The basketball early signing period is officially over, meaning recruiting takes something of a backseat as the 2024-25 college season fully comes into focus. While no top-20 prospects announced their commitment during the window, a slew of ESPN 100 recruits did make decisions -- and a top-10 star committed right after the period -- leading to big changes in the class rankings.
Houston rises fast with big additions: Houston moved into the top 10 after the signing of top-25 point guard Kingston Flemings early in the signing period, but the Cougars still had two big targets on their board: Koa Peat and Chris Cenac Jr. And while the period came and went without either player committing, Cenac announced his decision the Tuesday after it ended, becoming Houston's highest-ranked recruit since the ESPN recruiting database began in 2007. He's the No. 1 center in the class and should enter college as a projected lottery pick in the 2026 NBA draft. The Cougars are likely out of the mix for Peat now, but Kelvin Sampson still has an elite four-man class with three top-25 recruits.
SMU sits among the recruiting powerhouses: Plenty of the usual suspects sit at or near the top of the top 10 recruiting classes. Blueblood programs are all inside the top seven, as is John Calipari -- the best recruiter of the past 15 years. But right in the middle of that group is a surprising name: SMU. The Mustangs are in their first season under Andy Enfield, in their first year in the ACC, but they now have four ESPN 100 prospects in the fold after B.J. Davis-Ray committed during the early signing period.
Who can catch Duke atop the rankings? Duke has a pretty strong position atop the class rankings, with a pair of five-star commitments in twin brothers Cameron Boozer and Cayden Boozer, as well as top-35 prospects Shelton Henderson and Nikolas Khamenia. But the Blue Devils' No. 1 ranking isn't set in stone, especially with seven of the top 12 prospects in the 2025 class still yet to decide. (More on that in a minute.) If Jon Scheyer reels in Nate Ament, the debate is likely over. But, if he goes elsewhere, the door is open for another school to finish at No. 1. There's Kentucky, which would move up if it landed Caleb Wilson. How close could Arizona get if it lands Peat and Brayden Burries? Or Notre Dame if it pulls off a coup and gets Ament? On top of that, could Houston, UConn or Arkansas make a late move in the spring after coaching changes and reclassifications add more players to the board?
Several big names still yet to decide: As mentioned, there are still several uncommitted high-level players near the top of the ESPN 100 that will dictate how the class rankings ultimately finish. Top prospect A.J. Dybantsa (No. 1) should choose between BYU, North Carolina, Kansas State, Alabama and others soon, while Ament (No. 4) is still shuffling through his schools. Caleb Wilson (No. 5) doesn't seem far from a commitment, with Kentucky and UNC strongly in the mix. Same with Peat (No. 6), who has Arizona, Houston, Baylor and Arizona State on his list. Two other top-12 recruits still on the board are Burries (No. 11) and Mikel Brown Jr. (No. 12). LSU, Tennessee and Houston are battling for Cenac; Arizona, Tennessee, USC and Alabama are involved with Burries; and Louisville and Alabama are among those fighting for Brown.
Let's take a look at the top 10 classes after the early signing period.
Note: Class rankings are determined by a mathematical formula weighting different factors related to the quality and quantity of players in the class.
1. Duke Blue Devils
Pre-signing-window ranking: 1