NCAA Basketball: Arizona State, Arkansas among 10 biggest winners of 2024 recruiting classes
It’s the start of June, meaning the dust is starting to settle after a wild, unprecedented-like offseason. The NBA Draft window is closed, the transfer portal window has been closed for a month and players are beginning to trickle back to campus to begin summer workouts to prepare for the 2024-25 men’s college basketball season.
It’s no secret that the landscape of college basketball has changed. Whether coaches or fans are fond of it or not, it’s now a matter of adaptability, being proactive rather than reactive amidst the tumultuous, ever-changing landscape.
Although the landscape has changed, the impact of incoming freshmen remains vital to a team -- even if the “winning formula” favors age and experience over high-upside, raw-talent-like youth. As incoming freshmen have picked their teams and begun to report to campus, take a look at the 10 biggest winners of the 2024 recruiting class.
10. Maryland Terrapins
It was a disappointing 2023-24 campaign for the Terrapins, but Kevin Willard is making sure that the Terrapins get back on track come November. Despite losing Jahmir Young, the profound heartbeat for the Terps the past two seasons, Maryland welcomes five-star center Derik Queen, the 12th-best recruit in the 2024 recruiting class, according to 24/7 Sports.
Although questions surround how Queen will fit alongside Julian Reese at the center spot, it's quite a good problem to have -- from both a depth and talent perspective. As a mobile center with great footwork who at times might demand double teams, Queen can make an immediate impact for the Terrapins who should be much improved -- especially behind the arc.
9. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Despite the fertile recruiting landscape in the city of Atlanta and throughout the state of Georgia, Georgia Tech remains one of the more difficult places to recruit thanks to demanding academic standards and lack of success over the past 20 years. Recruiting at Georgia Tech is a far different ballgame, yet second-year head coach Damon Stoudamire is making sure the Yellow Jackets remain a force on the recruiting trail.
Incoming to Atlanta include the likes of nearby Overtime Elite teammates: four-star combo-guard Jaeden Mustaf and four-star forward Darrion Sutton, alongside a pair of three-star prospects -- Doryan Onwuchekwa and Cole Kirouac -- all of whom will complement a balanced roster, hoping to get the Yellow Jackets back in the Big Dance for the first time since 2021.