram.

Ingram can drain it from three-point range and is athletic enough to blow by defenders off the dribble. If opponents put a smaller defender on him, he simply drills shots over the top, but if there is a larger one in the way he gets to the basket with dribble penetration.

Adam Zagoria of SNY.tv says Ingram “has one of the highest upsides in all of high school basketball.” Ingram will likely be lacing it up in the NBA within the next couple of years as an elite small forward prospect.

When Duke fans hear about a lengthy small forward who can run the floor and hit from the outside, they likely picture Justise Winslow. The thing is, Winslow could leave for the NBA after this season, which would open up a spot for Ingram.

Plus, Duke already has a facilitator in Luke Kennard and a big man in Chase Jeter in this class. Adding an elite scorer like Ingram, who can light it up from the outside and attack the rim, would give this class an explosive element that it's missing.

All recruiting rankings, measurables and schools of interest are courtesy of 247Sports.