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Class of 2016 Team Rankings

11, Nov 2015

Class of 2016 Team Rankings

Welcome to National Signing Day 2015. As we open the day up, we are excited to unveil our top 25 team rankings for the class of 2016. This list will change throughout the week as players make their decisions. For now, however, here’s how we think the top classes roll out as of Wednesday morning.  

We’ve used our top 50 rankings (noted by No. 1-50) and the 247 Sports Composite rankings (noted by No. 50-250 and listed with a “C” next to the ranking). Our rankings are a combination of ranking data, subjective analysis and mixture of immediate impact players and long term value players.

Updated Nov. 12, 2015 at 6:18 p.m. EST

1. KENTUCKY (SEC)

No. 3 De'Aaron Fox, PG, Cyprus Lakes (TX)
No. 9 Malik Monk, SG, Bentonville (AR)
No. 11 Bam Adebayo, PF/C, High Point Christian (NC)
No. 29 Sacha Killeya-Jones, PF, Virginia Episcopal (VA)
No. 31 Wenyen Gabriel, PF, Wilbraham & Monson (MA)

Another year, another high class ranking for John Calipari’s program. This year’s haul is interesting and intriguing. Fox popped on Thursday and gives the Wildcats their best point guard since John Wall. Both big men are versatile forwards that can go inside and out. And the scary thing with Killeya-Jones and Gabriel is this – they are both very far away from their ceiling as players. Truthfully, they are probably both better than where we currently have them ranked in our top 50. Add in elite rebounder and rim presence with Bam Adebayo and the frontcourt headed to Lexington is special. The Wildcats made the jump to the top spot in landing Malik Monk, a prolific athlete and scorer who should fit in perfectly alongside fellow 2016 signee De'Aaron Fox.

2. DUKE (ACC)

No. 1 Harry Giles, PF, Oak Hill Academy (VA)
No. 4 Jayson Tatum, SF, (MO)
No. 18 Frank Jackson, CG, Lone Peak (UT)
No. 34 Javin DeLaurier, PF,  St. Anne’s-Belfield (VA)

The Blue Devils didn’t pull any punches with this class. Three likely McDonald’s All-Americans and a terrific top 40 player make up one of the best classes we’ve seen in the last decade. Anchored by Giles, the best amateur player in America, Duke has a class that is talented enough to bring home another National Championship. Giles’ health upon arrival to Duke is a legitimate question mark, coming off the heels of the news of his torn ACL last week. That said, the class as a whole fills needs with elite level talent.  

3. MICHIGAN STATE (BIG TEN)

No. 5 Miles Bridges, SF, Huntington Prep (WV)
No. 20 Josh Langford, SG/SF, Madison Academy (AL)
No. 30 Cassius Winston, PG, University of Detroit Jesuit (MI)
No. 39 Nick Ward, C, Gahanna Lincoln (OH)

With four players inside the top 40 coming to East Lansing for this 2016 recruiting class, you’d have to think the longterm sales forecasts for season tickets is positive. Tom Izzo & staff have a dynamic group of recruits coming in. Bridges, a Flint native, is the gem of the class. He’s a unique athlete with NBA size. He has star-power in the making. Langford is as versatile of a player there is in prep basketball. Pair him with one of the best point guards (Winston) and big men (Ward) in America and you have a group that could have the Spartans in Final Four(s).

4. MISSISSIPPI STATE (SEC)

No. 41 Mario Kegler, PF/SF, Oak Hill Academy (VA)
No. 43C Schnider Herard, C, Prestonwood Christian (TX)
No. 91C Tyson Carter, PG/SG, Starkville (MS)
No. 92C Lamar Peters, PG, Landry Walker (LA)
No. 104C Abdul Ado, C, Hamilton Heights (TN)
No. 137C Eli Wright, SG, 22 Feet Academy (SC)

Welcome to the SEC, Ben Howland! In his first year at the helm of the program, the former UCLA head coach isn’t wasting any time in bringing in a major haul to Starkville. Herard is an important recruit in this class because of his size for the SEC and ability to make a difference in the paint. Carter, a local product from Starkville High, may just be the real steal in the class. He has star potential. Peters is a big point guard and completely fearless. His value is so important in this year’s loaded SEC class of talented freshmen. Wright gives the team a steady scoring option on the wing. Mario Kegler, a Signing Day addition, was a score that pushed the Bulldogs into the top three and the commitment from Abdul Ado cements its class as one of the best nationally even as others load up this winter.

