Arizona has been the Pac 12 front-runner the past few years within the conference. Ever since Sean Miller has taken over in Tucson, the Wildcats made sure to sweep in the very best talent on the west coast. Whether it was Brandon Ashley, Aaron Gordon, Stanley Johnson, or Allonzo Trier, Arizona has had the best class within the conference for over four years running. However, with the early signing period here, several dominoes most occur for the Wildcats to even compete for the top crown within the Pac 12 come the late signing period.

In Westwood, the Bruins bring in the top class thus far as UCLA has signed three top-150 recruits in the 2016 class headlined by 6-foot-5 lead guard Lonzo Ball. With tremendous size for his spot on the floor, Ball might just be the best passer in all of high school basketball and his outlet passes in the early offense rival only Kevin Love as some of the best that the prep scene has seen for some time now.

Not alone, high-level playmaker and athletic wing Kobe Paras joins the fray along with  top-100 big man Ike Anigbogu, a center from the area that continues to make strides in his game by the passing day. What’s even more impressive is that the Bruins are already in line to compete for the best recruiting class within the conference in years ahead as they hold commits from the two younger Ball brothers, who are in the 2017 and 2019 classes, along with top-75 juniors Jaylen Hands and Jalen Hill. Throw in the fact that Steve Alford and his crew are waist deep for 2016 top-20 forward TJ Leaf and if landed, UCLA could find itself with a top-five class nationally come the late signing period in April.

Oregon isn’t too far behind the Bruins as they boast three top-100 recruits. Led by Payton Pritchard, a 6-foot-1 guard and former Oklahoma commit, the in-state recruit should bring stability to the lead guard spot and someone who can be used off the ball some due to his perimeter jumper. MJ Cage, the son of former NBA star Michael Cage, heads to Eugene next fall and brings a polished 15-feet and in skillset that should enable for a variety of lineups to be produced by Dana Altman. Throw in hard playing and versatile forward Keith Smith and the Ducks have the makings of a top-25 class.

With just one committed and signed prospect, Washington finds itself third in the conference as it landed the best recruit and one that comes from the other side of the nation. Markelle Fultz shocked many be selecting the Huskies back in August but he brings immediate production to Seattle next fall due to his escalating skillset, quality mid-range game, and improving point guard abilities in creating for himself and others in the half-court setting. Toss him into the loaded 2015 crop that is about to make major headways for Lorenzo Romar this winter and what you have is an up-and-coming program on the west coast.

In Bobby Hurley’s first full recruiting cycle in Tempe, the Sun Devils are on target to land a top-25 class before things are said and done with. They scooped up Sam Cunliffe, a 6-foot-6 wing with a killer deep ball, early in the recruiting process, before targetting Jethro Tshisumpa and then gaining a verbal from the center a few months back. The 6-foot-10 center is quite the presence within the interior and the best shot blocker headed to a Pac 12 campus next year.

Utah has another sleeper class headed to Salt Lake City, just what Larry Krystkowiak likes. Jayce Johnson will enroll for the spring semester and redshirt before gaining all four years of eligibility next fall as a member of the 2016 class. Beating out the likes of Stanford, Colorado, and California for him, Johnson should step right in for the soon to be NBA lottery pick Jakob Poeltl due to his quality size and low post moves down low. Josh Conley and Devon Daniels also join the big man where Daniels should provide quality playmaking skills and toughness in the backcourt as the Michigan native brings good size at 6-foot-4 and the ability to play all three spots on the perimeter.

Andy Enfield and his staff have been diligently working in supplying the lacking roster that he took over at USC a few years back and the 2016 class should bring quality talent to Los Angeles. One of the best shot makers on the west coast, Jonah Mathews hits the USC campus next fall and he is joined by, what could be, one of the best on-ball defender in DeAnthony Melton and add in versatile forward Harrison Henderson and this trio of seniors is just what the doctor called for in Trojan land.

After securing a top-five class nationally in last year’s group of seniors with two top-10 recruits with Jaylen Brown and Ivan Rabb, California might not reach the same rankings it achieved in 2015 but this year’s group still brings some potential to Berkeley. One of the best athletes out west with Oscar Frayer and a quickly improving and quality scorer of the ball off the wings in Tyson Jolly are set to lace up their shoes for Cuonzo Martin next winter.

Arizona finally pops up with its lone commitment which comes from a Finnish big man with a pro skillset. Lauri Markkanen, a 6-foot-10 forward with great agility, shot making out to the perimeter, and a decent low post game, the European should become a fine asset with mix and match abilities in the frontcourt. However, it will be interesting to see what route the Wildcats head in the coming months in solidifying its 2016 recruiting class.

Colorado brings in two quality guards who bring toughness and some scoring to the table with Bryce Peters and Deleon Brown, while Colorado, Oregon State and Washington State nabbed a lone signee each in the early period with Trevor Stanback, Ben Kone and Milan Acquaah, respectively. All three are quality pieces thrown into the mix and should prosper as their years progress on a college campus beginning next fall.  

Corey Evans’ take: This year might be the year that someone bumps Arizona off the pedestal that it has been on where it has landed the Pac 12’s best recruiting class for over the past four years. Who has the best chance of doing so? With the best passing guard in America in Lonzo Ball, a playmaking wing in Kobe Paras, an improving by the day big man in Ike Anigbogu, and a possible commit from top-20 forward TJ Leaf, Steve Alford has his program positioned perfectly to sit at the top of the pole now and in the spring.

Biggest recruiting story: Sitting outside of the top-5 within the Pac 12 recruiting standings, what will Arizona do before the late signing period comes? Adding more depth and talent to its core group is very important this winter where many of the top recruits by now have already committed or are not considering the Wildcats; only time will tell as to what path Sean Miller and his staff take these next few months.

PAC-12 TEAM RECRUITING RANKINGS

1. UCLA
2. Oregon
3. Washington
4. Arizona State
5. Utah
6. USC
7. California
8. Arizona
9. Colorado
10. Stanford
11. Oregon State
12. Washington State

PAC-12 CLASS SUPERLATIVES