The Pac 12 has become a conference where it is Arizona, and then everyone else. However, the recruiting front has changed the outlook of the 12 team league and with the momentum that is at hand from the likes of Arizona State, California, and Oregon State, along with the other stalwarts in the conference like Oregon, Stanford, and UCLA, might the conference be seeing a resurgence on the hardwood? It sure does seem that way.

In the coming days, we will look at the top incoming freshmen for each program within the Pac 12 confines where we will highlight not the most touted 2015 class member, but the guy that will mean the most to the squad's success and also have the opportunity to leave the largest fingerprint on the program at hand.

STANFORD

Heading into the new season, there is a lot that has to be replaced at Stanford. Losing the likes of Chasson Randle, Anthony Brown, and Stefan Nastic, the top three leading scorers on the Pac 12 team last year, there are definitely giant shoes that must be filled with players returning to the program, along with a few of the incoming freshman headed to campus this fall. Of the returning ballplayers, players like Marcus Allen, Rosco Allen, and Reid Travis all must step up their play if Johnny Dawkins’ crew wants to reach the same level of success that they recently saw in past years. The cupboard definitely isn’t bare though and a solid trio of recruits head to the California-based institution and all three should be able to give a lending hand during their time within the program. Josh Sharma, a mobile 7-footer, fits the mold of the big man that Johnny Dawkins has come to really like and thus, flourish within the program as they play massive lineups on the floor. Cameron Walker, a 6-foot-7 forward out of nearby Santa Maria, brings quality versatility on both sides of the ball but might be caught in the numbers game as there is a lot of talent returning to the frontcourt at Stanford. Where the most important freshman comes to mind is in Marcus Sheffield. The 6-foot-5, do-it-all type of wing, brings a lot of playmaking and versatility to the floor. Losing such proven scorers as the aforementioned Randle and Brown will leave some shots to be put up and where Sheffield really excels is on the slice to the basket and on nifty runners in the lane. He does have to become more consistent with his perimeter jumper but he can handle it some in the backcourt and also defend various spots on the other end of the floor. The Cardinal program desperately needs Robert Cartwright to step up at the lead guard spot but if Sheffield can show that he can facilitate at any level as a secondary ball handler, the freshman’s fingerprint should be felt from day one as the Pac 12 program faces off against a non-conference schedule including the likes of SMU, St. Mary’s, Villanova, and Texas.

UCLA

There is a lot of good momentum on the recruiting trail for the Bruins as they have already made great strides in future classes in locking down some of the best talent within the neighboring high schools that encapsulate the Los Angeles area. However, with the upcoming season to light, Steve Alford will have much of his contributors back from last year’s Sweet 16 squad. They welcome in three freshmen to the mix with the likes of Prince Ali, Aaron Holiday, and Alex Olesinski. The latter may need some work as he needs to get a bit stronger but the New Mexico native can extend the defense with the deep ball as the 6-foot-10 forward has a solid stroke from off the catch and good mobility in guarding ball screens and getting out and running the floor. Holiday brings great bloodlines to the Pac 12 program where one of his older brother’s, Jru, was a star at UCLA  a few years back before moving onto the NBA. However, the most pertinent freshman on campus this year will be Prince Ali. While the talent in the backcourt already isn’t lacking much, what Ali does should open up some things for his teammates. The Bruins have become known for pushing the pace, something that falls directly in line with what the 6-foot-3 playmaker loves to do. He is a slicer at heart where he wants to get to the basket in using his killer, strong physique in taking the bump and then finishing off the and-1 chance. Having Ali on the floor should allow for Bryce Alford to be played off the ball some and be used in spot-up situations, enabling for the coach’s son to display his pristine perimeter jumper and be given more room and timing to get his attempts off. A pairing of Alford and Ali brings great size in the backcourt and two guys that can play both on and off the ball and if the freshman can come in and provide immediate toughness and solid decision-making from off the bounce, it should allow its star studded frontcourt of Jonah Bolden, Tony Parker, and Thomas Welsh to thrive even further and thus, the Bruins to make another deep run in March.

USC

The Trojans may not have had the immediate success that they may have wished after hiring former Dunk City coach Andy Enfield to lead its program two years ago, but might the tides be turning in LA? With a quality set of guards coming back in the fold in Elijah Stewart, Katin Reinhardt, and Jordan McLaughlin, and the personnel that should fit well under Enfield’s up-tempo system, the incoming class to USC may be the cherry on top in putting together some quality wins this season. Bennie Boatwright enters the fold where the 6-foot-9 forward can stretch out the defense via the consistent perimeter jumper but it his fellow 2015 class member that might mean even more to the Trojans this year, and over the long haul. Chimezie Metu, a 6-foot-10 big man, comes to campus as a rapidly improving interior force who has major athleticism and length to him and is capable of really producing from 15-feet and in of the basket. Metu’s motor was one of his major holdups early on but it seemed as his senior summer and high school year went along, the incoming freshman’s downfall turned into one of his strengths. If Metu can compete with ferociousness on each possession and continue to add to his overall skillset from off the low block, it would allow for greater separation room for his guards on the perimeter and hence, lead to more wins for Enfield and his crew at Southern California.