NCAA Basketball: 10 programs poised to land elite 2020 recruiting classes

BOSTON, MA - MARCH 23: A detailed view as the West Virginia Mountaineers make a basket during the first half against the Villanova Wildcats in the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament East Regional at TD Garden on March 23, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /

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CINCINNATI, OHIO – FEBRUARY 24: Coach Steele of Xavier. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

Xavier Musketeers

Xavier has been one of the nation’s most consistent programs over the past several seasons. The Musketeers have been successful under many different head coaches and have reached the NCAA Tournament in 16 of the last 19 seasons. Even though the program missed the Big Dance during this past season (the first under head coach Travis Steele), the future looks extremely bright. Coach Steele and Co. performed admirably on the recruiting trail with the 2019 class and that looks to already be carrying over to this current season.

The Musketeers have landed two top-100 prospects for this group in the forms of Dwon Odom (No. 60) and C.J. Wilcher (No. 91). Xavier has now locked up its presumed backcourt of the future but they still have one scholarship left. It is also important to mention, though, that the Musketeers might have more scholarships available if players like Naji Marshall and/or Paul Scruggs make the leap to the professional ranks or another current player elects to transfer out.

As a result, Coach Steele and Co. are covering their bases by targeting a number of prospects at this point in time. Perhaps most notably, the Musketeers are widely viewed as one of the favorites for guard Niels Lane (No. 69). They are also expected to play host to visits from Ben Carlson (No. 76) and Eugene Bown (No. 116) in the near future. Landing either one of those top-150 prospects away from other high-major suitors would be another win for the coaching staff. There are, of course, other targets as well.

By the time this recruiting season is done, Xavier could land four (assuming one extra scholarship opens in the coming months) top-150 prospects en route to a fifth top-30 class in the last seven years.

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