Big 12 Basketball: Biggest needs for each team’s 2021 recruiting class

What are the biggest needs from each Big 12 Basketball program in the 2021 recruiting class?

As the 2020 recruiting classes have all but wrapped up for Big 12 Basketball, there have been some surprises and disappointments regarding some of the teams. The biggest and most obvious surprise has been the Oklahoma State Cowboys, ranking in the top-15 overall and No. 2 in the conference.

They have Cade Cunningham, the No. 1 overall player who committed last winter and remained with Oklahoma State, even after receiving a postseason ban. The only class ahead of the Cowboys is Texas Tech, which has its highest-rated incoming freshman ever in Nimari Burnett. Under head coach Chris Beard, the Red Raiders have become a recruiting powerhouse, rivaling the Kansas Jayhawks, who finished with the third-best Big 12 class.

Eight of the 10 programs are adding at least three true freshmen, with Texas and Oklahoma (1 each) as the exceptions. But at least the Longhorns bring in a five-star recruit in Greg Brown, who picked them over the NBA G League Select Team. Then, there’s the Kansas State Wildcats, who are adding seven newcomers, as they look to rebuild and get out of the bottom of the Big 12.

But it’s time to look forward to the 2021 recruiting class. Five players have already committed to Big 12 Basketball programs, with plenty more to come before the start of the season. Some teams have bigger needs than others. Here’s a look at each individual program and what/who they should be targeting in the next 12 months.