The visit season is winding down as this is the last weekend before the first signing period that will take place beginning on Wednesday, November 11. However, there are still some last ditch efforts being taken place in securing a top-25 recruiting class enabling for respective programs to focus more attention on the younger classes. The SEC brings in the most vital recruits this weekend where Starkville is the place to be, and Kentucky, MSU, and VCU remain on commit watch these next few days.

BULLDOGS ON VERGE OF TOP-5 RECRUITING CLASS

The work that Ben Howland has done since taking over in Starkville on March 23, 2015, is nothing short of impressive. In the spring, he hauled in top-100 forward Aric Holman and then kept the best prospect to come up through the state in recent years with Malik Newman close to home by securing a commitment from the top-15 guard. However the 2016 class looks to be even better and after landing verbal commitments from three top-150 guards and recently, big man Schnider Herard this past Wednesday, the weekend to come could be another domino in setting the SEC program up for even further success in the coming years.

The Bulldogs are in need of a few big men in the 2016 class and after landing Herard, all eyes will be placed on De’Ron Davis and Abdul Ado this weekend. MSU is sitting pretty with Mario Kegler, a 6-foot-7 in-state recruit who is finishing out his senior year at Oak Hill Academy this winter, but landing either of the visitors this weekend is vital.

Davis is down to Indiana and Mississippi State and the Colorado native would be a great land for Howland and his crew. The 5-man has continued to rework his body and as his conditioning has improved, so has his production when within traffic and whenever the game speeds up. Davis would be a fine high-low big man playing alongside Herard for the next few years down south and a commitment would be accepted with open arms.

Another big man joins Davis this weekend as Abdul Ado, a 6-foot-10 center from Hamilton Heights in Tennessee, sets foot onto the Starkville campus. While he nursed tendinitis in his knees this past summer and many of the programs that were recruiting him fell off the map, the Bulldogs look more than ready to pounce on the elite shot blocker in the coming days. Ado recently visited LSU and Auburn but a commitment wouldn’t be all that surprising following his two-day visit to see what the Ben Howland and his staff can offer.

WHO MIGHT POP?

While many of the programs across the nation are holding off until the spring to finish off their classes, a few others are in prime position to land a recruit this weekend.

We already spoke on this situation, yet Mississippi State is looking great to land another big man this weekend between Davis and Ado, though the latter might be more in reach than the former, although MSU is in the final two for the Colorado native.

A relative unknown to most but one of the better and bigger lead guards still available, Marquell Fraser hits the VCU campus this weekend and all signs point to a possible commitment. The jumbo guard can create for himself and others, defend various spots on the floor, and should fit in immediately in Richmond.

Kentucky gets the last shot at big man Jarrett Allen this weekend before the signing period begins and while the Wildcats already have two commitments from frontcourt pieces, the Texas native might be more than okay with the situation in Lexington where UK is a favorite to land his services.

Lastly, Australian guard Kieran Hayward remains in the states after visiting St. Joe’s and Rider these past few days and gets a glimpse of the LSU program this weekend. The sell to come to Baton Rouge and succeed just like fellow Aussie Ben Simmons is hard to deny and a commitment could take place in the coming days between any of the three programs that he has visited.

ATLANTIC 10

VCU

• Marquell Fraser – 6-foot-3 guard – The Hill Academy (Canada)

BIG 10

PURDUE

• Bruce Brown – 6-foot-3 guard – Vermont Academy (Massachusetts)

IVY

DARTMOUTH

• Mike Smith – 5-foot-9 guard – Fenwick High School (Illinois)

MAC

CENTRAL MICHIGAN

• David DiLeo – 6-foot-6 wing – New Hampton School (Iowa)

OHIO

• Desmond Bane – 6-foot-4 wing – Seton Catholic High School (Indiana)

SEC

ALABAMA

• Wendell Carter - 6-foot-10 center - Pace Academy (Georgia) 2017
• Terryonte Thomas – 6-foot-4 guard – New Hope High School (Mississippi) 2017
• Robert Woodard – 6-foot-5 wing – Columbus High School (Mississippi) 2018

KENTUCKY

• Jarrett Allen – 6-foot-10 center – St. Stephen’s Episcopal School (Texas)

LSU

• Kieran Hayward – 6-foot-4 guard - Australia

MISSISSIPPI STATE

• Abdul Ado – 6-foot-10 center – Hamilton Heights Christian Academy (Nigeria)
• De’Ron Davis – 6-foot-10 center – Overland High School (Colorado)

OLE MISS

• Devin Gilmore – 6-foot-6 forward – Madison-Ridgeland Academy (Mississippi) 2017
• Alex O’Connell – 6-foot-5 wing – Milton High School (Georgia) 2017
• Connor Vanover – 7-foot-1 center – Arkansas Baptist High School (Arkansas) 2018

TEXAS A&M

• Kobe Eubanks – 6-foot-5 wing – Elev8 Sports Institute (Florida)