Basketball recruiting: Big 12 teams 2020 classes, ranked

Oklahoma State may have landed the top recruit in the United States (and in Canada too) but schools all across the Big 12 will be welcoming top talent. I’m looking at the 247sports.com recruiting rankings for teams in the Big 12 and trying to preview what Big 12 play could look like next season. Let’s dive in!

1. Oklahoma State

Cade Cunningham- Arlington, Texas

A five-star recruit, Cunningham is the gem of the class and the recruit all OSU fans are familiar with. There’s a reason Cunningham is the No. 1 player in the class and he has serious potential to be a star in the NBA. His stay in Stillwater will be the shortest of any player in the class as Cunningham will be a one-and-done college prospect.

Rondel Walker- Midwest City, Oklahoma

Walker, a four-star recruit and top-100 player, played with Cunningham on Nike’s AAU circuit with the Texas Titans. While Cunningham garners most of the hype from OSU fans, Walker has the potential to develop into an NBA talent in Stillwater. He’s a versatile defender and shoots the ball well from beyond the arc while also rebounding well for a guard.

Matthew Alexander- Moncrieffe- Ontario, Canada

Moncrieffe, a three-star recruit in the top-150, is a rangy 6-foot-7 forward and the highest ranked Canadian player. He could be underrated as he hasn’t enjoyed the same exposure as many other recruits. He’s a good defender and a slasher on the offense end.

Donovan Williams- Lincoln, Nebraska

Williams, a three-star recruit, is the latest signing for coach Mike Boynton will bring plenty of offense. Williams’ committed to Kansas State late in the recruiting process, but switched to OSU and will compete with Walker for playing time.

Montreal Pena- Arlington, Texas

Pena, a three-star from Arlington Martin High School, was also on the Texas Titans with Cunningham and Walker. He’ll struggle to find minutes regardless of questions about his eligibility for next season. Pena have a greater impact for OSU in the coming years, and may even provide much needed depth at forward for the Pokes next season.

The team:

OSU is losing a trio of talented seniors but will return dynamic point guard Isaac Likekele and starting center Yor Anei. Boynton also landed sharp-shooting transfer Ferron Flavors, who has collegiate experience. The Pokes also return guards Avery Anderson III and Chris Harris Jr. along with the Boone twins, Kalib and Keylan, all with a year of experience under their belts. This team has some star power and plenty of depth in at guard and on the wing.

2. Texas Tech

Nimari Burnett- Chicago, Illinois

Burnett left Chicago for California’s Prolific Prep with other highly rated prospects. Playing with talented players won’t be an adjustment Burnett needs to worry about. Burnett is the highest rated four-star recruit, rated 26th in the nation. He’s a guard who doesn’t need to bring the ball up to play an effective role in the offense, and a good distributor who shoots the ball at an efficient clip.

Micah Peavy- Duncanville, Texas

Coach Chris Beard went back to the city of Champions to pluck Peavy from his fathers program. Texas Tech signed former Duncanville Panther Jahmi’us Ramsey the year before. Peavy has big shoes to fill after Ramsey had a successful season in Lubbock. While Ramsey, a four-star forward, will likely go one-and-done, Peavy will be around for the long haul. He has good balance and is a good defender. His jump shot needs to be developed but Beard tends to get the most out of his players.

Chibuzo Agbo Jr.- San Diego, California

Agbo Jr., a four-star ranked just outside the top 100, is a good slasher and versatile defender who could develop into an NBA talent. Agbo may be the lowest rated prospect in this loaded class but opposing Big 12 teams won’t enjoy facing him for the next several years.

The team:

Texas Tech is likely losing dynamic freshman Jahmi’us Ramsey to the NBA Draft. The Red Raiders return starters Davide Moretti, Terrance Shannon, Kevin McCullar and Kyler Edwards next year. Beard also brought in transfer Jamarius Burton. The freshman should get plenty of opportunities with that group. Texas Tech has some star power but isn’t as deep as it has been in recent years.

