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NCAA Basketball: 10 teams who need successful 2020 recruiting classes

By Tristan Freeman

EAST LANSING, MI - JANUARY 19: Head coach Archie Miller of the Indiana Hoosiers reacts to a call during a game against the Michigan State Spartans at Breslin Center on January 19, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI - JANUARY 19: Head coach Archie Miller of the Indiana Hoosiers reacts to a call during a game against the Michigan State Spartans at Breslin Center on January 19, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /
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SAN DIEGO, CA – MARCH 18: Head coach Bruce Pearl of the Auburn Tigers reacts as they take on the Clemson Tigers in the first half during the second round of the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Viejas Arena on March 18, 2018 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Donald Miralle/Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO, CA – MARCH 18: Head coach Bruce Pearl of the Auburn Tigers reacts as they take on the Clemson Tigers in the first half during the second round of the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Viejas Arena on March 18, 2018 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Donald Miralle/Getty Images) /

Auburn Tigers

The Tigers have an impressive incoming recruiting class, a seven player group ranked in the top-20 overall. It features a few four-star commits, led by top-35 small forward Isaac Okoro. Bruce Pearl has elevated Auburn Basketball to one of the top teams in the SEC.

So why are they on this list despite having a great incoming recruiting class? That’s because the Tigers kind of have to do the same thing. Even though they lost several key players including their top leading scorers Bryce Brown and Jared Harper, Auburn still has six seniors on scholarship for this upcoming season. That includes frontcourt pieces Danjel Purifoy, Austin Wiley and Anfernee McLemore.

Auburn was one of the most experienced teams last season and after next year will soon become one of the least experienced for the 2020-21 campaign. They already got a commitment from three-star shooting guard Justin Powell for the 2020 class and is after five-star forward Walker Kessler and five-star point guard Sharife Cooper. The Tigers have real shots at landing both of them and will need to get at least one of them to remain in contention in the SEC.

The conference has reached a point where you have to get five-star prospects to compete at the top. Even the Georgia Bulldogs are bringing in a top-3 player in Anthony Edwards. Coach Pearl has shown he can do it, with a Final Four now on his resume with the Tigers. He’ll have to make it back-to-back top-20 recruiting classes to continue the great run.

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