5. UCLA (PAC-12)

No. 15 Lonzo Ball, PG, Chino Hills (CA)
No. 25 TJ Leaf, PF, Foothills Christian (CA)
No. 66C Ike Anigbogu, C, Centennial (CA)
No. 160C Kobe Paras, SF, Cathedral (CA)

Steve Alford and staff locked the trio of Ball, Anigbogu and Paras up early and allowed the Bruins to focus on future classes this past spring and summer on the recruiting trail. They slept comfortably knowing what was coming to Westwood. Ball might just be the best passer in the entire class of 2016. Anigbogu Is a long and rangy paint protector while Paras is a fine sleeper that could develop into a key member of the UCLA rotation. On Thursday, Leaf was a new addition to the class and vaulted the Bruins into the top 4. 

6. UCONN (AMERICAN)

No. 26 Alterique Gilbert, PG, Miller Grove (GA)
No. 28 Juwan Durham, PF, Tampa Prep (FL)
No. 51C Vance Jackson, SF/PF, St. John Bosco (CA)
No. 121C Mamadou Diarra, C, Putnam Science (CT)

This might just be the best class the Huskies have had since 2010. That’s saying something. Gilbert fits the mold of successful point guards that have suited up in Storrs. He’ll be a fan favorite because of his competitiveness and winning spirit. Durham is the X-factor. How well will he be after recovering from injury? If he’s back to 100%, he’ll more than likely be the best big man in the American Conference. Jackson and Diarra add long-term stability for Kevin Ollie and crew.

7. VIRGINIA (ACC)

No. 33 Kyle Guy, PG, Lawrence Central (IN)
No. 43 DeAndre Hunter, SF/PF, Friends Central (PA)
No. 44C Ty Jerome, SG/PG, Iona Prep (NY)
No. 124C Jay Huff, PF/C, Voyager Academy (NC)

When we adjust our player rankings, Huff will make a major jump. He’s good enough to potentially be considered a top 25 national prospect. The near 7-footer is the biggest sleeper in America. That could mean a jump in the team rankings for the Cavaliers. Huff is a unique talent. Guy is one of the most exciting point guards in high school basketball and he’ll pair well with Jerome, a gutty shot-maker. Hunter, a 6-foot-7 forward from Philly, is the ultimate talented gluy guy. This is the sexiest class Tony Bennett has recruited to UVa.

8. FLORIDA STATE (ACC)

No. 14 Jonathan Isaac, PF/SF, IMG Academy (FL)
No. 35 Trent Forrest, PG/SG, Chipley (FL)
No. 101C CJ Walker, PG, Arsenal Tech (IN)

The Seminoles are rolling right now, landing high level player after high level player. Coming off the heels of a terrific class in 2015, FSU has another round of players that have A. pro potential B. immediate help and C. long term value. Isaac is another player that we probably have too low in our national rankings. He has top five overall potential in the class. Forrest is the steal of the class and Walker is a big point guard that will be tough to defend as a JR/SR.  

9. MIAMI  (ACC)

No. 13 Dewan Huell, PF, Miami Norland (FL)
No. 49 Bruce Brown, SF, Vermont Academy (VT)
No. 98C Rodney Miller, C, Oak Hill Academy (VA)

The Hurricanes closed out strong on the final day of the early signing period, landing two top 50 players in Huell and Brown. Huell is the highest-rated player to sign with the Canes since Darius Rice, who joined the team in 2000. He's a major in-city score. Brown projects as a high-quality high-major player. Miller is a 7-foot paint protector. 

10. NORTH CAROLINA (ACC)

No. 30 Tony Bradley, C, Bartow (FL)
No. 41C Seventh Woods, SG, Hammond School (SC)
No. 55C Brandon Robinson, SG, Douglas County (GA)

The Tar Heels have made a big jump on Signing Day with the addition of Seventh Woods. The ultra-athletic guard from the Palmetto State spurned the spurs of the Gamecocks for the Tar Heels. He joins steady studs Tony Bradley and Brandon Robinson, a pair of projected multi-year producers. 

11. SYRACUSE (ACC)

No. 17 Tyus Battle, SG/SF, Gil St. Benard (NJ)
No. 32 Matt Moyer, SF, Gahanna Lincoln (OH)

After laying low from the travel circuit, it is easy to forget just how good of a player Battle is. The 5-star wing has all-conference potential. He was once committed to Michigan but made the flip to the Orangemen. Moyer gives the program great length on the wing and should shine in the famed zone defense.

