Big East Basketball: Analyzing conference recruiting trends

Are any programs recruiting better in the new Big East?

You would think that most of the schools would be able to recruit better in the new Big East. Butler, Creighton, and Xavier all took steps up the conference ladder when they joined, and programs like Providence and Seton Hall are no longer lost in the shuffle of the formerly bloated Big East.

However, recruiting trends within each school have generally stayed the same, which is good, as many of the programs were already doing quite well on the recruiting trail. Villanova continues to pick up elite recruits, especially in the wake of their dominant five-year run atop the conference. Marquette and Georgetown have also maintained excellent recruiting profiles despite down periods on the court for both programs in the updated conference.

Seton Hall probably brings in better talent now than in the old version of the conference, but nothing really jumps out beside the Pirates’ standout class in 2014. Providence often flies under the radar in recruiting as well, but Ed Cooley has mined elite talent in both the old and new Big East. The Friars bring as much talent to campus each year as anyone in the conference, including the Big East’s second-best class this year.

The recruiting tendencies at St. John’s and DePaul have also held steady through the conference transformation; the Johnnies often underperform with quality recruits, while the Blue Demons constantly rotate three-star prospects in the hopes of finding the one player who can drag them from the league’s basement.

Of the three “newcomers,” only Creighton’s recruiting has really taken a leap. In 2013, the Bluejays brought in five two-star recruits. But since joining the Big East, Creighton has signed six four-star players, which buoyed the program post-Doug McDermott. Creighton once again has another talented class coming to Omaha this summer.