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Ranking The 2018 Pac-12 Basketball Recruiting Classes

Seven-footer Moses Brown will be hard to miss on the floor for UCLA next season.

By The_Coach
2018 Hoophall Classic: Archbishop Molloy vs DeMatha Catholic David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

1. UCLA Bruins | 2017-2018 Record: 21-12 (11-7)

  • Moses Brown (5-Star Center) | Archbishop Molloy HS - Queens, NY
  • Shareef O’Neal (4-Star Power Forward) | Crossroads School - Santa Monica, CA
  • Tyger Campbell (4-Star Point Guard) | La Lumiere School - La Porte, IN
  • David Singleton (4-Star Shooting Guard) | Bishop Montgomery HS - Torrance, CA
  • Jules Bernard (4-Star Shooting Guard) | Windward School - Los Angeles, CA
  • Kenneth Nwuba (3-Star Center) | Huntington Prep - Huntington, WV

While five-star center Moses Brown may be the prize of the Bruins’ class, he’ll need time to add weight and strength before emerging into one of the country’s most dominating big men. On the other hand though, Shareef O’Neal can be an immediate replacement for Kris Wilkes and point guard Tyger Cambell might be able to do a similar job for Jaylen Hands. The reason this class jumps some of the other teams in the league is it’s depth, where guys like David Singleton and Jules Bernard are worth every bit of their four-star ratings. UCLA is definitely reloading for next season, pending that head coach Steve Alford isn’t shown the door this off-season.

2. Oregon Ducks | 2017-2018 Record: 21-12 (10-8)

  • Bol Bol (5-Star Center) | Findlay Prep - Henderson, NV
  • Louis King (5-Star Small Forward) | Hudson Catholic - Jersey City, NJ
  • Will Richardson (4-Star Shooting Guard) - Oak Hill Academy - Mouth Of Wilson, VA
  • Miles Norris (4-Star Power Forward) | Brewster Academy - Wolfeboro, NH

The interesting thing about head coach Dana Altman’s group is that his four prized signees all come from very successful high-school basketball powerhouses, which include household names like Oak Hill Academy, Findlay Prep and Brewster Academy. While that trend may show that Altman is trying to bring proven winners into his program, it’ll take instant contributions from guys like 7’ 1” Bol Bol to get this group going from the onset. Louis King and Will Richardson can grow into steady Pac-12 type guards in time but they could be thrown into the fire alongside established options on the Ducks depth chart like Payton Pritchard. Also, do not sleep on Miles Norris, who at 6’ 10”, is much better than advertised.

3. USC Trojans | 2017-2018 Record: 24-11 (12-6)

  • Kevin Porter (4-Star Shooting Guard) | Rainier Beach HS - Seattle, WA
  • Elijah Weaver (4-Star Point Guard) | Rockledge HS - SW Brevard County, FL
  • J’Raan Brooks (4-Star Power Forward) | Garfield HS - Seattle, WA

The Trojans may not have some of the bigger “names” like UCLA and Oregon do in their 2018 recruiting hauls but overall, the three unique pieces that will be heading to USC’s campus next season could blossom into a program-steering type of trio. Kevin Porter was a highly-sought after player by most Pac-12 schools, who looks to be every bit of the part of a plug-and-play talent with his shooting and slashing abilities. Point guard Elijah Weaver and big man J’Raan Brooks will both bring a needed level of depth to the Trojans roster (which depending on who stays and goes), may need to be thrown into the fire. Overall though, head coach Andy Enfield went and got the guys that he needed, that will keep USC towards the league’s top-half.

4. Arizona State Sun Devils | 2017-2018 Record: 20-12 (8-10)

  • Luguentz Dort (4-Star Shooting Guard) | Athlete Institute - Toronto, CA
  • Elias Valtonen (4-Star Shooting Guard) | Helsinki Basketball Academy - Helsinki, FIN
  • Taeshon Cherry (4-Star Small Forward) | Foothills Christian HS - El Cajon, CA

College basketball recruiting junkies will be very familiar with the name Luguentz Dort, as the international man of mystery was a definite strong get out on the trail for head coach Bobby Hurley, who has always shown a favoritism to high-potential guards. While Dort is a big-time level talent who has a chance to be a future NBA caliber player, it’s the addition of a guy like Finnish guard Elias Valtonen, who can really make-or-break this group. Former USC commit Taeshon Cherry will live up to his billing (if his off-court issues don’t rear their ugly heads again), but Valtonen is the enigma in this class.

5. Stanford Cardinal | 2017-2018 Record: 19-15 (11-7)

  • Cormac Ryan (4-Star Shooting Guard) | Milton Academy - Milton, MA
  • Bryce Wills (3-Star Shooting Guard) | Iona Prep - New Rochelle, NY
  • Keenan Fitzmorris (3-Star Center) | New Hampton School - New Hampton, NH

The Cardinal’s three-man recruiting scoop may not be one that turns heads in the short-term, but head coach Jerod Haase knew exactly what he was looking for when he got these future men of Stanford to commit to Palo Alto. Cormac Ryan, the lone four-star prospect, is a high-level shooter who had a strong season on the Nike EYBL circuit, where he competed for the New York Rens (along with Bryce Wills). Wills is a high-level athlete with a high ceiling, who was probably hampered a bit by a slower-paced high school style. As for Fitzmorris, when you think of the prototypical Stanford big man, a guy like the 6’ 11”, 200-pounder probably comes to mind.

