Class of 2017 College Basketball Recruits Whose Stock Is Soaring

The high school basketball season is nearing its end, and that means the current junior class is taking center stage as we move toward the spring grassroots season. With many of the nation's best seniors already signed to play college basketball next season, juniors are the primary recruiting focus of many of the major programs.

Bleacher Report polled a collection of college coaches and high school scouts to get a feel for which juniors have elevated their play this season. These eight juniors all received rave reviews for their continued development as they're all likely to receive a heavy dose of recruiting interest this spring. Some of these players were already firmly entrenched as 5-star prospects, while others have come out of nowhere to become high-major prospects.

Here are eight names you're going to want to keep tabs on when grassroots season kicks off in April.

Brandon Randolph, Shooting Guard

What was expected: Entering the 2015-16 high school basketball season, not many schools or scouts were aware of the long-armed 6'5" shooting guard with a good perimeter shooting stroke. This is partly because Randolph was injured during the first game of Boo Williams AAU ball last spring and missed the spring and summer grassroots season.

What has changed: Now healthy, Randolph is playing his junior season at Westtown School, which puts plenty of eyeballs on him since he's playing with 5-star 2017 center Mohamed Bamba. With Randolph's upside as a shooter, driver and defender, high-majors have begun to take notice.

What is next: With scholarship offers from only VCU and Quinnipiac entering the season, Randolph's scholarship count should explode this spring when he plays on the national grassroots circuit in front of major college coaches. He'll also likely shoot up the national rankings, and some services have already placed him near the top 50.

Shai Alexander, Point Guard

What was expected: After he committed to Florida in late November, many wanted to see how the 6'4" guard from Canada would look after a promising summer on the grassroots circuit. The Gators took a commitment from Alexander before he was a known commodity, and not many were sure just how good of a prospect he was.

What has changed: Playing with a tremendous amount of confidence, Alexander has become a well-rounded guard, capable of finding others for assists while also doing a better job of creating his own shot. Perimeter shooting was a major question mark for Alexander, but he's looked better with his jump shot.

What is next: Since Alexander is already committed to Florida, recruiting won't be much of a focus this spring. But he still will be a marked man because he has shot up the national rankings and into the national spotlight during his junior season.  

Kellan Grady, Point Guard

What was expected: Coming off a promising summer, the guard from West Roxbury, Massachusetts, looked like a quality shot-maker who could develop into a solid overall scorer. 

What has changed: Since the high school season started, Grady has transitioned into more of a point guard, which has colleges and scouts buzzing since he has good size for the position at 6'4". Grady also showed solid passing ability and still mixed in some scoring. He has the look of a complete guard.

What is next: Now that Grady is being viewed as a point guard, it will be to see how he stacks up against the nation's best lead guards in the spring and summer. While college interest has been steady with Grady owning over a dozen scholarship offers, bigger offers could be coming if he plays well on the national stage. 

Andre Rafus, Small Forward

What was expected: The 6'9" native of Baltimore already had a solid reputation as a big wing who could knock down perimeter shots and really score. With his natural size and scoring acumen, it was expected that Rafus would hit a lot of shots and put up points this season.

What has changed: While Rafus could always make perimeter looks, sometimes he camped out and fired too many bad shots. Now, he has become a more well-rounded wing, as he's shown a willingness to score while attacking the basket and also rebounding more in traffic. 

What is next: Scholarship offers were already flooding in for Rafus last summer, but now he's become a priority recruit for a number of high-level, power-conference programs. Kansas recently checked out Rafus in a game, and other blue-blood programs will evaluate him this spring.

Tyler Polley, Forward

What was expected: This summer was a solid one for the 6'7" native of Florida, as he showed he was on the high-major radar with his athleticism and ability to finish around the basket. 

What has changed: With an improved skill level, Polley has shown that he can play a bit of both forward spots, and his improved jumper means he could potentially transition to the wing full time. That makes him that much more attractive to college coaches, since that kind of versatility is coveted at the next level.

What is next: Polley showing that he can continue to evolve and play more on the wing is a big step for his game. If the jumper continues to improve, college coaches will also like the matchup problems he could create. 

Deng Gak, Power Forward

What was expected: It's hard to say what was expected of the 6'11" Gak, since this is his first taste of American basketball after moving from Australia. But he did play up and was a starter on the Australian U19 national team during the FIBA World Championships last summer, so he did bring some notoriety. 

What has changed: Gak quickly proved himself against some of the best competition in America at Blair Academy, where he's shown versatility and an ability to finish around the hoop. A sound athlete with a good feel for the game, Gak asserted himself as a 4-star prospect quickly.

What is next: The future is bright for Gak, as he is already generating a lot of recruiting buzz and is quickly moving up top-100 rankings. SMU was involved with Gak back when he was still in Australia, and other programs such as Rutgers, Minnesota and Seton Hall have joined in. That list could grow quickly if Gak continues his strong play.

Jeremiah Tilmon, Center

What was expected: Already firmly established as a 5-star prospect, the 6'10" Tilmon was expected to have a big season after transferring to national powerhouse La Lumiere School from East St. Louis High School. Many viewed Tilmon as one of the best rebounders and shot-blockers in the national class entering his junior season.

What has changed: Tilmon has worked on all facets of his game, along with his conditioning, becoming a major force in high school basketball. With improved lift, footwork and touch, he has also turned into more of an offensive threat. He's being viewed as more of a complete big man entering the spring.

What is next: High-major programs have been making Tilmon a priority since his freshman year of high school, but a scholarship offer from North Carolina in December made things interesting. He will be one of the most sought-after big men in the country, and it could turn into a heated recruitment between the best in college basketball.

Kevin Knox, Small Forward

What was expected: As an already established 5-star prospect, the 6'8" wing from Tampa, Florida, was expected to have a good season after showing flashes of strong play during the summer and fall. At the USA Basketball minicamp in October, Knox had moments where he looked like he was among the top prospects in the class.

What has changed: The son of former Florida State wide receiver Kevin Knox, this young player followed in dad's footsteps by also playing football early in his high school career. This season, he has focused on basketball, and his game on the hardwood has flourished.

What is next: Now that he's a fully committed basketball prospect, Knox should have his pick of blue-blood programs after the spring and summer. Coaches who Bleacher Report spoke to for this piece compared Knox to Rudy Gay, and he recently visited Duke and North Carolina on unofficial visits.

Recruiting information courtesy of 247Sports.