NCAA Basketball: 4 biggest takeaways from updated 2023 recruiting rankings
By Ian Mumm
Elite Programs Fighting for Top Class
It’s been several years, with the Wildcats edging the Blue Devils for 2nd in 2019, since dominant recruiting powers Duke and Kentucky have finished in lockstep with each other. Both programs have firmly remained within the top-10 classes in the nation following that class, but have seen an increasing number of programs interjecting upon their stranglehold at the top. However, early results in the 2023 class have pointed towards a return to their overall form and a likely battle between the blue bloods for the top overall class next Fall.
For Duke, the transition away from legend Mike Krzyzewski has experienced little to no difficulty on the recruiting trail. Former associate head coach and newly appointed head coach Jon Scheyer has been the program’s recruiting ace for several seasons now and has been able to implement those influences on the current class landing four 5-star players: Mackenzie Mgbako, Sean Stewart, Caleb Foster, and Jared McCain. Compiling another four 5-star recruits in the 2022 class, Scheyer stands to keep the Blue Devils heavily involved as a national title favorite solely from his extensive efforts on the recruiting trail.
His new arch-nemesis of talent acquisition remains up to the challenge, however. Kentucky’s John Calipari has been winning over elite prospects since 2009 continually adjusting to the punches and counter-punches of national powers along the way. Already with a trio of top-25 players in the clubhouse, 5-stars Justin Edwards and Robert Dillingham and 4-star Reed Shephard, the Wildcats are set to revitalize their talent pool of lethal shooting prospects. Kentucky seems far from done pulling in talent, however, as the program is sitting in a great position to potentially land the #2 and #4 overall players in the class: DJ Wagner and Aaron Bradshaw.
Currently in third place are the Michigan State Spartans. Taking an extended absence from the top of the rankings, the program has not secured a top-10 class since 2016. Coincidentally, head coach Tom Izzo also brought home the 3rd overall class on that occasion as well with program pillars Miles Bridges, Cassius Winston, Nick Ward, and Joshua Langford. The Spartans have struggled as of late to find similar on-court success, but Izzo’s early dividends in this class signal strong potential for the program’s future.
The assembled quartet of 4-stars feature potential one-and-done talent Xavier Booker, FIBA U17 World Cup gold medalist Jeremy Fears, and versatile weapons in Coen Carr and Gehrig Normand. Adding to what the program is currently developing, Michigan State could be on the verge of returning to old national form.