(05-04-2017 10:48 AM)billybobby777 Wrote: ESPN rates the 2017 basketball recruiting rankings by team. Out of their top 40 there are only 3 programs not from P5 or Big East schools:
#12-WKU (CUSA)
#25-UNLV (MWC)
#32-St Louis (A10)
Way to go WKU...and it looks like UNLV might be back, finally.
ESPN doesn't even include star rating for Cheikh Mbacke Diong nor #1 rated JUCO (JUCO Player of the Year), Shakur Juiston. Cheikh was recruited hard by Pitino at Louisville as well as UConn, Pitt and others. Cheikh is a 4 star on 247 and should be ranked at least 3 if not 4 on ESPN. He's considered a steal recruit by many on different forums.
247 has UNLV as #12 recruiting class in nation. I believe this includes Juiston and 4 star rated Diong.
Dave Rice, head coach prior to Marvin Menzies was excellent recruiter but struggled to get team to produce. Rice coached teams underperformed partly due to lack of focus on recruiting position versus ranking, underwhelming X and O's, injuries, transfers and general personality conflicts. Never could turn the corner however his recruiting class prior to being fired would have likely changed this. Committed class included Justin Jackson (Maryland), Jaylen Fisher (TCU), Christian Vital (UConn), and Carlos Johnson (Washington) prior to Rice dismissal.
After Rice fired, UNLV went after Jamie Dixon and Mick Cronin. Corinne. Was close but pulled plugged to stay to be close to diaghter and likely get more $. UNLV then hired Chris Beard who basically came to Las Vegas told all the remaining players who were pissed at Rice firing to go f' themselves. Then Beard takes Texas Tech job (his dream job). UNLV was screwed with no commitments and only 2 remaining scholarship players. Release of commitments, transfers, declaring for draft and exhausting eligibility decimated UNLV's roster dooming the 2016 season for any future coach.
Marvin Menzies was hired on April 14 and Regents approved contract on April 21. Talk about having nothing left to recruit. Crazy enough he was able to sign two 4 stars, one 3 star and a convince existing player to not transfer and stick it out. He recruited 4 others (no stars) and JUCO transfer. Even with that class it was enough to produce on the court.
With a full year to recruit Menzies was able to put to a great class and hopefully one that can produce on the court.