3. Baylor

Dain Dainja- Minneapolis, Minnesota

The four-star big man is the 56th-ranked recruit in his class. Dainja is the 10th-ranked center in the class and is a traditional back-to-the-basket big man. He excels in the low post and is a good interior defender with shot blocking ability. Dainja should develop into an NBA prospect at Baylor, but it won’t happen overnight.

LJ Cryer- Katy, Texas

Cryer, a four-star guard, might be the best pure scorer among all prospects coming to the Big 12, but leaves something to be desired on the defense end. He averaged more than 34 points-per-game this past season.

Zach Loveday- Gallipolis, Ohio

Loveday, a 7-foot center, is one of the highest rated three-star prospects in the country. He transferred to Huntington (West Virginia) Prep to continue to develop his skills and he won’t be an easy cover for Big 12 teams during the next few seasons.

The team:

Baylor is returning a good majority of players from one of the best teams in college basketball a season ago. The Bears could lose Jared Butler and MaCio Teague, which could clear the way for Cryer to get some run in next season. Baylor is expected to be dangerous again next season.

4. Kansas

Bryce Thompson- Tulsa, Oklahoma

The five-star combo guard was a highly coveted prospect and for good reason. Thompson is lethal on the offensive end and has high upside as a combo guard with great balance and footwork. Thompson has a deep bag of shots he can pull out on the offensive end and possesses the height (6-5) to be a disruptive defender.

Gethro Muscadin- Louisville, Kentucky

Muscadin, a 6-10 center, lands just outside the top 150 recruits. Multiple Big 12 schools including Texas Tech and Kansas State extended offers before Muscadin chose the Jayhawks.

Latrell Jossell- Keller, Texas

Jossell played with Marcus Smart’s YGC36 AAU team along with 2021 five-star recruit Harrison Ingram. Kansas is the only reported offer for the 5-11 guard ranked outside the top 300 prospects.

Tyon Grant-Foster - Hutchinson (Kan.) CC

Tyon Grant-Foster, a 6-7 shooting guard, is the second best community college prospect in the nation, and should make an immediate impact.

The team:

Kansas will sorely miss Udoka Azubuike along with Isaiah Moss. Devon Dotson will also test the NBA Draft waters and may not return to Lawrence. Ochai Agbaji and David McCormack will likely be back along with Marcus Garrett and Mitch Lightfoot. Adding Thompson to that group will make KU dangerous as always, but the Jayhawks won’t have a player on the roster who can replace the impact Azubuike made on the team.

5. Kansas State

Nijel Pack- Indianapolis, Indiana

Pack, a 5-10 point guard, is the 102-rated recruit and the Wildcats’ top rated recruit. He’s a great shooter and a good ball handler. Pack may not end up in the NBA but he has the potential to be a great college player in the right system.

Selton Miguel- Orlando, Florida

Miguel, a three-star, is a tad undersized (6-4) for a forward, but has plenty of potential and should fit in nicely with Bruce Weber’s squad. Miguel chose the Wildcats over TCU and Iowa State.

Davion Bradford- Saint Louis, Missouri

Bradford, a 7-0 center and 18th-ranked player at his postition, ran on the AAU circuit with Mokan Elite. Bradford saw his recruitment blow up after a strong senior season, but committed to Kansas State, who was in on him early.

Luke Kasubke- Saint Louis, Missouri

Kasubke, a 6-5 guard, is familiar with Bradford as they both ran with Mokan Elite on Nike’s EYBL circuit. Kasubke helped lead Mokan Elite to the Peach Jam Championship over Russell Westbrook’s “Team WhyNot” and top recruit Jalen Green. Bradford and Kasubke having already shared a court together bods well for their adjustment to college.

Seryee Lewis- Chandler, Arizona

Lewis, a 6-8 three-star forward, has great rebounding ability and is a slasher who can also score with his back to the basket. He’s Weber’s most recent commitment and rounds out a solid recruiting class of five players who can all contribute.

The team:

Kansas State will miss Makol Maiwen and Xavier Sneed, but return a lot of players from a young squad that struggled in Big 12 play a year ago. This recruiting class is one of the best Weber has put together at Kansas State and the freshman should get plenty of opportunities.

