College Basketball Programs Off to a Hot Start on the 2018 Recruiting Trail

Recruiting is starting to pick up in the Class of 2018 as the junior class is beginning to see more commitments. There are plenty of programs off to great starts in that class as there are multiple programs that own commitments who have set up a bright future.

With plenty of time to add more pieces and fill out classes, this is far from a final list of Class of 2018 team recruiting rankings, but this list does give you which programs could be in for a great year when it comes to adding prospects. Some classes have three or four prospects already committed, while many have a single, signature player who could help get them more commitments later on. 

Here's a look at seven programs that are off to great starts in the junior class.

7. St. John's Red Storm

Matt Slocum/Associated Press

Signature recruit: Head coach Chris Mullin was able to secure a commitment from an athletic combo forward early when Our Savior New American forward Boubacar Diakite, a 4-star recruit, committed. The 6'8" Diakite comes from the same high school program as current St. John's forward Kassoum Yakwe and represents a potentially solid local pipeline that the Red Storm are developing.

What comes next: St. John's has quietly accumulated a nice amount of talent the last three classes under Mullin and could start to see on-court results shortly. Diakite is a nice start for the Red Storm, and they'll continue to aggressively recruit national prospects to try to come to New York and rebuild the program.

6. Washington Huskies

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Signature recruit: Michael Porter Jr.'s commitment to Washington in the Class of 2017 made a major splash because he's a 5-star, likely one-and-done prospect, but his younger brother, Jontay Porter, is also a nice prospect to have in the Class of 2018. A 6'9" forward and 4-star prospect, Jontay is a great start for a Husky program that has recruited a lot of 5-star talent to the Pacific Northwest.

What comes next: Washington has quietly picked up 5-star prospects and likely one-and-done players in three consecutive classes, so it wouldn't be out of the question for the Huskies to add another big-time player to go with Jontay Porter in the Class of 2018. The Huskies already have four commitments in the Class of 2017, so they'll have a lot of time to focus on the future classes early.

5. Wisconsin Badgers

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Signature recruit: The commitment of 4-star guard Tyler Herro was a big one for Wisconsin and head coach Greg Gard because the Badgers were able to fend off some recent national scholarship offers from programs such as Arizona. The 6'4" Herro could eventually be a top-50 prospect, as he's a solid scorer who can also handle the ball and make plays for others.

What comes next: With three commitments in the Class of 2017 as well, Gard has a lot of future pieces in the fold in Madison. Since Herro is already committed, it lets Wisconsin focus on other players to put around him, and there are plenty of intriguing prospects in the state and the Midwest whom the Badgers will target. So far, Gard has targeted solid skill players who can shoot from the perimeter and handle the ball. That trend will likely continue in classes to come if Gard wants to play the same system.

4. Iowa Hawkeyes

Mary Altaffer/Associated Press

Signature recruit: The starting point for Iowa's Class of 2018 recruiting efforts is 4-star, in-state guard Joe Wieskamp. A 6'4" guard who can play multiple spots on the floor, Weiskamp is a tough all-around guard who can defend, rebound and score from multiple levels on the floor. With Iowa coming off a good effort in the Class of 2017, it has a lot of momentum going.

What comes next: Iowa has done a nice job of keeping local players home under coach Fran McCaffery, and that has continued in the 2017 and 2018 recruiting classes. If the Hawkeyes locate some more local prospects who can go with Wieskamp, they might be building another solid class in 2018. Iowa has been actively recruiting big men in 2018 to go with Wieskamp, so it will probably take a commitment from a frontcourt piece as well.

3. North Carolina Tar Heels

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Signature recruit: Summer was interesting for North Carolina commit and 4-star guard Rechon Black as he showed some flashes and some growing pains. The combo guard is probably best suited on the ball, and he's joined in the Tar Heels' Class of 2018 by 4-star guard Colby White. Black is a talented playmaker who has the upside to be a strong defender at multiple positions, but he also needs to be more aggressive as a scorer and add strength.

What comes next: The usually slow-moving North Carolina recruiting process has nabbed two in-state commitments in the junior class, and it is a positive sign for recruiting after the NCAA issues. The Tar Heels have a few more 2018 scholarship offers out there as they're pursuing a couple of wings and guards to go with Black and White. If the Tar Heels can add two more top-100 pieces, they'll be in position for a top-10 recruiting class.

2. Ohio State Buckeyes

Al Goldis/Associated Press

Signature recruit: The Buckeyes and head coach Thad Matta have locked up a three-man recruiting class in 2018 that features all in-state prospects. The key player of the group is 4-star small forward Darius Bazley, a 6'7" Cincinnati native who projects as a combo forward with good upside. Matta is focused on keeping in-state products home, and he's certainly done that with Bazley, shooting guard Dane Goodwin and small forward Justin Ahrens.

What comes next: Getting hit hard by transfers this offseason, the Buckeyes have regrouped nicely with this younger foundation, and these three commitments allow Ohio State to focus its major recruiting attention on other classes. As for the Class of 2018, expect Ohio State to continue to recruit top-100-caliber players as it's still looking for frontcourt help for its group of wings.

1. Arkansas Razorbacks

Chris O'Meara/Associated Press

Signature recruit: Reggie Perry is a 4-star recruit who is regarded by most recruiting rankings as the top prospect in Arkansas' four-man 2018 recruiting class. The 6'8" Perry is a strong athlete who should fit the Arkansas system well, and 3-star forward Ethan Henderson, 3-star shooting guard Isaiah Joe and 3-star point guard Desi Sills join him. Perry can be a tough forward to stop in transition while also being able to guard multiple positions on the other end if he can maintain his progress as a prospect.

What comes next: The crazy thing about the four commitments for Arkansas is that it could be the start of something much bigger. With six scholarship seniors in their junior class, the Razorbacks are likely to have a ton of scholarships to work with in that class as it currently projects for up to six. Getting four teammates from the same club team is a great start, and it tells other recruits that they would be stepping into a great situation that can change things at Arkansas.

Recruiting ratings via 247Sports.

Unless otherwise noted, all quotes and information were obtained firsthand.