Now that the college football season has kicked off, expect for the train of commitments to roll full throttle ahead. Loads of visits will continue to take place as prospects get the chance to see campuses when they are looking their best. Each Monday, we will recap the prior week with all of the commitments that took place within the division-1 platform and furthermore, assess the top verbals landed from the power conference and non-power conference rung.

This past week, not one prospect picked a better fit and future home than Kyle Young in selecting the Butler Bulldogs. Right next to him, while a member of the 2016 class, UNLV made a giant leap to respectability in picking up top-50 wing-forward Troy Baxter, a one-time South Florida commit that is immediately eligible in the fall.

POWER CONFERENCE COMMITMENT OF THE WEEK

KYLE YOUNG BECOMES A BUTLER BULLDOG

While he might not be a top-100 recruit, the commitment of Kyle Young to the Butler Bulldogs should be seen as an elite, top-25 type of get. Why so? Well, the Ohio native is the epitome of what it means to be a BU ballplayer: a blue-collared forward that is willing to scrap and claw, competes with no ego, but also is multi-dimensional and skilled, all at the same time.

Beating out the likes of Michigan State, Ohio State, and Clemson for the 6-foot-8 forward, Young should immediately leave his fingerprints on the Big East program next winter. In between spots in the frontcourt, the King James star more than makes up for things with the way that he consistently brings his hard and hat and lunch pail to the playing floor.

In need of a replacement for star power forward Andrew Chrabascz, while there may be a drop-off next season at his spot, the ceiling and overall potential out of the recently committed Young should enable for even more production out of the power forward position. Hence, the Buckeye State native’s placement here as the power conference commitment of the week is just the beginning of the positive pub that he will gain moving ahead. 

NON-POWER CONFERENCE COMMITMENT OF THE WEEK

UNLV SECURES TROX BAXTER

Much has been said about the dismissal of players from the UNLV basketball program dating back to last college basketball season. With former Runnin’ Rebel stars leaving for the NBA and others deciding to transfer, a huge void has been left out in the desert. While the commitment of Troy Baxter will not instantly make the MWC bunch an instant contender out west, it will make the squad a little more respectable this winter.

Originally headed to South Florida, Baxter is one of the best athletes in all of America. Possessing great size and length standing at 6-foot-8, the Sunshine State native has blossomed in recent months in improving his overall skillset in becoming more of an ideal-sized small forward, rather than being given the dreaded tweener label.

A top-50 recruit within the 2016 HoopSeen Top-125 Rankings, Baxter possesses ideal upside due to his size and athleticism. A bit similar to one-time wing Derrick Jones for the MWC bunch, Baxter will excite many right away due to his playing style and energy levels. While he does need to further his ball skills and become more of a consistent jump shooter of the basketball, landing the Oldsmar Christian product is a giant step ahead for Marvin Menzies’ crew and hopefully will add further momentum in reeling in a strong 2017 class.

2016 CLASS

MOUNTAIN WEST

UNLV

• Troy Baxter, 6-foot-8 forward, Oldsmar Christian School (Florida) – NATIONAL RANKING: 42

2017 CLASS

ACC

FLORIDA STATE

• Anthony Polite, 6-foot-5 guard, St. Andrew’s School (Florida) – NATIONAL RANKING: 82
• Wyatt Wilkes, 6-foot-7 forward, Winter Park High School (Florida) – NATIONAL RANKING: 124

PITT

• Terrell Brown, 6-foot-10 center, Tilton School (New Hampshire)

ATLANTIC 10

DAYTON

• Jordan Pierce, 6-foot-10 center, Union Catholic High School (New Jersey)

GEORGE MASON

• Javon Greene, 6-foot-2 point guard, Henry County High School (Georgia) – STATE RANKING: 18

BIG EAST

BUTLER

• Kyle Young, 6-foot-7 forward, Massillon Jackson High School (Ohio) – NATIONAL RANKING: 110

BIG SOUTH

CHARLES SOUTHERN

• Deontaye Buskey, 6-foot-1 point guard, Daphne High School (Alabama) – STATE RANKING: 15

HIGH POINT

• Justyn Mutts, 6-foot-7 power forward, St. Augustine Preparatory School (New Jersey)

BIG 12

TEXAS

• Jericho Sims, 6-foot-9 power forward, Cristo Rey Jesuit High School (Minnesota) – NATIONAL RANKING: 58

BIG WEST

UC IRVINE

• Solomon Ruddell, 7-foot center, Hill School (California)

IVY

PENN

• Jelani Williams, 6-foot-4 guard, Sidwell Friends School (Washington, DC)

YALE

• Paul Atkinson, 6-foot-8 center, Westminster Academy (Florida) – STATE RANKING: 18

MAAC

RIDER

• Paxton Wilson, 6-foot-3 shooting guard, Calvary Christian Academy (Florida)

NEC

CENTRAL CONNECTICUT STATE

• Eduardo Camacho, 6-foot point guard, Miami Christian School (Florida)

ROBERT MORRIS

• John Williams, 6-foot point guard, St. Vincent-St. Mary’s High School (Ohio)

OHIO VALLEY

MURRAY STATE

• JA Morant, 6-foot-1 point guard, Crestwood High School (South Carolina)

PAC 12

UTAH

• Jaxon Brenchley, 6-foot-5 shooting guard, Ridgeline High School (Utah)

PATRIOT

LEHIGH

• Caleb Bennett, 6-foot-4 shooting guard, Lafayette High School (Missouri)

SOUTHERN

FURMAN

• Alex Hunter, 5-foot-10 point guard, Leesville Road High School (North Carolina)

SAMFORD

• Kevion Nolan, 6-foot-1 point guard, Sacred Heart Catholic School (Alabama) – STATE RANKING: 11

SOUTHLAND

INCARNATE WORD

• Jeremiah Allen, 6-foot-11 center, Aggieland Homeschool (Texas)

SUMMIT

SOUTH DAKOTA STATE

• Matt Dentlinger, 6-foot-7 power forward, Kuemper Catholic High School (Iowa)

SUN BELT

LOUISIANA-MONROE

• Michael Ertel, 6-foot-2 point guard, Mont Vernon High School (Indiana)

SWAC

ALABAMA A&M

• DeAndre Robinson, 6-foot-6 small forward, Monroe County High School (Alabama) – STATE RANKING: 22

WAC

CAL-STATE BAKERSFIELD

• Darrin Person, 6-foot-7 small forward, Immanuel High School (California)

WCC

PEPPERDINE

• Trae Berhow, 6-foot-5 wing, Watertown-Mayer High School (Minnesota)

2019 CLASS

BIG 12

BAYLOR

• Jordyn Adams, 6-foot-2 point guard, Silsbee High School (Texas)