NCAA Basketball Recruiting: 3 takeaways from early 2019 signing class

LAS VEGAS, NV - MARCH 10: Head coach Sean Miller of the Arizona Wildcats reacts to an official's call during the championship game of the Pac-12 basketball tournament against the USC Trojans at T-Mobile Arena on March 10, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Wildcats won 75-61. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

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LOS ANGELES, CA – MARCH 22: Head coach Mark Few of the Gonzaga Bulldogs reacts against the Florida State Seminoles during the first half in the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament West Regional at Staples Center on March 22, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

Gonzaga’s rise as a recruiting power

The amazing part of the Gonzaga Bulldogs greatness as a mid-major program has been the balanced effort to build the roster. They’ve done it in more ways than any program. Whether it’s 3-4 star recruits who ultimately outperform their ranking, to international recruits, to regular/grad transfers, Coach Mark Few has created a team year in and out that can make – and advance in the NCAA Tournament.

For this season the Bulldogs are content going the more traditional route. They have one of the best-recruiting classes in program history and it may get even better. Gonzaga currently is ranked No. 7 after top-50 big man Drew Timme committed and signed with the team. He joins fellow top-50 forward Anton Watson, along with Lithuanian wing Martynas Arlauskas and sharpshooting guard Brock Ravet. Look for them to go after another ball handler to help offset the impending departures of seniors Josh Perkins and Geno Crandall.

The only recent recruiting class that can match up with this one is the 2016 class that featured current NBA player Zach Collins, along with a trio of future NBA guys in Rui Hachimura, Killian Tillie and Zach Norvell Jr. Depending on how the Zags do this season, that group may go down in history as the best ever for the program.

The 2019 class may not be as good or send as many to the NBA but they’re still key to continuing Gonzaga’s dominance in the WCC and set themselves up as a consistent Final Four threat in the future. If the Bulldogs are going to get top-20 classes annually, there may still be another level that the school has yet to reach.

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