Big East Basketball: Top early 2019 recruiting starts in the conference
1. Xavier Musketeers
National Ranking: No. 5
The only Big East basketball program to secure three 2019 commitments already, Xavier definitely belongs at the top of this list. Even though the program is under new leadership, head coach Travis Steele is showing how incredible he can be on the recruiting trail right away. Snagging three commits this early is impressive regardless of the rankings for those players. On the whole, Xavier’s three-man class to this point ranks at No. 5 in the country.
Zach Freemantle, a 6-foot-9 big man from New Jersey, is the best commit for Xavier so far as the only top-100 player in the class. He is ranked at No. 97 overall and is a superb post scorer. Also, considering Xavier’s roster construction for the future, it seems as though Freemantle will be able to carve out a big role right away. While playing for Playaz Club alongside Butler commit Khalif Battle, Freemantle averaged 12.6 points (.574/.000/.661), 8.2 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks per game in 21 contests.
Next up, both Daniel Ramsey (No. 117) and Dieonte Miles (No. 194) are also committed to the program. Ramsey, a 6-foot-8 power forward, is a well-built player who already boasts plenty of strength to compete with the top players in the nation. The 6-foot-10 Miles, on the other hand, should help bulk up Xavier’s frontcourt depth as a true center.
dark. Next. Top programs of the 21st century
On the whole, these Big East programs are off to superb starts in the grand scheme of college basketball recruiting. Each team already has secured a top-150 player in the class as the future looks bright for the whole league. It will be interesting to see how the classes develop over the next several months.