NCAA Basketball: Which 2018 recruiting classes could be most influential?
Oregon Ducks
Class ranking: No. 3 nationally
Are we about to witness a new dynasty in the Pac-12? With the downfall of Arizona recently, there is a power hole at the top of the conference. The Oregon Ducks, led by head coach Dana Altman, look like the program most likely to rise to the top. They have been to the Final Four as recently as 2016 and have an incredible recruiting class coming in.
Leading the way is 7’2″ Bol Bol. A mismatch nightmare in the frontcourt, Bol is one of the top recruits in this class. He comes in ranked No. 4 in the nation and is dangerous from anywhere on the floor. He has excellent ball skills for his height and also stretches the floor out to 3-point range. Of course, he also uses his size to alter shots at the rim on the defensive end.
Joining Bol in the frontcourt for this class is 6’10” Miles Norris. The lowest rated recruit in the class, Norris still lands in the top-100 for 247Sports Composite ranking (No. 70 overall). While he may not play an immediate role as a freshman due to a stockpile of big men on the roster for 2018-19, you can expect Norris to play big minutes in the future.
On the wings, Louis King (No. 18) and Will Richardson (No. 41) can fill up the basket. They are both outstanding scorers with the potential to be excellent perimeter shooters with better teammates around them. Considering Payton Pritchard is already on the roster as a shooter and playmaker, these recruits will be able to excel in off-ball situations. The floor spacing provided by this Oregon recruiting class could be tremendous.
If this class provides an immediate impact and Altman continues garnering commitments from top recruits across the nation, Oregon could become the dominating force on the west coast. The Pac-12 is the best conference west of the Mississippi and Oregon could become the best program on that side of the country. As of right now, their toughest competition for that claim may be Gonzaga moving forward.