NCAA Basketball Recruiting: Ranking 11 contenders for 2022 F Kyle Filipowski

10. Northwestern Wildcats

It feels like forever since the Wildcats broke their NCAA Tournament drought, which was just a few years ago. But ever since, the program has reverted back towards the bottom of the Big Ten Conference. The good news is that the young core has grown into a rotation filled with upperclassmen, minus forward Miller Kopp. Junior guards Boo Buie and Chase Audige have all-conference talent, while forwards Pete Nance and Robbie Beran are both junior starters on the roster too.

The issue here for Filipowski would be that after one year with him there, most of this core of players will be gone, leaving him with likely not a good supporting cast to work. Had there already been some big names committed to Northwestern for the 2022 class, I could make a better case since the program offers plenty off the court. But on the court, it just doesn’t look good.

9. Rutgers Scarlet Knights

While the Knights finally ended their own drought from the Big Dance, there’s a little concern as to how long they can remain viable. They lost three of their top players to the transfer portal this offseason in Myles Johnson, Montez Mathis, and Jacob Young, leaving Ron Harper Jr. and Geo Baker, both of whom will certainly be gone after this upcoming season.

That would lead Filipowski to work with center and rising sophomore Cliff Omoruyi, which would be a nice frontcourt pairing. However, the lack of guard play on the 2022-23 roster would be of great concern to the Scarlet Knights. And while Rutgers has rebuilt its reputation in the past couple of years, they’re still some consistent success away from being on the same level as to the other options.