Previewing the Big East Recruiting Classes: Part I

Friarbasketball.com takes a look at the recruiting winners for the class of 2012.

While nearly every national publication ranks Providence’s 2012 recruiting haul as tops in the conference, it’s no surprise that there is yet another wave of talented newcomers on the way in the Big East.  15 of ESPNU’s top 100 players will call a Big East school home next season – a number that is down from 20 a season ago.  While maybe not as top-heavy as the Big East’s 2011 class, there is still plenty of high-end talent on the way.

A word of caution before we delve too deeply into these classes: last year’s most highly rated prospects did not have the impact that many expected as freshmen.  While players ranked in the 40 range (Moe Harkless and Otto Porter) excelled initially, the five highest rated players the Big East had a season ago (Andre Drummond at #2 nationally, Khem Birch #12, Rakeem Christmas #20, Michael Carter-Williams #21, and #25 Sir’Dominic Pointer) had an average to minimal impact.  Drummond was inconsistent, Christmas and Carter-Williams were used sparingly on a deep Syracuse team, while Birch transferred and Pointer saw fellow freshmen Harkless and D’Angleo Harrison star for the Red Storm.

In fact, be it through lack of playing time, injury or just plain not being ready from the jump, more than half of the 20 Big East reps in the top 100 a season ago had minimal impact in their first season.

Taking stock of the incoming classes

Aside from St. John’s there really weren’t many Big East schools that reloaded with massive classes this season, as the Johnnies and Rutgers did a year ago.  In fact, Cincinnati, Louisville, Rutgers, and Seton Hall each have only one man classes, with three of the four adding only a Junior College transfer (Louisville is the exception with Hargrave’s Montrezl Harrell who will be an incoming freshman).

Over the next couple of days Friarbasketball.com will preview the incoming classes.  Having not seen the recruits of all 15 schools I will not rank them 1-15, but group them together based on what I’ve seen personally, and for those recruits that I haven’t seen play either in person or in regular season action, on reports from national and local media.

The groupings will be available in the upcoming days, but to start, here is a rundown of the 15 players ranked in ESPNU’s top 100 for 2012.

# 6 Steve Adams, Pittsburgh.  Adams had only been in the country two days following a flight from New Zealand that landed him at Notre Dame Prep in January the first time I saw him play.  His opponent that day?  Nerlens Noel in a decidedly pro-Tilton building in Boston.  Tilton had hammered ND Prep prior to Adams’ arrival and few, if any, big men had any success going up against Noel in his final season at Tilton, but Adams found his footing half-way through the game and eventually started taking it to Noel, finishing with a 20+ point double double in a narrow loss to the Rams.  Tremendously skilled, Adams is a good rebounder, finishes above the rim with power, can score with either hand and is a solid passer out of the low block.  He’s a tremendous prospect.

#14 Dajuan Coleman, Syracuse.  It seemed inevitable that Coleman would end up at nearby Syracuse.  A 6’9, 275 monster of a big, Coleman has a soft touch for a player his size and figures to step into minutes as a freshman if his conditioning is there.  Motor will be a question, talent isn’t at this point.

#21 Ricardo Ledo, Providence.  Not much to say here that hasn’t been said already about the Providence native.  Consistency is the only concern this observer had, as Ledo was marvelous some nights and disengaged others, but in thinking optimistically he was at his best when the competition was, lighting up Brewster and Tilton during the regular season and nearly carrying a less talented South Kent team to a victory over New Hampton in the first round of the NEPSAC playoffs this spring.  When I was in attendance he was never better than in a late victory over Tilton in the spring of 2011, scoring 31 points as the best player on the floor in a game loaded with stars.  His 20 second half points and two free throws with under ten seconds to play were the difference in a two point win in the quarterfinals of the Prep National Championship.

#23 Kris Dunn, Providence.  Unfortunately for New London fans, and now Providence supporters, Dunn’s injured left shoulder plagued him during the Connecticut high school playoffs a season ago and will cost him the start of his college career after July surgery.  Capable of playing either guard position, when he returns to Providence Dunn will give the Friars a potentially elite defender and aggressive playmaker offensively.  Few programs in the country project to have the type of point guard depth Providence will should Dunn return from surgery come December.

#32 Omar Calhoun, Connecticut.  Jim Calhoun must be feeling fortunate that his namesake stuck with the Huskies after committing over a year ago.  Calhoun is one of the most talented scorers in the class, an explosive scoring guard out of New York who will give UConn one of the best backcourt trios in the Big East alongside Shabazz Napier and Ryan Boatright.

#37 Jerami Grant, Syracuse.  A fine athlete with a great family pedigree, Grant should remind some of current Orangeman CJ Fair – a tweener forward who just knows how to play.

#43 James Robinson, Pittsburgh.  The second player on this list out of DeMatha (Grant being the other), Robinson is a steadying force on offense who doesn’t come with the hype of Adams, but has the same mature type of game that Adams does according to reports.

#46 Ryan Arcidiacono, Villanova.  Reports make him sound like second coming of Eric Devendorf.  The Pennsylvania native is a very talented lead guard who plays the game with an edge.

#54 Daniel Ochefu, Villanova.  The second Wildcat on the list is a big body (6’9) with an already solid skillset.  He and Arcidiacono are a nice combo for Nova.

#58 D’Vauntes Smith-Rivera, Georgetown.  Played big at a big time program in Oak Hill.  Big guard in the mode of former Hoya Austin Freeman – who played well in this system.  A kid who can score in a number of ways.

#64 Cameron Biedshceid, Notre Dame.  Signed with the Irish nearly two years ago and will provide Mike Brey with a skilled, versatile small forward.

#77 Stephen Domingo, Georgetown.  Wiry, smooth shooting small forward from the West Coast – a nice get for John Thompson across the country.

#78 Christopher Obekpa, St. John’s.  Steve Lavin won out for Obekpa, whose recruitment seemed as though it would never end.  A Providence target, thought to be a Cincinnati lean for quite some time, whose offensive game is lagging, but could provide an early impact as a shot blocker on a St. John’s team with plenty of kids who will be willing to score.  Tireless defender and rebounder, making up for a lack of offensive polish at this point.

#84 Steve Taylor, Marquette.  The combination of a kid being a Buzz Williams discovery and a product of Simeon in Chicago make it feel as though Taylor has to be good.  Good length for the small forward spot at 6’7.

#90 Montrezl Harrell, Louisville.  Some kids are going to come up with a loose ball in the paint no matter what.  Harrell bullied his way through the Prep National Championship in March, leaving some elite players in his wake.  Ferocious finisher and rebounder who I’d rank higher than Obekpa at this point.  His recruitment opened up in the spring when Virginia Tech made a coaching change – much to Rick Pitino’s benefit.  With Terry Rozier off to prep school Harrell is a one man class – and a one man wrecking ball.  Love this kid.

Comments? Email kevin.farrahar@friarbasketball.com

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