MTSU Basketball: KJ Buffen commits to Blue Raiders, highlights 2018 recruiting trend

The Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders received a commitment from three-star Class of 2018 small forward KJ Buffen and continue a trend of talented players choosing to play in Conference USA.

KJ Buffen, a three-star recruit from the Class of 2018, has decided to play his college basketball with the MSTU Blue Raiders.

Buffen, who is a 6’5, 195-pound small forward from Gainesville, Georgia, is ranked as the No. 79 small forward and No. 332 player overall from the Class of 2018 by 247 Sports and is unranked by Scout – although he is considered a three-star recruit by both.

While MTSU’s talent is known to those in C-USA and from the surrounding areas, his addition is further proof to those who do not know much about Conference USA that MTSU is not just a one (or two) time Cinderella team but a program that is here to stay — and here to win.

Their recruiting success has been joined by recruiting success from other Conference USA programs, highlighting a trend in a growingly competitive conference.

Just a few days ago, three-star recruit Tamell Pearson from the Class of 2018 committed to the UAB Blazers, another of the top teams in C-USA. Pearson, a 6’9, 200-pound power forward will add yet another great talent to the conference and, like Buffen, continues a trend of three and four-star athletes making their way to some of the top mid-major basketball programs in the country rather than sitting the bench at a big-name program.

Next: Ranking top coaching moves of the offseason

Conference USA is one of the most underrated and competitive conferences in all of college basketball, so keep an eye on the players who continue to decide to take their talents there – because upsets like MTSU’s over Michigan State and UAB’s over Iowa State could start happening more often than not.