Big 12 Basketball: Breaking down every 2017 recruiting class

Oklahoma State Cowboys

Former coach Brad Underwood was only with the Cowboys for one year before he left to take the job at Illinois. Mike Boynton takes over and could have some work to do to make this team an NCAA Tournament team. Coach Underwood struggled in his first year last year, and, then as he left for Illinois this year, the Cowboys never had a chance to establish an identity. Coach Boynton was able to build a pretty good class which should help with the rebuild process.

Zack Dawson: Dawson is lethal if you let him get to the rim. He has a slew of highlight reel dunks, a nice floater and also likes to pass as he gets under the basket. Dawson is also a very good shooter from the mid range, as well as a very good three point shooter. Dawson has quick feet and is a very good ball handler. Dawson could be a very exciting player who should light up scoreboards with his time at Oklahoma State.

TCU Horned Frogs

TCU was tired of being the perennial doormat in the Big 12 and one of the worst programs in all of college basketball, so they went and hired proven winner Jamie Dixon. Dixon was the ex-Pitt coach who was responsible for a lot of winning. He wasted no time recruiting and getting top commits to play for the Horned Frogs. TCU is on the doorstep of an NCAA Tournament berth; this could be the year they make the Big Dance again.

Kevin Samuel: Samuel is another old school center, who makes a living inside.  He can finish at the rim and blocks shots that go up at the defensive end. He is a very good rebounder. Kevin will be a nice player for TCU. The Frogs already have an elite point guard and with Samuel in the mix should be able to develop a nice inside out game, and control the rebounding.  Jamie Dixon loves to recruit bigs who are grinders and Samuel fits that mold perfectly.