NCAA Basketball: 25 biggest team winners from 2021 recruiting classes

9. Villanova Wildcats (No. 20 overall class)

The Wildcats lost Co-Big East Player of the Year forward Jeremiah Robinson-Earl but effectively returns the rest of the roster, making them a consensus preseason top-10 team for next season. Yet they still managed to land a recruiting class that fills all of their needs. 6’9 center and top-100 prospect Nnanna Njoku gives them a big man to replace Robinson-Earl, while point guard Angelo Brizzi has a similar game to star point guard Collin Gillespie.

That doesn’t even include their highest-rated recruit, top-60 shooting guard Jordan Longino. He’ll likely not have a big impact with all of the returning guards but he’ll be a name to watch in the years to come. And considering how few players leave Coach Jay Wright and Villanova, there’s a good chance that these guys will be the core of a future Big East title team.

8. Duke Blue Devils (No. 4 overall class)

It’s not the No. 1 or 2 overall as they usually do, mainly because they lost out on top-5 prospect Patrick Baldwin Jr. Still, they have a trio of five-star prospects that’ll start next season, led by Paolo Banchero and AJ Griffin, a pair of top-10 overall forward recruits. Shooting guard Trevor Keels is another five-star recruit, while Jaylen Blakes is a four-star point guard that gives them a needed extra ball-handler.

There’s still some lack of depth that concerns this group and they would’ve been better off landing one more frontcourt piece but if Banchero can play at a Player of the Year level, Duke will get back towards top-10 status. But while the ceiling is high with potential, the floor is also low considering the pressure that will be put on these true freshmen.

7. Colorado Buffaloes (No. 11 overall class)

The biggest surprise may be who has the No. 1 recruiting class from the Pac-12. It’s not Arizona, Oregon, USC, or UCLA but rather Tad Boyle and Colorado. After losing three of their top four scorers, including all-time leading scorer and passer McKinley Wright, there’s a need for a new core group to reload the Buffaloes.

The group includes a trio of top-100 recruits, most notably center Lawson Lovering, wing Quincy Allen and former Arizona guard commit KJ Simpson. Three-star backcourt prospects Javon Ruffin and Julian Hammond provide future depth as well, with this class having the potential to keep Colorado in the top-tier of the Pac-12 without taking a major step back.