NCAA Basketball Recruiting: Analyzing top 2020 classes prior to spring

19. Baylor Bears (3 commits)

Average Class Ranking: 19.5

Baylor put together one of its best seasons of all-time in 2019-20 and could be back for more during this coming campaign. It certainly feels as though head coach Scott Drew is finding his rhythm in Waco as he is consistently putting together elite rosters with strong recruiting and excellent work on the transfer market. With regard to the future of the program, Baylor’s three Top 150 commits from the 2020 class certainly show plenty of promise.

Dain Dainja, a 6-foot-9 center out of Minneapolis, is the top-rated player of this group as he is currently ranked at No. 56/65 in the class. Dainja is already a well-built piece that can dominate the paint defensively with his size, instincts, and rebounding ability. He is a strong scoring option in the paint and passes out of double-teams quite well too. He struggles with switches on the perimeter but should be a solid force inside right away.

Zach Loveday (No. 122/106), a true 7-footer, is the other potentially impactful big man in this class. Loveday is out of Huntington Prep in Ohio and was a highly sought-after center by many in the Midwest. He needs to add a bit more muscle to his frame but is a fluid athlete and can stretch the floor out to 3-point range. He is a versatile piece at the center spot that contrasts nicely with Dainja.

The final piece of this class is in-state commit LJ Cryer. The 6-foot-1 lead guard is ranked at No. 78/96 in the class and should be a star in Waco. He was a long-time target of the program and is an elite-level scorer. Cryer can fill it up at all three levels with deep range and dangerous moves off the bounce.