Busting Brackets
Fansided

Big Ten Basketball: Breaking down each program’s 2018 recruiting class

By Lukas Harkins

EAST LANSING, MI - JANUARY 26: General view of the Breslin Center. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI - JANUARY 26: General view of the Breslin Center. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
10 of 15
Next
NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 01: Head coach Collins of Northwestern. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 01: Head coach Collins of Northwestern. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /

Northwestern Wildcats

Class rankings: 7th in Big Ten, 24th nationally

Commitments: Pete Nance (82), Miller Kopp (107), Jordan Lathon (116), Ryan Young (281)

This offseason is bound to be a tough one for the Northwestern basketball program. They are saying goodbye to one of the best senior classes in program history and that will not be easy to recover from. Scottie Lindsey, Bryant McIntosh, and Gavin Skelly all played major roles for the Wildcats during the careers, helping the program reach its first-ever NCAA Tournament. Looking ahead to next season, the returns of Dererk Pardon and Vic Law will lead the team.

In addition, head coach Chris Collins is bringing in an excellent recruiting class. The hope is that this class will help the team go back to the NCAA Tournament and become a mainstay there. Leading the way for this class are forwards Pete Nance (6’8″) and Miller Kopp (6’6″). These players should naturally slide into reserve spots next season, helping to make up for the holes left by Skelly and Lindsey.

In terms of replacing the talent leaving after last season, nobody is more important than Jordan Lathon. McIntosh’s production will be the hardest to replace of those graduating. This is due to the fact that there is not a logical replacement waiting in the wings at the moment. Anthony Gaines (returning) and Ryan Taylor (transfer from Evansville) will likely hold down the guard position but incoming freshman Lathon will also be called upon to succeed right away as a scorer and playmaker.

Lastly, power forward Ryan Young fills out the class. The lowest-rated recruit of the bunch, Young brings solid size at 6’10” and 210 pounds. His impact will likely be felt over the years as a big body in the rotation for Coach Collins.

Home/Big Ten