12. ALABAMA (SEC)

No. 10 Terrance Ferguson, SG, API (TX)
No. 68C Braxton Key, SF, Oak Hill Academy (VA)

Former NBA head coach Avery Johnson has not wasted any time setting the tone for what he wants to do in Tuscaloosa. He wants star power and he’ll go to wherever he needs to go in order to find it. Johnson has strong ties in Texas and leaned on them to get it done with Ferguson, one of the most dynamic players in the class. The gold-medal winner is a sniper from three. Key, a Nashville native, is one of the most versatile guys in the game. He’s a terrific passer and an elite glue guy.

13. OREGON (PAC-12)
No. 37 Payton Pritchard, PG, West Linn (OR)
No. 84C MJ Cage, C, Mater Dei (CA)
No. 85C Keith Smith, SF, Rainer Beach (WA)

14. WASHINGTON (PAC-12)
No. 7 Markelle Fultz, PG, DeMatha (MD)

15. UNLV (MOUNTAIN WEST)
No. 40 Justin Jackson, SF/PF, Hill Academy (CAN)
No. 59C Jaylen Fisher, PG, Bolton (TN)
No. 242C Christian Vital, SG, Vermont Academy (VT)
No. 279C Carlos Johnson, SF, Shadow Mountain (AZ)

16. HARVARD (IVY)
No. 100C Bryce Aiken, PG, St. Patrick (NJ)
No. 118C Chris Lewis, C, Milton (GA)
No. 127C Robert Baker, SF/PF, Walker School (GA)
No. 141C Seth Towns, PF, Northland (OH)
No. 179C Henry Welsh, C, Loyola (CA)
No. 282C Justin Bassey, PG, Colorado Academy (CO)
No. 314C Christian Juzang, SG, Viewpoint (CA)

17. TEXAS A&M (SEC)
No. 57C JJ Caldwell, PG, Cypress Woods (TX)
No. 58C Robert Williams, PF, North Caddo (LA)

18. INDIANA (BIG TEN)
No. 46 De'Ron Davis, PF, Overland (CO)
No. 83C Curtis Jones, SG, Huntington Prep (WV)
No. 291C Grant Gelon, SG, Crown Point (IN)

19. MARYLAND (BIG TEN)
No. 63C Kevin Huerter, SG, Shenendehowa (NY)
No. 65C Anthony Cowan, PG, St. John’s College (DC) 

20. MARQUETTE (BIG EAST)
No. 38 Brendan Bailey, SF, American Fork (UT)
No. 80C Sam Hauser, SF, Stevens Point (WI)

21. ARIZONA STATE (PAC-12)
No. 49C Sam Cunliffe, SG/SF, Rainer Beach (WA)
No. 79C Jethro Tshisumpa, C, Mountain Mission (VA)

22. AUBURN (SEC)
No. 27 Mustapha Heron, SG, Sacred Heart (CT)
No. 104C Jared Harper, PG/SG, Pebblebrook (GA)
No. 236C Anfernee McLemore, PF, Worth County (GA)

23. VILLANOVA (BIG EAST)
No. 21 Omari Spellman, PF, MacDuffie (MA)
No. 128C Dylan Painter, C, Hershey (PA)

24. PENN STATE (BIG TEN)
No. 47C Tony Carr, PG, Roman Catholic (PA)
No. 88C Lamar Stevens, PF, Roman Catholic (PA)
No. 159C Joe Hampton, PF, Oak Hill Academy (VA)
No. 268C Nazeer Bostick, SG/SF, Roman Catholic (PA)

25. MINNESOTA (BIG TEN)
No. 45C Amir Coffey, SF, Hopkins (MN)
No. 107C Eric Curry, PF, Southwest Christian (AR)
No. 162C Michael Hurt, PF, John Marshall (MN)


Justin Young
Editor-in-Chief

Justin Young has been the editor-in-chief of HoopSeen.com since 2013. He manages the day-to-day operations on the site and in conjunction with our national and regional events. He was the national basketball editor for Rivals.com and a contributing editor at Yahoo! Sports. Young has been earned numerous awards for his work in sports journalism, including the Georgia Press Association Columnist of the Year. His Justin Young Basketball recruiting service has been in existence since 2002 and worked with over 300 schools from all levels. He is the director of HoopSeen Elite Preview camps and our national Preview camp series. 

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