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.

UTAH

The Utes lost one of the best perimeter presences last year as Delon Wright graduated and was selected in the first round of this past year’s NBA Draft. However, all is not lost in Salt Lake City as potential lottery pick Jakob Poeltl returns, along with such others as Brekkott Chapman, Dakari Tucker, Brandon Taylor, and Jordan Loveridge. With a very thin incoming class this year, there may not be a giant hole that needs to be filled by any of the recruits coming onto campus. If there is a need or a hole, it could be in aiding Poeltl in the post and giving spot minutes for the Austrian center. Enter Makol Mawien. The in-state recruit has great size and length standing at 6-foot-9 and might be able to give serviceable minutes enabling Poeltl extended minutes off the floor in resting him at certain moments during any given affair. Really it isn’t about the stat line that Mawien might be able to display this year, but more about what he can do to help the squad stay afloat with its star big man off the floor. If Mawien can guard the post, rebound his area on the glass, and convert on easy looks down low, then the freshman center will have completed his task, which should enable for Larry Krystkowiak’s program to continue on its upward trajectory within the Pac 12 Conference.  

WASHINGTON

The Huskies bring in just a massive eight person class that is chalk full of interior posts, intriguing wings, and productive guards that might be the foundation of another successful few years for Lorenzo Romar and his crew in Seattle. While the Pac 12 program has made giant strides on the future recruiting classes over the past few weeks with commitments of Markelle Fultz, Daejon Davis, and Jontay Porter, it could be this year’s incoming class that is the reason for its success down the road. Marquese Criss, David Crisp, and Noah Dickerson should all bring stability to the program but if you want star power and someone that can take over games, all things lead back to in-state recruit and 6-foot-6 wing Dejounte Murray. The freshman wing has the star power and swagger to him that can make him one of the more lethal threats on the west coast as he can score the ball in heavy amounts and has already been compared to NBA star, Jamal Crawford. This season may be an up and down affair as the Huskies will rely heavily on the incoming group of freshmen but with the room for growth and the ability to play through his mistakes, it wouldn’t be all that surprising for Murray to have his name enlisted as a member of the all-freshmen team in the Pac 12 this year. The future looks very bright and while U-Dub may have to bite the bullet this season at times and the staff may have a darker shade of gray in their hair by seasons end, guys like Dejounte Murray don’t come around all that often and should enable for future success out of the west coast program.

WASHINGTON STATE

While things are still a work in progress for the Washington State basketball program, and after losing star guard Davonte Lacy from last year’s squad, there will be some giant shoes that need to be filled this year and beyond.  The interior should be set as productive big man Josh Hawkinson returns for his junior campaign and junior college transfer Conor Clifford should bring stability within the paint alongside the all-conference center. However, if no perimeter assets step up, double teams will commence down low and guys like Hawkinson and Clifford will have little room to operate within the post area. That is why someone like incoming freshman guard Viont’e Daniels is so important for the squad’s success this year. The 6-foot-2 freshman averaged over 24 points per game as senior at nearby Federal Way High School and comes to Pullman known for his jump shooting abilities. If Daniels can form a solid 1-2 punch with Ike Iroegbu and play off of each other in the backcourt, might Wazzu be able to surprise some people in the Pac 12? That is up for debate but Daniels is a guy that has played with a chip on his shoulder where he was never highly touted and if he can handle the lead guard spot in short spurts and also blossom as an efficient scorer of the basketball, then just maybe the Cougars can turn the corner and make some noise during the dog days of the season in a few months.