6. Iowa State

Xavier Foster- Oskaloosa, Iowa

Foster, four-star and 65th-ranked prospect in the nation, excels in the pick-and-roll and should develop into an NBA prospect. The 7-0 center had Baylor as a finalist before signing with ISU.

Dudley Blackwell- Pembroke Pines, Florida

Blackwell, a 6-5 forward ranked just inside the top 150 recruits, has a good jump shot and can handle the ball well. The forward will stick around for several seasons at ISU.

Darlinstone Dubar- Charlotte, North Carolina

Dubar, a three-star who is ranked just inside the top 200, turned down an opportunity to join a great incoming class at Auburn to play for ISU. He’s a good athlete who can finish well around the rim and will be a good addition to ISU’s roster.

Jaden Walker- Lawrenceville, Georgia

Walker, a the 300th-ranked prospect, has nice size (6-4) for a point guard. He may not make an immediate impact, but Walker could develop in to a productive starter if he sticks around long enough.

The team:

The Cyclones return some talent next year, including George Conditt IV and Rasir Bolton, but will sorely miss Tyrese Haliburton. Foster and Blackwell will likely get ample chances to play during their freshman seasons. Dubar could see some run as well.

7. TCU

Mike Miles- Lancaster, Texas

Miles, a three-star recruit ranked 142nd in the nation, was the best player on one of Texas’ best 5A teams a season ago. He was also a teammate of Cunningham and Greg Brown III on the Texas Titans.

Terren Frank- Chatsworth, California

Frank, a three-star recruit, plays for one of the best high school teams in the nation at Sierra Canyon. Even though he’s overshadowed by a pair of five-star teammates and freshman LeBron James Jr., Frank is a skilled played who will contribute for TCU as a freshman and could develop into a productive starter.

Eddie Lampkin- Katy, Texas

Lampkin, a high school teammate of Cryer, turned down an offer to play with Cryer at Baylor in favor of Jamie Dixon’s squad at TCU. Lampkin could see some run next season but could use a year to develop and a redshirt year will go a long way towards his development.

The team:

Desmond Bane will be missed, but the Horned Frogs will return guard RJ Nembhard and forward Kevin Samuel. Frank and Miles should both see playing time next season for Jamie Dixon. TCU is also adding USC transfer Charles O’Bannon Jr.

8. West Virginia

Isaiah Cottrell- Las Vegas, Nevada

Cottrell, the 68th-ranked prospect in the nation, transferred to Huntington (West Virginia) Prep to develop his game. He’s big post who scores well down low and is a good rebounder who could develop into an NBA prospect.

Taj Thweatt- Wildwood, New Jersey

Thweatt, a three-star prospect ranked outside the top 300 in the nation, has 3-point range and is a versatile defender who could improve greatly under Bob Huggins’ tutelage. Thweatt had plenty of offers, including from Florida and Penn State.

The team:

WVU will miss guard Jermaine Haley next year. If big man Oscar Tshiebwe decides to go pro, it would be tough for the Mountaineers to replace his production as well. Other than that, most every player is back. Cottrell should play right away.

9. Texas

Greg Brown III- Austin, Texas

Brown, a five-star recruit ranked ninth in the nation, decided to stay home instead of going to the NBA’s G-League for a six-figure deal or Auburn. He can occasionally extend his jumper out to 3-point range and is already an elite shot blocker.

The team:

Texas experienced success down the stretch of Big 12 play last season behind a young squad. Every player who saw meaningful minutes is back and some of those players will now have to compete with Brown for playing time.

10. Oklahoma

Trey Phipps- Tulsa, Oklahoma

Phipps, a 6-2 shooting guard and three-star recruit, reportedly only had an offer from OU. He may not see much time as a freshman as the Sooners landed two guards on the transfer market.

The team:

OU will return every player from a young squad a year ago. The Sooners didn’t have many scholarships to hand out because they didn’t graduate any players and Phipps will almost certainly redshirt behind a slew of young guards.