The national signing day for high school seniors begins next Wednesday, November 11, but there is still some work to be done by a handful of the more prolific programs from coast to coast. Kentucky doesn’t hold a commitment from anyone in the backcourt, Kansas and Arizona are set to just sign one in the 2016 class next week, and 17 of the top-50 within our 2016 recruiting rankings are still undecided on where they will attend college next fall. While some may commit in the coming days and others will hold off on putting pen to paper, we take you through what the future might hold for each of the 17 uncommitted seniors.

HARRY GILES – RANKING: 1 – 6-FOOT-10 FORWARD – OAK HILL ACADEMY (NORTH CAROLINA)

Giles is the best that high school ball has to offer. The alpha-dog is the elite of the elite and while the recruitment of Giles virtually began once he set foot onto the Wesleyan Christian campus four years ago as a freshman, things are coming to a close as all signs point to the Carolina native committing on November 14. Kansas and UNC did their best to remain in the picture but this seems to be a three-horse race between Duke, Wake Forest, and Kentucky.

PREDICTION: Giles commits and signs with Duke during the early signing period and catapults the Blue Devils into the number one spot in the 2016 team rankings.

JOSH JACKSON – RANKING: 2 – 6-FOOT-7 WING – JSERRA HIGH SCHOOL (MICHIGAN)

The import to the west coast is one of the most lethal defenders that the high school ranks has seen for some time now. Jackson is a 6-foot-7, versatile and engaged wing who can practically guard any spot on the hardwood and his motor allows for him to produce even as his jumper gains consistency from 15-feet and out. On the recruiting front, the Detroit native has been all over the place and at the moment, things remain blurry as Arizona, Kansas, Maryland, and Michigan State are the four programs that have gained the greatest traction with him thus far.

PREDICTION: Jackson holds off on signing and doesn’t commit until the tail end of the winter months; Kansas finds a way to land Jackson in hopes that he solidifies the spot that Andrew Wiggins and Kelly Oubre once occupied.  

DE’AARON FOX – RANKING: 3 – 6-FOOT-3 GUARD – CYPRESS LAKES HIGH SCHOOL (TEXAS)

Fox is the best lead guard in the nation and one of the best two-way producers throughout the land. The lanky but aggressive guard has continued to add to his repertoire of breakdown moves and seems to always live up to the big moment that faces him on the playing floor. Programs like LSU, Texas, NC State, and Louisville have heavily tracked the elite guard, but it seems to be a two-man race between Kentucky and Kansas.

PREDICTION: Fox commits to Kentucky in the coming days and signs early, giving the Wildcats an excellent replacement if current freshmen Jamal Murray and/or Isaiah Briscoe opt to leave the Lexington campus in favor of the NBA next spring.

THON MAKER – RANKING: 6 – 7-FOOT CENTER – ATHLETE INSTITUTE (CANADA)

The story of Thon Maker has been known for some time now and after jumping on the fence of whether to come out as a member of the 2015 class this past summer or in playing professional ball overseas for a year, the Sudanese big man decided to opt back into his 2016 class and return to Athlete Institute. In figuring out which college attend next fall, things have been all over the place where Notre Dame, Indiana, and Arizona State have been the most talked about programs involved with the versatile and playmaking big man.

PREDICITON: Maker sifts through the process and is the last to commit among the top-50 of our ranked seniors come next spring; while Indiana is a legit threat for him, Bobby Hurley lands his first five-star recruit in Tempe. 

MALIK MONK – RANKING: 9 – 6-FOOT-3 GUARD – BENTONVILLE HIGH SCHOOL (ARKANSAS)

Monk is one of the most athletic prospects within the 2016 class and is the biggest microwave scorer within nationally. He can put up a 50-spot on the scoreboard at the blink of an eye but consistency, or lack thereof, has always been the Arkansas native’s downfall. Still, he is an elite guard prospect who can pick from any of the bluebloods to attend but with bloodlines tracing back to the Arkansas basketball program, it is the SEC bunch along with Oregon, Kansas, and Kentucky that remains in the hunt.

PREDICTION: Monk is a 50-50 split in signing early but ends up calling it a day in favor of the Kentucky Wildcats program joining Texas native De’Aaron Fox in creating a killer backcourt in Lexington next fall.

