College Basketball Recruiting: Ranking the Top 20 Players in 2015 Class
We're a week removed from crowning college basketball's national champion, and now that the 2014-15 season is over, the focus has moved toward which players are on their way out of the college game and into the pros. But for every senior leader or star underclassman that's lost, there's another phenom waiting in the wings to take the country by storm.
Many of the top recruits from the 2015 class have already signed or committed with programs for next year, but a handful of big names still haven't decided on their future ahead of Tuesday's late signing period.
Here's a look at our list of the 20 best prospects, ranked based on their skills, performance to this point and their potential impact in college next season.
20. Thomas Bryant
1 of 20
Position: Power Forward
Height, Weight: 6'10", 225 lbs
Status: Committed to Indiana
Indiana had plenty of scorers and athletic players this past season, enough to get the team into the NCAA tournament. What the Hoosiers lacked was a physical presence inside, which they picked up not long after being eliminated from the postseason in the form of powerful Thomas Bryant.
The New York native was a beast on the blocks for Huntington Prep, the same school that produced Andrew Wiggins two years ago. Bryant was his team's leading scorer this season, and helped carry the squad to the national semifinals of the Dick's Sporting Goods High School Nationals tournament. This past weekend, he led his team at the Kentucky Derby Festival Classic to a strong showing and was named MVP.
19. Carlton Bragg
2 of 20
Position: Power Forward
Height, Weight: 6'8", 205 lbs
Status: Committed to Kansas
As it stands, Carlton Bragg is the only member of Kansas' 2015 recruiting class heading into the late signing period. That figures to change, but Bragg will still likely be one of the biggest pieces of the puzzle for next season as the Jayhawks look to become more of a force inside.
That's where Bragg excelled in high school, though he's also shown the ability to score from the outside and play with a level of athleticism normally reserved for smaller players. Bragg fits into multiple positions with his inside-out game, and Bill Self will maximize those abilities with the Jayhawks.
18. Dwayne Bacon
3 of 20
Position: Shooting Guard
Height, Weight: 6'6", 190 lbs
Status: Signed with Florida State
Oak Hill Academy in rural Virginia has been the gold standard of basketball-based prep schools for decades, and Dwayne Bacon is the latest in a long line of top-tier prospects to come from that program. Oak Hill went 47-1 this past season, and Bacon was a big part of that success, averaging 24.4 points per game in preparation for what should be a starring role with Florida State next season.
Bacon didn't have his best game in his final appearance at the prep level, making just 4-of-18 shots in Oak Hill's loss to Montverde Academy of Florida in the Dick's Sporting Goods High School Nationals title game April 4, but it was one of the few times he struggled this season.
One of four signees or commits on Florida State's list so far for 2015, ranking the Seminoles No. 6 overall, Bacon is expected to lead the Seminoles back into the NCAA tournament as a freshman.
.png?w=256 "NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament Championship")
17. Luke Kennard
4 of 20
Position: Shooting Guard
Height, Weight: 6'5", 180 lbs
Status: Signed with Duke
Duke's heralded 2014 recruiting class had a forgotten member for much of the year in high-flying, athletic scorer Grayson Allen. Allen didn't make a splash until the Final Four, and he's now being looked at as a top player for the 2015-16 season.
Odds are it won't take nearly as long for Luke Kennard to get noticed, not with the way he puts points on the board.
The Ohio prospect averaged nearly 40 points per game as a senior at Franklin High School, finishing his career with 2,977 points to rank second all time in state history. He passed LeBron James, who sits fifth on the list, late in his final season.
16. Antonio Blakeney
5 of 20
Position: Shooting Guard
Height, Weight: 6'4", 170 lbs
Status: Committed to LSU
One of two 5-star players set to attend LSU next season, Antonio Blakeney is will sign this week after announcing his commitment in January. The Florida scorer had previously been committed to Louisville, but backed out of that pledge in September. He also gave schools like Kentucky and Missouri a hard look before choosing the Tigers.
Blakeney scored 14 points in the McDonald's All-American Game on April 1 in Chicago, often getting fed by future LSU teammate Ben Simmons. The pair should help LSU improve greatly from this past season, when the team ended up as a No. 9 seed and failed to make it out of the opening round of the NCAA tournament despite having a talented roster.
