The Best College Basketball Seniors Who Were Overlooked as Recruits

Recruiting is a huge part of college basketball and building a winning program. Some programs have the luxury of recruiting top-100 prospects who are known commodities and sought-after by nearly every program in the country. Other programs have to find diamonds in the rough—guys who are 3-star prospects or lower who are developed into winning players over time.

This season's college basketball seniors are a good portrait of under-recruited players who have become success stories. Some of these players were probably misevaluated by schools recruiting them, or they just developed and grew into quality players over time.

This list takes a look at 3-star prospects who have become some of college basketball's best players. Some of these players will compete for All-American honors this year, while all of them will be major factors this season.

Jamel Artis, Pitt

Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports

After Pitt lost center Steven Adams to the NBA draft after the 2012-13 season, they opted to take a spring commitment from Artis, a 3-star forward from Baltimore who wasn't getting a lot of national recruiting attention.

The Panthers are surely happy they added Artis to the roster as he's been one of the program's best players the last two seasons. During his junior campaign, the 6'7" Artis averaged 14.4 points and 4.8 rebounds per game for a team that desperately needed his scoring, and he's also versatile enough to handle some point forward duties.

With new Pitt head coach Kevin Stallings doing a good job of developing big men at Vanderbilt, it'll be interesting to see if Artis can expand his game even more entering his final season of college hoops.

Jaron Blossomgame, Clemson

Richard Shiro/Associated Press

Jaron Blossomgame could have been selected in the 2016 NBA draft, but decided to come back for his senior season to try to play his way into the first round. The 6'7" forward has turned into an All-ACC first-team performer during his time at Clemson as he's trying to get the Tigers back to the NCAA tournament in his final year.

As a high school recruit, Blossomgame was a 3-star prospect coming out of the class of 2012 as he picked Clemson over offers from Iowa, VCU, Wichita State and Tennessee Tech. Even though he wasn't a high-profile national recruit, Blossomgame has transformed into a pro prospect and one of the best players in the country's deepest conference.

Chris Boucher, Oregon

Gregory Bull/Associated Press

Chris Boucher's basketball journey is an unlikely one, which is part of the reason he went to junior college for two years before becoming a breakout player for Oregon last season. Discovered playing in a rec center, Boucher spent a season at Alma Academy in Quebec before junior-college stints at New Mexico Junior College and Northwest College in Wyoming.

As a sophomore at Northwest College, Boucher became the NJCAA Division I Player of the Year as he put up gaudy scoring and rebounding numbers along with being a fierce rim protector. At Oregon, Boucher blocked a school-record 110 shots as a junior last season while averaging 12.1 points and 7.4 rebounds per game. 

Boucher never even had a recruiting profile page out of high school, let alone a star ranking, but he's found his way to become one of the country's most versatile big men.

Troy Caupain, Cincinnati

Young Kwak/Associated Press

Before he became one of the American's best players, Troy Caupain was a 3-star prospect who didn't get much buzz in national rankings. Sitting at No. 216 in the 247Sports class of 2013 national composite rankings, Caupain's pledge to the Bearcats wasn't viewed as a big deal when he became Cincinnati's first commitment from the class of 2013.

After last season's 37-point performance against UConn in a four-overtime thriller, the nation started taking more notice. Caupain plays both ends of the floor hard for the Bearcats as he averaged 13.0 points, 4.8 assists and 3.8 rebounds per game as a junior. This season, Cincinnati is counting on him to once again be an all-league player as the Bearcats try to make it back to the NCAA tournament.

J.J. Frazier, Georgia

Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports

Regarded as a 3-star prospect by Scout.com coming out of high school, J.J. Frazier has blossomed into one of the SEC's premier players. The 5'10" guard went from being ranked No. 211 in the 247Sports composite class of 2013 national rankings to becoming a lethal perimeter threat capable of scoring or distributing.