BAM ADEBAYO – RANKING: 11 – 6-FOOT-9 CENTER – HIGH POINT CHRISTIAN ACADEMY (NORTH CAROLINA)

One of the hardest playing and most productive ballplayers hails from the state of North Carolina and after transferring to High Point Christian this fall, expect for Adebayo to finish off his high school career with a run to the state finals. The 6-foot-9 center is a monster on the glass and a lethal finisher at the rim. NC State has always been the leader here with the ferocious center and while Kentucky has dabbled with him, things look favorable for the Wolfpack in fending off the Auburn Tigers in the coming days.

PREDICTION: Adebayo signs with NC State in the early signing period, joining buddy Dennis Smith in Raleigh for what should be a top-10 class nationally.

UDOKA AZUBUIKE – RANKING: 12 – 6-FOOT-10 CENTER – POTTERS HOUSE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY (NIGERIA)

Azubuike is an old school, throwback center down low. The native of Nigeria finishes everything within five feet of the basket with soft hooks over his left shoulder in the lane, but most oftentimes, with two-handed dunks off of the powerful drop steps towards the basket. Florida State has been the favorite for a while now with the in-state recruit but others such as NC State, Auburn, and Kansas have butted their way into the conversation for the big fella.

PREDICTION: Azubuike goes back and forth between the in-state Seminole and the Kansas program and ends up calling it a day in favor for the Jayhawks.  

DEWAN HUELL – RANKING: 13 – 6-FOOT-9 CENTER – NORLAND HIGH SCHOOL (FLORIDA)

With enormous upside and a budding skillset at the 5-spot on the floor, Dewan Huell came up through the ranks as a heavily talked about name and has yet to see any regression within his game. He plays hard, competes, and has a mean streak to him. He should impact any program that he calls home next fall and while South Carolina got a visit from him, the native of the Sunshine State looks to be selecting between Miami and Florida State.

PREDICTION: Huell’s recruitment hasn’t been as heavily covered compared to other top-25 recruits and his commitment could go either way; however, Leonard Hamilton gains a verbal commit from the tough senior, solidifying the FSU’s case for a top-5 class nationally.

RAWLE ALKINS – RANKING: 16 – 6-FOOT-4 WING – WORD OF GOD CHRISTIAN ACADEMY (NEW YORK)

Attending Word of God in North Carolina this fall, the New York native is quite the perimeter weapon and on both ends of the floor. Alkins has a lot of alpha in him as he leads his squad from the tip of any given contest and has continued to add consistency to his outside jumper and furthered his touch in the lane. St. John’s and Kentucky have been the most talked about names with Alkins but UNC and NC State have begun to aggressively pursue the tough and aggressive wing.

PREDICTION: Alkins waits on signing but ends up coming to a final conclusion in joining Bam Adebayo and Dennis Smith at NC State next year giving the Wolfpack quite the trio of senior recruits that will immediately change the face of the program.

JARRETT ALLEN – RANKING: 19 – 6-FOOT-10 CENTER – ST. STEPHEN’S EPISCOPAL SCHOOL (TEXAS)

Not many bigs within the high school ranks have as good of a low-post skillset as Jarrett Allen. The 6-foot-10 center can score over either shoulder in the post and has counter moves galore whenever heavily guarded. Adding toughness to his package of abilities is a definite need but a guy his size and with his skillset for such an early age is more than impressive. Down to a final eight, Allen is looking at the likes of Texas, Kansas State, Houston, and Notre Dame, but it seems that this could come down to Kansas or Kentucky.

PREDICTION: Allen has been a mystery man and while he doesn’t sign early, he makes an early winter commitment in calling Kentucky his home.

MARQUES BOLDEN – RANKING: 22 – 6-FOOT-10 CENTER – DESOTO HIGH SCHOOL (TEXAS)

Bolden is an elite center and a guy that can play with a mean streak, score in a variety of ways from 15-feet and in, and is mobile and agile enough in finishing on the break. He has to play with more energy game in and game out but the talent just oozes out of the Lone Star State native. Duke was heavily involved with Bolden back in the summer months with many expecting a commitment to the Blue Devils. However, the DeSoto star waited things out while remaining patient with the process in looking further at the Blue Devils, Kansas, Kentucky, Oklahoma, and Alabama.

PREDICTION: Bolden signs early and while Kentucky and Duke were both leaders at one time for him, the center selects Kansas as his future home giving Bill Self one of his most skilled freshman bigs that he has gotten his hands on for some time now.

