NCAA Basketball: Which teams are off to hot starts in 2019 recruiting?

PORTLAND, OR - MARCH 19: The Ohio State Buckeyes mascot performs as the Ohio State Buckeyes play the Virginia Commonwealth Rams during the second round of the 2015 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Moda Center on March 19, 2015 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images) /

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INDIANAPOLIS, IN – DECEMBER 14: The Butler Bulldogs mascot walks on the court. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

10. Butler Bulldogs

Commits – 2: Battle (100), Mulloy (298)

Current Rank: No. 18 overall class

Butler basketball has been remarkably consistent in recent years despite weak overall recruiting classes compared to other teams of their prestige. Regardless of head coach, the program has been tremendously successful with under-the-radar recruits both in terms of seeking them out and helping them realize their full potential. For reference, Butler has never landed a top-40 recruiting class in a single year according to 247Sports database. However, that might be changing this year.

With two recruits already committed for the 2019 class, Butler basketball is off to a superb start. Head coach LaVall Jordan and his staff certainly took early action on both of their incoming future players and it seems to have paid off. For starters, the Bulldogs are potentially bringing in just the second top-100 recruit (out of high school) in program history in Khalif Battle. Currently ranked at No. 100 in the 247Sports Composite rankings, a strong push from Battle during his senior year could see him move up the rankings.

As a player, Battle is an accurate marksman from 3-point range who also boasts first-rate athleticism. Once he joins the team for the 2019-20 season, Battle projects as a guard who can add to the backcourt depth behind star guard Kamar Baldwin before taking over the reins as a sophomore. Of course, there is still a lot of time between then and now but hopes are high for Battle in the blue and gray.

In addition, the program also landed local product John-Michael Mulloy from the 2019 class. At 6-foot-9, Mulloy projects as a power forward/center at the college level who has shown flashes of being an excellent player, especially if he bulks up a bit in terms of strength. Despite being ranked barely inside the top-300 of the class, Mulloy could blossom thanks to his inside scoring and rebounding.

2018 AAU Circuit Stats

Khalif Battle (17 GP, EYBL) – 13.4 ppg (.430/.407/.878), 3.9 rpg, and 2.2 apg

John-Michael Mulloy (21 GP, EYBL) – 4.6 ppg (.413/.111/.733), 5.0 rpg, and 1.1 apg

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