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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Sussex Hamilton forward Patrick Baldwin Jr. NCAA Basketball Sussex Hamilton basketball /

15. Wisconsin-Milwaukee Panthers (No. 58 overall class)

For the past year, top-5 overall prospect Patrick Baldwin Jr. was choosing between the Duke Blue Devils and Milwaukee Panthers, coached by his very own father. The blue blood was viewed as the favorite but in the end, the Horizon League gets by far its highest-rated recruit ever straight out of high school.

The Panthers have been a middle-tier program in the Horizon League but with both Baldwin and returning leading scorer DeAndre Gholston, they have the chance to win the conference make it to the NCAA Tournament. But even if they don’t make it, at least for one season, Milwaukee will be somewhat in the national spotlight.

14. Alabama Crimson Tide (No. 9 overall class)

Head coach Nate Oats has quickly turned the Tide into a recruiting juggernaut, this time landing a top-10 overall group. No. 10 recruit JD Davison is the third-highest rated prospect in program history, while four-star big Charles Bediako provides much-needed size at the center position. And there’s Jusaun Holt, who flies under the radar despite being a top-100 wing.

Even if Davison is around for just one year, Alabama has a chance to be a national title contender in 2022 and if he stays after Jahvon Quinerly leaves, gives the team a dynamic starting point guard for another year. And based on the early noise for the 2022 class, this likely won’t be the only top-10 overall recruiting class for the program.

13. Nebraska Cornhuskers (No. 17 overall class)

The Cornhuskers continue their rebuild, this time landing their highest-rated ever prospect out of high school in Bryce McGowens, brother of starting guard Trey McGowens. But he’s not the only quality newcomer, as top-100 big man Wilhelm Breidenbach and top-tier JUCO commit Keisei Tominaga also are joining the program.

Nebraska has some good returning talent such as Dalano Banton and Lat Mayen and if the McGowen brothers can have a big impact, this team can finally get out of the Big Ten basement. But look for Breidenbach to have the biggest long-term impact as he replaces Yvan Ouedraogo inside. The Huskers may have a 3-4 year starter with him.

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