KOBI SIMMONS – RANKING: 24 – 6-FOOT-4 GUARD – ST. FRANCIS HIGH SCHOOL (GEORGIA)

With a long and lanky body type and giant upside at his fingertips, Kobi Simmons has been running the lead guard spot for some of the best programs these past few years, including that at his St. Francis High, and for the loaded Atlanta Celtics bunch on the Adidas circuit. Both of the major programs in Georgia were involved with Simmons early on but the Peach State native decided on a final three of Kentucky, Ohio State, and UNLV. A commitment could come at any day now, or he could wait until the late signing period in making things official.

PREDICTION: Simmons holds off on committing and doesn’t sign until the late period; a two-horse race between UNLV and Ohio State, Simmons fights off overtures from others that try and get involved and ends things in favor for the Ohio State Buckeyes.

TJ LEAF – RANKING: 25 – 6-FOOT-9 FORWARD – FOOTHILLS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL (CALIFORNIA)

Leaf was one of the first elite prospects to come off the board originally as the 6-foot-9 forward committed to Arizona before his junior campaign. After backing off his verbal, the skilled senior went through the process pretty quickly before narrowing things down to UCLA, Oregon, and San Diego State. With some Chandler Parsons to him, Leaf works best out of face-up scenarios from the short corner region on out and excels best in the more up-tempo affairs.

PREDICTION: UCLA has been the heavy favorite for Leaf ever since he backed away from Sean Miller’s program and though Oregon is in there a lot deeper than most believe, the Bruins land the in-state recruit in the coming days and becomes an official member of the 2016 class in Westwood by signing early.

MARIO KEGLER – RANKING: 41 – 6-FOOT-7 FORWARD – OAK HILL ACADEMY (MISSISSIPPI)

Kegler is the perfect, new era, small ball 4-man as the 6-foot-7 forward can play make off the bounce from the perimeter and is a walking match-up issue because of his college ready body and progressing skillset away from the basket. His production can ebb and flow at times but the long-term projections from the Mississippi native is off the charts. Attending Oak Hill Academy now, Kegler has been heavily recruited by the in-state Bulldogs program, along with Indiana, Maryland and Arizona State.

PREDICTION: Kegler doesn’t sign until the late period in April but decides that home is where the heart is and suits up for Ben Howland at Mississippi State next college basketball season.

ANDREW JONES – RANKING: 44 – 6-FOOT-3 GUARD – MACARTHUR HIGH SCHOOL (TEXAS)

Jones was one of the breakout prospects this past summer as he continued to evolve both physically and with his ball skills. The Texas native has grown over three inches since last July and has continued to rework his game in becoming a sturdy presence both on and off the basketball. At his best as a lead guard who can create for others in the half-court setting but also score off of hard attacks to the basket, the future looks good for Jones and it seems things are down between Arizona, Texas, and Baylor, with the latter being the place that his sister currently plays her college ball at.

PREDICTION: Jones’ recruitment still looks like it has some time to go and after sorting through the process, the MacArthur star remains in the state and opts to help out in the rebranding process at Texas under Shaka Smart.

DE’RON DAVIS – RANKING: 46 – 6-FOOT-9 CENTER – OVERLAND HIGH SCHOOL (COLORADO)

One of the best true centers in the 2016 class, De’Ron Davis has continued to groom himself into a productive big man regardless of the setting that he is placed into. He has shed some of the extra pounds that have disabled quality production against more athletic bigs in the past and now can convert more consistently within traffic and in the open floor. With great hands, quality size, and solid moves in the post, Mississippi State and Indiana look to have made this a two-horse race.

PREDICTION: Davis signs early by pledging to Indiana and gives Tom Crean another interior dynamo alongside current freshman big man Thomas Bryant next winter.

BRUCE BROWN – RANKING: 49 – 6-FOOT-3 GUARD – VERMONT ACADEMY (MASSACHUSETTS)

For a top-50 recruit, there is little to nothing known about where Bruce Brown is leaning in regards to where he will take his talents to next fall. A high level playmaker in the backcourt who is best used on the ball, Brown makes others better by making the appropriate dish following the hard slice to the basket. The minor hiccup is in his shot making skills from outside of 15-feet but Brown is an elite competitor and someone that can singlehandedly win games for you and should do so from the onset of his college career. Miami, Purdue, UMass, Indiana, and Xavier are the top five programs most involved for the well-built senior.

PREDICTION: Brown passes up on signing early but decides to commit during the early portion of his senior year at Vermont Academy by joining Curt Jones in the backcourt as future members of the Indiana Hoosiers.