Busting Brackets
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NCAA Basketball: Which 2018 recruiting classes could be most influential?

By Lukas Harkins

ATLANTA, GA - MARCH 28: LSU commit Reid (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - MARCH 28: LSU commit Reid (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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PHILADELPHIA, PA – MARCH 03: Head coach Ewing of Georgetown. (Photo by Drew Hallowell/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA – MARCH 03: Head coach Ewing of Georgetown. (Photo by Drew Hallowell/Getty Images) /

Georgetown Hoyas

Class ranking: No. 31 nationally

Patrick Ewing was unable to lead Georgetown to the NCAA Tournament in his first season as the head coach. However, that does not mean that it was not a successful year. The team showed obvious improvement throughout the season and exceeded the expectations set before them prior to the season. Coach Ewing established himself as a talented head coach and he is bringing in an exciting recruiting class for 2018-19.

The top recruit in the class is point guard James Akinjo (No. 85). A somewhat late commitment for the class, he will instantly find minutes in the rotation. He is a talented scorer and playmaker that received interest from several other top programs in the nation, including Arizona and Baylor. The California native was an impressive signing for Coach Ewing.

In addition, power forwards Josh LeBlanc (No. 113) and Grayson Carter (No. 229) will hopefully help the program make up for the departure of Marcus Derrickson, who hired an agent this offseason. If Jessie Govan, who did not hire an agent, elects to stay in the NBA Draft as well, the play of these incoming forwards will be even more important.

However, you know that it is a special group of newcomers when the lowest-rated recruit is the one receiving the most hype. Mac McClung (No. 234), a high-flying guard from Virginia, has rattled rims and collected views on highlight tapes throughout the last year. Despite being just 6’2″, McClung is one of the best dunkers in the class but he is more than just that. He is a talented scorer from deep and is quick in attacking the basket or pulling up from mid-range.

Next: Way-too-early 2019 Bracketology

While it is possible that some of these recruiting classes flame out and do not have nearly the impact expected out of them. Still, these were 10 of the classes that I think will be the most influential this year. There will obviously be other classes that make major contributions but these jumped out at me.

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