Big 12 Basketball: Breaking down every 2017 recruiting class

Texas Longhorns

Shaka Smart had a task of bringing Texas hoops back into the forefront of the Big 12 landscape. He has improved this team but, with this incoming crop of freshmen, he should challenge for second place in the league and a higher seed in the NCAA Tournament this year. Shaka played a style at VCU that he should try to implement at Texas. He plays a pressure defense in which the other team turns the ball over and the offense is able to get maximum possessions. With a better talent pool at Texas than at VCU, Shaka could start competing with Kansas for the league crown in a few years.

Mo Bamba: The No. 1 player in the 2017 class according to a few recruiting sites, Mo committed late to Texas. It was not without controversy; Bamba’s estranged Brother recorded a Facebook live post declaring that Bamba received benefits and that he should be ruled ineligible by the NCAA. The NCAA investigation proved this to be a farce, and Bamba is geared up and ready to roll for the upcoming season. Bamba is an elite big, who can rebound, block shots, and score. He can score from anywhere on the floor, but he really makes his living underneath in the low block. Bamba is going to be a sure fire lottery pick this year if all goes according to plan. Bamba is a really good player and should be the Freshman of the Year in the conference.

Texas Tech Red Raiders

The Red Raiders were the most experienced and oldest team in the country a year ago. That means that this year, they will be one of the least experienced and youngest teams in the country. That should not stop Chris Beard, who finally has his dream job after many successful years at Arkansas Little Rock. The Red Raiders should struggle to make the tournament as this league is just too deep for Texas Tech to overcome their lack of experience.

Davide Moretti: The Italian Combo Guard can score multiple ways, either by getting to the rim, shooting the three, or pulling up for a floater in the lane. His first step as he drives the lane is really quick so it is hard to keep him in front of you on defense. He is a really good passer and Texas Tech could utilize him either on the ball or off the ball. The transition for foreign players usually takes about 1.5 years for the player to fully live up to their billing in Europe. Davide, by his Junior year, should be a force in the league as not only a scorer but as a distributor as well.