15. Isaiah Briscoe
6 of 20
Position: Point Guard
Height, Weight: 6'3.5", 200 lbs
Status: Committed to Kentucky
Kentucky's loss of three talented guards from this season's 38-win team is a major blow to its experience and talent base, but coach John Calipari already knew he had a strong replacement for the latter of those attributes in Isaiah Briscoe. One of the most prolific scorers in the country, Briscoe mans the point, but plays it like a 2.
The New Jersey-bred Briscoe should thrive in Calipari's system, though it remains to be seen if he will be able to handle reduced minutes if Kentucky again goes to a platoon. Briscoe was a workhorse at Roselle Catholic, even after returning from a fractured foot he suffered in the summer.
Briscoe had nine points and nine assists for Team USA in the Nike Hoop Summit on Saturday in Portland, Oregon, showing his ability to score and distribute.
14. Chase Jeter
7 of 20
Position: Power Forward
Height, Weight: 6'11", 230 lbs
Status: Signed with Duke
Duke's 2015 recruiting class has some big shoes to fill, as the defending national champions will likely have to replace four starters, including three phenomenal freshmen. Chase Jeter should be capable of handling those expectations, and unlike predecessor Jahlil Okafor, he's apt to do it in more ways than just with his back to the basket.
Jeter got an early indoctrination with the Duke way by playing on the Team USA Under-18 team last summer with future Blue Devils Tyus Jones and Justise Winslow.
One of the best natural athletes in the 2015 class, Jeter hasn't exactly showed that in recent showcases, going a combined 2-of-9 for 10 points in the McDonald's All-American Game and the Nike Hoop Summit.
13. Brandon Ingram
8 of 20
Position: Small Forward
Height, Weight: 6'8", 180 lbs
Status: Uncommitted
As the top-rated player in the state of North Carolina, it's no surprise that Brandon Ingram's biggest suitors are Duke and UNC. 247Sports' Crystal Ball Predictor has Duke as the heavy favorite, though, likely because Ingram is very similar in size and style to UNC freshman Justin Jackson.
At Duke, Ingram would be a great instant replacement for Justise Winslow, who is expected to turn pro after a monster first year. Though very thin, Ingram more than makes up for that lack of girth with a great shooting touch that he's shown off of late by making 11-of-17 field-goal attempts in high school showcase games.
Ingram is also considering Kansas, Kentucky, North Carolina State and UCLA.
12. Allonzo Trier
9 of 20
Position: Shooting Guard
Height, Weight: 6'4", 185 lbs
Status: Signed with Arizona
Allonzo Trier has a good shot to be among the highest-scoring freshmen in the country next season, if for no other reason than he's apt to put up more shots than any other first-year player in Division I.
The high-scoring guard, who played for Findlay Prep this past season after spending his previous high school years in Maryland, had 17 points in the McDonald's All-American Game, but he needed 18 shots to do so. Then he was 4-of-12 from the field for Team USA at the Nike Hoop Summit in the loss to the World Team.
Trier should step right in and contribute offensively for Arizona, which has already seen Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Brandon Ashley turn pro, with Stanley Johnson likely to follow, and T.J. McConnell has graduated. Though the Wildcats have several talented players returning, Trier will get his chance to take plenty of shots.
11. Henry Ellenson
10 of 20
Position: Power Forward
Height, Weight: 6'10", 230 lbs
Status: Signed with Marquette
The majority of the top prospects each year end up going to teams in the five biggest conferences, but Henry Ellenson decided to buck that trend somewhat by signing with Marquette. It helped that his older brother, Wally, had transferred over from Minnesota.
The Wisconsin native is one of the most impressive post players in the country, but he'll be heading into college on the mend after he broke his left hand in the high school state semifinals in mid-March. Even with the injury, Ellenson scored 26 points and had 12 rebounds, but he's expected to miss six to eight weeks before resuming basketball activity.
Marquette finished 13-19 overall and tied for last in the Big East this past season, its first under coach Steve Wojciechowski, but with Ellenson's arrival, the Golden Eagles should be much improved.
