NCAA Basketball: 25 biggest team winners from 2021 recruiting classes

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - JANUARY 04: Chet Holmgren #34 of Minnehaha Academy Red Hawks dribbles the ball against the Sierra Canyon Trailblazers during the first half of the game at Target Center on January 04, 2020 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /

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NCAA Basketball Will Wade LSU Tigers (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /

18. Indiana Hoosiers (No. 35 overall class)

Just a two-man class for Indiana and new head coach Mike Woodson but they’re very important pieces for the future and potentially how his tenure will go. Top-100 center Logan Duncomb will be a future impact starter once the likes of Michael Durr and Trayce Jackson-Davis departs next season but the big piece is guard Tamar Bates, a former Texas commit that ended up being Coach Woodson’s first commit this offseason.

Bates was a consensus four-star guard prospect but an exceptional senior season in high school propelled him to five-star status. The 6’4 shooting guard has the chance to be a star in the Big Ten and be the heir apparent to Jackson-Davis and for Indiana to land him after a coaching change is nothing short of impressive.

17. LSU Tigers (No. 12 overall class)

The Tigers were doing well in the transfer portal this offseason but their biggest splash came unexpected, landing five-star and top-30 overall prospect Efton Reid. The center reportedly was picking between Ohio State, Pittsburgh, and Florida State but head coach Will Wade wins another battle and gets their likely starting center for next season.

With top-100 shooting guard Brandon Murray and two other centers in the class as well (Jerrell Colbert and Bradley Ezewiro), the Tigers roster remains in strong shape, despite losing nearly 90% of production to the pros.

16. Memphis Tigers (No. 15 overall class)

Once again, head coach Penny Hardaway has the top incoming recruiting class in the AAC and in the top 15 overall. There isn’t a five-star prospect this time around but this group should be around for more than one year, led by top-50 wing Joshua Minott. Four-star recruits Johnathan Lawson and Sam Ayomide should get minutes out the gate, while three-star wing John Camden adds much-needed shooting.

Memphis has had some high-profile recruiting classes but that has yet to translate to NCAA Tournament success. This group may be Coach Hardaway’s most important and while it may take longer to pay off, the depth and potential starpower of Minott should work out for the team.

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