6. Washington Huskies | 2017-2018 Record: 21-12 (10-8)

  • Jamal Bey (4-Star Small Forward) | Bishop Gorman HS - Las Vegas, NV
  • Elijah Hardy (3-Star Point Guard) | Bishop O’Dowd - Oakland, CA
  • Ed Chang (3-Star Small Forward) | Papillion-La Vista - Papillion, NE
  • Nate Roberts (3-Star Center) | Brewster Academy - Wolfeboro, NH

Head coach Mike Hopkins fought hard for some in-state recruits to get his pipeline established for the Huskies but instead, ended up picking up a quartet of players from all different kinds of places around the country. Jamal Bey was a key grab for Washington, as the 6’ 6” swingman may need to start for the team next season, with a bit of roster turnover expected. Nate Roberts, a three-star center who lists just short of seven-feet tall, could become the anchor of the Huskies’ daunting zone defense and an athletic, yet raw defensive play-maker like Ed Chang, can only put more fear in the hearts of opposing offenses. From this group though, Elijah Hardy is the name to know. Bey will be the star going forward but Hardy has a nice skill-set to build his game off of.

7. California Golden Bears | 2017-2018 Record: 8-24 (2-16)

  • Matt Bradley (4-Star Small Forward) | San Bernardino HS - San Bernardino, CA
  • Jacobi Gordon (4-Star Small Forward) | Fallbrook Prep Academy - Houston, TX
  • Andre Kelly (3-Star Power Forward) | Lincoln HS - Stockton, CA

For a team that won just eight games this past season, California hasn’t allowed their lack of on-court success to travel over to their recruiting efforts, where they pulled in an impressive haul for a bottom of the league program. Two four-star recruits in small forwards Matt Bradley and Jacobi Gordon were dire needs for head coach Wyking Jones, who had the point guard and post presence this season, but almost near nothing else. To add two wing scorers with solid ceilings and another piece in 6’ 7” forward Andre Kelly to the mix, the Golden Bears may have a bit of a turnaround on their hands behind this trio.

8. Utah Utes | 2017-2018 Record: 20-11 (11-7)

  • Timmy Allen (4-Star Small Forward) | Red Mountain HS - Mesa, AZ
  • Riley Battin (3-Star Power Forward) | Oak Park HS - Oak Park, CA
  • Charles Jones (3-Star Point Guard) | College Of Southern Idaho - Rogerson, ID
  • Naseem Gaskin (3-Star Shooting Guard) | Bishop O’Dowd - Oakland, CA
  • Lahat Thioune (3-Star Power Forward) | Florida Air Academy - Melbourne, FL

Utah’s recruiting scoop is a five-man class that is ready to completely reload any line-up that may disappear from Salt Lake City, especially if another crazy off-season is in the cards for the Utes. On paper though, the beloved “Coach K west of the Mississippi River” looks to have found the right pieces for his program, that may become some known names in the league for years to come. Up-front, Riley Battin was a much-coveted prospect who should thrive for the Utes, while Lahat Thioune is a raw but exciting prospect. The play-making trio of Timmy Allen, Charles Jones and Naseem Gaskin could give Utah one of it’s better guard groups a few years down the line, if all three of the prospects stay committed to the school.

9. Oregon State Beavers | 2017-2018 Record: 16-16 (7-11)

  • Jack Wilson (3-Star Center) | Junipero Serra HS - San Mateo, CA
  • Warren Washington (3-Star Power Forward) | Mission Hills HS - San Marcos, CA
  • Kylor Kelley (Unranked Center) | Lane CC - Eugene, OR

With no more sons of coaches to recruit for now, head coach Wayne Tinkle went back to his old stomping grounds in California, where recruits have been kind to a less-than-stellar Beavers program in the past. Center Jack Wilson has been a long-time commit to Oregon State, who may be the team’s most talented center in years, while JUCO transfer Kylor Kelley may finally find his way to Corvallis and give the team another seven-footer inside. Warren Washington, another towering unit from a solid high school program in the Golden State, will need to fight for his role in what is becoming a crowded Beavers front-court.

10. Colorado Buffaloes | 2017-2018 Record: 17-15 (8-10)

  • Daylen Kountz (3-Star Shooting Guard) | East HS - Denver, CO
  • Elijah Parquet (3-Star Shooting Guard) | Westbrook School - Westbrook, TX

Placing the Buffs this low on the list will need to come with a side-note of caution, since head coach Tad Boyle has shown a tendency over the years to empower freshmen to over-perform on his rosters. Daylen Kountz, a typical three-star guard recruit, was a player that Colorado needed to bring in with his in-state ranking but he doesn’t exactly jump off the page on film. The same could be said for Texas guard Elijah Parquet, but that may just be all part of Boyle’s plan. Maybe we should just leave it as the jury is out on these two for now.

11. Washington State Cougars | 2017-2018 Record: 12-19 (4-14)

  • C.J. Elleby (3-Star Small Forward) | Cleveland HS - Seattle, WA
  • Isaiah Wade (Unranked Power Forward) | Iowa Western CC - Council Bluffs, IA

While C.J. Elleby may be listed as one of the top ten players from the state of Washington, he’s not the program-changing addition that will get things going for head coach Ernie Kent. JUCO forward Isaiah Wade is a nice addition as well but don’t expect too much immediatley from this duo. This is a long-term development, over short-term success group for the Cougars.

12. Arizona Wildcats | 2017-2018 Record: 27-8 (14-4)

Due to their alleged role in the recent FBI college basketball scandal, Arizona currently has no commits for the 2018 class. After a brutal early exit from the 2018 NCAA Tournament, head coach Sean Miller is definitely feeling the heat and likely won’t be adding players anytime soon.