10. Thon Maker
11 of 20
Position: Center
Height, Weight: 7'0", 205 lbs
Status: Uncommitted
It was less than two months ago that Thon Maker decided he was ready for college ball a year earlier than planned. Since reclassifying from the Class of 2016, Maker has seen his interest go through the roof as every team looking for a big man got on board trying to draw his interest.
Australian-born but having played his basketball in Canada (for several schools, most recently the Athlete Institute Basketball Academy), Maker has had some knocks against him because of a still-developing offensive game and the presence of surprisingly small hands for a player of his size. He had just two points in the Nike Hoop Summit, going 0-for-5 from the field, but he had 10 rebounds—including five on the offensive end—and a block for the World Team.
Kansas and Kentucky are the top suitors, per 247Sports' Crystal Ball predictor, as the Wildcats have a 42 percent chance of getting Maker's commitment, while Kansas sits at 37 percent.
9. Caleb Swanigan
12 of 20
Position: Center
Height, Weight: 6'8', 265 lbs
Status: Committed to Michigan State
He's not the tallest player on this list, but Caleb Swanigan packs more pounds than any other prospect we've ranked. He also made one of the biggest splashes of the recruiting season when he bucked all of the projections (which had California as his destination) and went with Michigan State.
The Fort Wayne, Indiana, native will be a perfect fit with the Spartans, where his knack for using his body and strength to dominate down low will come in handy on Tom Izzo's blue-collar team. His commitment lifted MSU's 2015 recruiting class to third overall.
Indiana's Mr. Basketball averaged 22.6 points and 13.7 rebounds last season at Homestead High School, and he played with fellow MSU incoming freshman Deyonta Davis in AAU ball.
8. Stephen Zimmerman
13 of 20
Position: Center
Height, Weight: 6'11", 214 lbs
Status: Uncommitted
One of several 7-footers (or close) on this list, Stephen Zimmerman differs from the rest of the lot in that he jumps and flies like a wing or guard. Combine that with strong post skills, both offensively and defensively, and there's a reason his suitors including Arizona, Kansas, Kentucky and UCLA.
But it could be hometown school UNLV that gets his talents, according to Jerry Meyer of 247Sports.
Zimmerman had six points and six rebounds in the McDonald's All-American Game after wowing the crowd during the pre-event dunk contest thanks to a "selfie dunk."
7. Cheick Diallo
14 of 20
Position: Power Forward
Height, Weight: 6'9", 218 lbs
Status: Uncommitted
The top overall scorer from the McDonald's All-American Game, scoring 18 points on 8-of-14 shooting along with 10 rebounds, Cheick Diallo continues to rise up the recruiting ranks as his list of suitors remains at five primary finalists.
Diallo, originally from West Africa, is deciding between Iowa State, Kansas, Kentucky, Pittsburgh and St. John's. Each could benefit greatly from his diverse skill set, which he shows off both down low and in the open court.
He played his high school ball just outside of New York City, and if new St. John's coach Chris Mullin could land him, it would be a huge start to his tenure with the Red Storm.
6. Ivan Rabb
15 of 20
Position: Power Forward
Height, Weight: 6'10", 210 lbs
Status: Uncommitted
The top-rated player in the state of California has signed with Arizona and coach Sean Miller each of the previous four recruiting periods, but Ivan Rabb could be the one to break that streak. He's set to choose between Arizona and Cal on Monday night, doing so at 10 p.m. ET from his mother's restaurant in Oakland.
If he stays close to home, he'll be the signature piece of Cuonzo Martin's first full recruiting class at California, while at Arizona he'd be an instant replacement for the departed Brandon Ashley at the 4.
Rabb, who is coming off a state title for Bishop O'Dowd High School in Oakland, played for Team USA in the Nike Hoop Summit and had 10 points and six assists in the McDonald's All-American Game.
5. Jaylen Brown
16 of 20
Position: Small Forward
Height, Weight: 6'7", 217 lbs
Status: Uncommitted
Jaylen Brown plays with a flair and style that makes him one of the most coveted players yet to sign or commit with a team for 2015. To handle this attention, Brown teamed with Bleacher Report to put together a video of his finalists while preparing for the McDonald's All-American Game earlier this month.