As a junior at Georgia, Frazier averaged 16.9 points, 4.6 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game as he enters his senior season with a chance to lead the SEC in scoring. Even though Frazier put up big numbers and won a state title his senior year at Faith Baptist Christian Academy in Georgia, he wasn't viewed as a big-time recruit.

Nigel Hayes, Wisconsin

Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Wisconsin has never been known to chase recruits strictly off national rankings. Nigel Hayes, a 3-star recruit out of high school, was the last player to commit in a five-man class for the Badgers from the class of 2013 as he started to get Big Ten attention later than most.

During his college career so far, Hayes has helped Wisconsin reach back-to-back Final Fours and an additional trip to the Sweet 16 last season as he's become one of the Big Ten's best players. Although his shooting percentages dipped as a junior, Hayes put up numbers across the board as he averaged 15.7 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game. 

One of the country's most skilled frontcourt players, Hayes flirted with the NBA draft this offseason, but opted to return to school to improve his game and see if he can help the Badgers make another deep NCAA tournament run.

Frank Mason, Kansas

Charlie Neibergall/Associated Press

Before committing to Kansas and becoming one of college basketball's best two-way guards, Frank Mason was a lightly recruited 3-star prospect who was committed to Towson. After decommitting, Mason visited Virginia Tech and Kansas, and he eventually opted to become a Jayhawk.

Now entering his final season in Lawrence, Mason will help form one of the nation's best backcourts as he plays alongside talented junior Devonte Graham. Last season, Mason averaged 12.9 points, 4.6 assists and 4.3 rebounds per game as he helped lead the Jayhawks to yet another Big 12 regular-season title and a Sweet 16 appearance.

Blueblood programs like Kansas are often chasing 5-star prospects who are McDonald's All-Americans, but Mason showed that good scouting and player development are still an important part of the recruiting process.

London Perrantes, Virginia

Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

A California native who decided to head to Virginia, London Perrantes was respected as a player coming out of high school, but he only had a 3-star ranking to show for it. A great pure point guard who has come along slowly for the Cavaliers the last few seasons, Perrantes will be asked to do a lot this season with Malcolm Brogdon leaving the program.

Perrantes showed a penchant for clutch shooting during his junior season, and he averaged 11.0 points, 4.4 assists and 3.0 rebounds per game to help lead Virginia to the Elite Eight. Shooting 48.8 percent from three-point range last season, Perrantes is a lethal shooter who could produce even bigger scoring numbers this season now that both Brogdon and Anthony Gill are gone.

Alec Peters, Valparaiso

Duane Burleson/Associated Press

From 2-star prospect to potential All-American, Alec Peters has had quite the career so far at Valparaiso. The 6'9" forward was recruited strictly by mid-major programs coming out of high school as Peters has helped make the Crusaders a mid-major powerhouse in the Horizon League.

As a junior, Peters put up 18.5 points and 8.5 rebounds per game while shooting ridiculous splits (50 percent field goal, 44 percent three-point, 85 percent free throw) and leading the Crusaders to the NIT title game. This offseason was interesting for Peters, as he tested the waters of the NBA draft while also graduating from school early. Peters could have opted to play anywhere in the country as a graduate transfer but instead chose to return to the school that originally took a chance on him and helped make him a star.

Mo Watson, Creighton

Nati Harnik/Associated Press

A Philadelphia product who had no high-major recruiting interest out of high school, Mo Watson started his college career at Boston as he thrived for the Terriers and transferred up to Creighton after two seasons.

In his first season in the Big East as a junior last season, the 5'10" Watson showed he can run an offense at any level as he averaged 14.1 points, 6.5 assists and 3.4 rebounds per game. The 3-star prospect was so under the radar out of high school in the class of 2012, he's not ranked in the 247Sports composite national rankings—even though 335 players were ranked.

With Kansas State transfer Marcus Foster joining Creighton this season, Watson will have an elite running mate as the duo should form one of the country's best backcourts.

Recruiting ratings via Scout.com.

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