Big East Basketball: Breaking down the 2017 recruiting class

Villanova Wildcats

Jay Wright and Villanova have had quite a run the last two seasons.  Two years ago, Villanova played in arguably one of the greatest title games of all-time.  Then, the Wildcats had a wonderful regular season and the top overall seed in the NCAA tournament last season.  Jay Wright’s teams always know where to be and they never seem to take bad shots or turn the ball over. Villanova is not going to beat themselves.

Jermaine Samuels: Samuels is a future NBA player. He can get to the rim, shoot from the perimeter, and has highlight reel dunks in his arsenal.  On the defensive side of the ball, Jermaine can protect the rim and is a really good rebounder.  He is a better scorer than he is a defensive player, but should not cause Jay Wright any heartburn on the defensive side of the ball. Samuels is a talented kid who should see the floor right away.

Xavier Musketeers

The Musketeers always seem to make the NCAA tournament. Chris Mack guided his team on a great run with one of his best players injured and out for the tournament this past year.  Xavier was the one team that many said should not have gotten in last year, but then they made the most of their opportunity.

Paul Scruggs: Scruggs is an athletic shooter who is a really good passer.  He can score from all three levels but works best in the catch-and-shoot. When driving, Scruggs will drive the lane and pass the ball late which makes him a real pain for opposing defenses.  Scruggs also has quick hands and good footwork which also helps him on the defensive end of the floor.

Next: Way-too-early Big East Power Rankings

All of these players are likely to come in and make big impacts on their programs. Will we see them burst onto the scene with big performances or will they fly under the radar? We will find out this upcoming season.