8. Arkansas Razorbacks
Coach John Calipari is used to having top-3 classes back in Kentucky for the last decade. So far, they’re in the top 5 with just three commits. They have 5-star guard commit Darius Acuff Jr., ranked in the top-5 overall. Meleek Thomas is a 5-star combo guard from the Pittsburgh area, where Coach Cal also hails from.
Top-100 combo guard Isaiah Sealy gives them depth in the backcourt, especially if they lose both DJ Wagner and 5-star freshman Boogie Fland to the NBA Draft. The lack of frontcourt pickups is a current concern, especially if Adou Thiero goes pro. But the Thomas/Acuff duo alone will make this a successful recruiting class.
7. Northwestern Wildcats
Yes, the Wildcats only have the 16th-ranked recruiting class, but that’s historically good for the program. They already have five commits, led by Tre Singleton, a 6’8 "power forward ranked No. 85 overall. This would be the highest-ever-ranked commit for the program out of high school.
Two other forwards are in the class in Cade Bennerman and Tyler Kropp. Three-star guards Phoenix Gill and Jake West also join the team, giving them a five-man class. For a program that has struggled in getting Big Ten caliber talent, the recent NCAA Tournament appearances have seemed to help solve that problem, making them a legit contender in the league going forward.