And last year was a major hit: of the 14 eligible teams from the top 15 (SMU was hit by the NCAA in the summer), 11 made the Sweet 16. The three that didn’t? Kentucky, Wichita State and Arizona. Not bad.
But don’t expect a repeat performance; the new NBA Draft rules make this year’s selections even more of a crapshoot than normal. Before, when a player declared for the NBA Draft, we just assumed he was gone. Now, three Connecticut players have declared for the draft, none have signed with agents, and none are highly ranked. There’s a possibility all three could be back next year.
Add in the usual caveats: top recruits still left to decide, graduate transfers hovering around and still more NBA Draft decisions looming, and the poll released after the May 25 deadline could look vastly different.
For what it’s worth, Villanova was No. 7 in last year’s Way-too-early poll, with North Carolina coming in at No. 1.
1. Duke
The Blue Devils appear to have the perfect mix of returning talent and stability and freshly injected talent through recruiting. If Grayson Allen returns — he hasn’t announced his decision yet — this team goes further through the roof. Even if not, the combination of Frank Jackson and Derryck Thornton at point guard, Luke Kennard, Matt Jones and Jayson Tatum on the wings is devastating, and the No. 2 recruit in the 247Sports Composite, 6-10 power forward Harry Giles, will team with returner Amile Jefferson to form one of the best 1-2 front-court duos in the country. If Duke gets Marques Bolden — they lead Kentucky on his 247Sports Crystal Ball — the Blue Devils will have outstanding depth as well.
247Sports Composite Class Rank: 2
2. Kentucky
The Wildcats won’t return as much talent as Duke, but have arguably a better recruiting class to make up for it. Kentucky truly took off when it started pairing Derek Willis as a stretch four and Marcus Lee at the five. Now both will have to fight off a loaded crop of big men, including Edrice “Bam” Adebayo, Wenyen Gabriel and Sacha Killeya-Jones. Lest you think this team is top-heavy, the top two recruits in the Wildcats class are point guard De’Aaron Fox and combo guard Malik Monk, two of the top five prospects in the 247Sports Composite. They’ll join Isaiah Briscoe, helping the Wildcats enjoy another strong three-guard back-court.
247Sports Composite Class Rank: 1
3. Villanova
The Wildcats lose Ryan Arcidiacono and Daniel Ochefu, but could bring back a number of other key pieces who helped lead the team to the NCAA Championship, including Josh Hart. Even if Hart leaves, a backcourt consisting of Jalen Brunson, Phil Booth and Mikal Bridges still gives plenty of pop, especially defensively. Kris Jenkins and Darryl Reynolds should also return in the front-court, where the Wildcats will try to replace Ochefu with two 6-foot-9-plus freshmen. The best of that duo is Omari Spellman, the No. 3 center and No. 22 overall player in the 247Sports Composite. This is a team that should once again destroy opposing offenses, and the potential for an efficient offense is there as well.
247Sports Composite Class Rank: 46
4. Kansas
Kansas is among the most volatile teams at the top: both Carlton Bragg and Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk could declare for the NBA Draft. And if they do (and stay in the draft), and Kansas misses out on No. 1 overall player Josh Jackson, Kansas could fall out of these rankings completely. Of course, if Bragg and Mykhailiuk return and Jackson — currently picked in the 247Sports Crystal Ball to Kansas — elects to come to Lawrence, this ranking could be too low as well. A Frank Mason-Devonte Graham-Jackson backcourt would arguably be the nation’s best, with Mykhailiuk serving as an elite-level sixth man. Bragg and Lucas would then headline a deep frontcourt that adds in Dwight Coleby, a 6-foot-9 Ole Miss transfer, and Udoka Azubuike, one of the nation’s top center prospects.
247Sports Composite Class Rank: 43
5. North Carolina
The Tar Heels say goodbye to Marcus Paige and Brice Johnson, but Joel Berry looks ready to step up as a primary scorer after pumping in 20 points in the National Championship Game. And in Justin Jackson and Theo Pinson, the Tar Heels have a pair of former top-15 recruits in the 247Sports Composite entering their third years in the program. Jackson, in particular, looks ready for stardom. Tony Bradley, the No. 4 center in this year’s 247Sports Composite, should add to a front-court with Isaiah Hicks and Kennedy Meeks, while Nate Britt will be joined by Kenny Williams and recruits Seventh Woods and Brandon Robinson in a versatile back-court group around Berry. Don’t be shocked if the Tar Heels end up adding to their haul, either.
