Missouri Valley Basketball: Ranking incoming 2022 recruiting classes

CHARLESTON, SC - NOVEMBER 21: Head coach Dana Ford of the Missouri State Bears signals to his players during a first round Charleston Classic basketball game against the Miami Hurricanes at the TD Arena on November 21, 2019 in Charleston, South Carolina. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /

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Guard Sardaar Calhoun will play at Drake this season. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) /

No. 9 – Bradley – We trust Wardle

Coach Brian Wardle has made a living out of finding talented players and plugging them into his program, so we have faith that his signings will perform at a higher level than they would appear on paper.

James ‘Pop’ Weathers is a 6’ point guard rated as the nation’s 62nd best junior college recruit. Duke Dean is a 5’8 point guard from Troy where he was the Sun Belt freshman of the year after a highly successful year at Panola College.

Christian Davis is a 6’6 D2 transfer wing and Goanar Biliew is a 6’8 forward from Des Moines Area Community College.

No. 8 – Drake – Outstanding Potential

Sardaar Calhoun is a 6’6 athletic wing who has spent time at Florida State and Texas Tech. He could truly be a missing link for Drake’s postseason success. Prep players Will Lovings-Watts and Andrew Alia are bigger guards ranked in the top thirty in their respective states. Lovings-Watts is rated as the nation’s 223rd top prospect and the tenth best player in Indiana. Darian DeVris has also inked a 6’9 D2 transfer, Eric Northweather.

No. 7 – Evansville – Ragland hit the ground running

First-year coach David Ragland has completely rebuilt the Evansville roster. The new coaching staff landed one of the top players in UE’s home state of Indiana on Logan McIntire and one of the top performers in Pennsylvania in shooting guard Chirs Moncreif. Each player averaged around 20 points per game.

Three D1 transfers highlighted by UNLV guard Marvin Coleman bring experience to the Ford Center and the rebuilt UE roster. 6’10 Akron transfer Sekou Kalle brings some needed size and Alcorn State transfer Kenny Strawbridge is a defensive stopper that averaged over ten points per game. Ten new players will be wearing the Purple and Orange this November.