Any of his still-alive suitors (California, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, North Carolina and UCLA) would love to have his services next season, and it could come down to whether he wants to be a program savior or a piece of a bigger puzzle. His list includes both traditional powers and teams that haven't had as much recent success, including two schools from his home state of Georgia.
Brown has the skills to play the 2, 3 or 4 at the college level, so his ultimate decision might come down to where he's needed the most.
4. Diamond Stone
17 of 20
Position: Center
Height, Weight: 6'10", 246 lbs
Status: Committed to Maryland
For much of last summer and into the fall, the talk was that Diamond Stone would be part of a package deal along with guard Malik Newman, similar to how Tyus Jones and Jahlil Okafor pledged to play together in college and both ended up at Duke. But the players didn't end up getting pursued heavily by the same teams, and then Stone decided he wanted to stay in Big Ten country, even if that meant going far from his Milwaukee home.
Stone committed to Maryland last month, and combined with a heavy load of returners, the Terrapins should be among the favorites to win the conference after having a breakout year in 2014-15, their first in the Big Ten.
According to Don Markus of The Baltimore Sun, it was a relationship formed with junior college signee Jaylen Brantley from an October visit to Maryland that helped lure Stone to College Park. There, he'll pair up with Georgia Tech transfer Robert Carter, a 6'9" forward who becomes eligible in 2015-16, as well as guards Brantley and Melo Trimble.
3. Malik Newman
18 of 20
Position: Combo Guard
Height, Weight: 6'3", 174 lbs
Status: Uncommitted
The highest-ranked unattached player on our list could be just what is needed for the handful of teams chasing him, and that could come in the form of a floor leader or a prolific scorer. Malik Newman has done both at the high school level, which is why Kansas, Kentucky, LSU, Mississippi State, North Carolina State and Ole Miss are all hoping he'll join their team next season.
Outgoing Kentucky guard Devin Booker, whose departure clears up a role as a shooter for Newman, has been actively lobbying for Newman to replace him with the Wildcats.
"We need to get him here," Booker said, per Ben Roberts of the Lexington Herald-Leader. "I'm going to try my best. Malik, in my opinion, is the best player in their class."
Newman's talents are so coveted that teams from China and Europe are hoping they can lure him away from college, per Evan Daniels of Scout.com.
2. Skal Labissiere
19 of 20Position: Center
Height, weight: 6'10", 200 lbs
Status: Signed with Kentucky
While his journey has been a bumpy one, from Haiti to Memphis and most recently to a prep school created by his guardian, there's little controversy about the way Skal Labissiere plays on the court. Projected in some mock drafts, such as Draft Express', as the No. 1 pick in 2016, the long and lean post player figures to only get better.
And with Kentucky needing to replace three frontcourt stars from its near-perfect team, Labissiere will be a major focal point of the Wildcats' 2015-16 lineup.
Labissiere had 21 points, six rebounds and six assists for the World Team at the Nike Hoop Summit on Saturday, showing off great leaping ability and a strong shooting touch that worked both inside and out.
1. Ben Simmons
20 of 20
Position: Small Forward
Height, Weight: 6'8", 220 lbs
Status: Signed with LSU
Ben Simmons is originally from Australia, and he's been pledged to play for LSU since October 2013. Since then he's seen his stock continue to rise. This past season he was named the Morgan Wooten and Naismith National Player of the Year while also playing for the World Team at the Nike Hoop Summit this past weekend.
Simmons had 13 points, nine rebounds and nine assists in that game while being matched up against all of the other top prep prospects from across the globe. The assists set a game record, and also showed how versatile an athlete he is and how involved he figures to be in LSU's offense next season.
"He boasts the court sense and general nuance of a primary playmaker, an all-encompassing attribute combined with his physical tools that make the common 'poor man's LeBron James' description seem very apt," wrote Jack Winter of Uproxx.com.
All recruiting information courtesy of 247Sports, unless otherwise noted.
Follow Brian J. Pedersen on Twitter at @realBJP.
.png?w=480 "NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament Championship")
.jpg?w=600 "Colts Release Kenny Moore")