247Sports Composite Class Rank: 11
http://247sports.com/Article/Way-too-early-college-basketball-Top-17-for-2017-Duke-Kentucky-44645653
But don’t expect a repeat performance; the new NBA Draft rules make this year’s selections even more of a crapshoot than normal. Before, when a player declared for the NBA Draft, we just assumed he was gone. Now, three Connecticut players have declared for the draft, none have signed with agents, and none are highly ranked. There’s a possibility all three could be back next year.
Add in the usual caveats: top recruits still left to decide, graduate transfers hovering around and still more NBA Draft decisions looming, and the poll released after the May 25 deadline could look vastly different.
For what it’s worth, Villanova was No. 7 in last year’s Way-too-early poll, with North Carolina coming in at No. 1.
1. Duke
The Blue Devils appear to have the perfect mix of returning talent and stability and freshly injected talent through recruiting. If Grayson Allen returns — he hasn’t announced his decision yet — this team goes further through the roof. Even if not, the combination of Frank Jackson and Derryck Thornton at point guard, Luke Kennard, Matt Jones and Jayson Tatum on the wings is devastating, and the No. 2 recruit in the 247Sports Composite, 6-10 power forward Harry Giles, will team with returner Amile Jefferson to form one of the best 1-2 front-court duos in the country. If Duke gets Marques Bolden — they lead Kentucky on his 247Sports Crystal Ball — the Blue Devils will have outstanding depth as well.
247Sports Composite Class Rank: 2
2. Kentucky
The Wildcats won’t return as much talent as Duke, but have arguably a better recruiting class to make up for it. Kentucky truly took off when it started pairing Derek Willis as a stretch four and Marcus Lee at the five. Now both will have to fight off a loaded crop of big men, including Edrice “Bam” Adebayo, Wenyen Gabriel and Sacha Killeya-Jones. Lest you think this team is top-heavy, the top two recruits in the Wildcats class are point guard De’Aaron Fox and combo guard Malik Monk, two of the top five prospects in the 247Sports Composite. They’ll join Isaiah Briscoe, helping the Wildcats enjoy another strong three-guard back-court.
247Sports Composite Class Rank: 1
3. Villanova
The Wildcats lose Ryan Arcidiacono and Daniel Ochefu, but could bring back a number of other key pieces who helped lead the team to the NCAA Championship, including Josh Hart. Even if Hart leaves, a backcourt consisting of Jalen Brunson, Phil Booth and Mikal Bridges still gives plenty of pop, especially defensively. Kris Jenkins and Darryl Reynolds should also return in the front-court, where the Wildcats will try to replace Ochefu with two 6-foot-9-plus freshmen. The best of that duo is Omari Spellman, the No. 3 center and No. 22 overall player in the 247Sports Composite. This is a team that should once again destroy opposing offenses, and the potential for an efficient offense is there as well.
247Sports Composite Class Rank: 46
4. Kansas
Kansas is among the most volatile teams at the top: both Carlton Bragg and Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk could declare for the NBA Draft. And if they do (and stay in the draft), and Kansas misses out on No. 1 overall player Josh Jackson, Kansas could fall out of these rankings completely. Of course, if Bragg and Mykhailiuk return and Jackson — currently picked in the 247Sports Crystal Ball to Kansas — elects to come to Lawrence, this ranking could be too low as well. A Frank Mason-Devonte Graham-Jackson backcourt would arguably be the nation’s best, with Mykhailiuk serving as an elite-level sixth man. Bragg and Lucas would then headline a deep frontcourt that adds in Dwight Coleby, a 6-foot-9 Ole Miss transfer, and Udoka Azubuike, one of the nation’s top center prospects.
247Sports Composite Class Rank: 43
5. North Carolina
The Tar Heels say goodbye to Marcus Paige and Brice Johnson, but Joel Berry looks ready to step up as a primary scorer after pumping in 20 points in the National Championship Game. And in Justin Jackson and Theo Pinson, the Tar Heels have a pair of former top-15 recruits in the 247Sports Composite entering their third years in the program. Jackson, in particular, looks ready for stardom. Tony Bradley, the No. 4 center in this year’s 247Sports Composite, should add to a front-court with Isaiah Hicks and Kennedy Meeks, while Nate Britt will be joined by Kenny Williams and recruits Seventh Woods and Brandon Robinson in a versatile back-court group around Berry. Don’t be shocked if the Tar Heels end up adding to their haul, either.
247Sports Composite Class Rank: 11
http://247sports.com/Article/Way-too-early-college-basketball-Top-17-for-2017-Duke-Kentucky-44645653
