The 2015-16 College Basketball season has just concluded and Villanova, a team not noted for five-star recruiting has claimed the national championship.
Now, the teams focus on the next season and the Kansas Jayhawks, the team favored to win it all but was booted out of the Elite Eight to eventual champion Villanova, need to reload strong.
It seems like Coach Bill Self is up to the task as he may have his hands on the top prospect and co-McDonald's All American MVP Josh Jackson.
In the CBS "ridiculously early" top 25 predictions for the next season, they placed Kansas at 4th behind Duke, Kentucky and Villanova. That's great company as they are the top two recruiting classes and the defending champion.
The reason why Kansas is ranked high despite the numerous departures of Perry Ellis, Jamari Traylor, Wayne Selden, Brannen Greene and Hunter Mickelson? The recruitment of Josh Jackson-the top prospect in Rivals 100 and no.3 in ESPN 100. Gary Parrish of CBS projected that Kansas will eventually corral Jackson.
"This ranking is based on the Jayhawks landing Class of 2016 star Josh Jackson, who remains uncommitted but is reportedly leaning toward KU," Parrish wrote. "Combine him with that better-than-most-think backcourt of Frank Mason and Devonte' Graham, and other veterans like Landen Lucas, Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk and Carlton Bragg, and Bill Self will be expected to win his 13th straight Big 12 championship."
This assumption was supported by 24/7 Sports Crystal Ball Predictions, which places the probability of Jackson choosing to be a Jayhawk at 68%.
On the other hand, ESPN recruiting writer Jeff Borzello was not so optimistic. While he gives the last three teams a fair chance, he mentions in the video that he believes Arizona is the strong choice. He cited that Coach Sean Miller of Arizona has already had a long relationship with Jackson and they were also given the first visit.
Borzello noted that Jackson "raved about his experience at Allen Fieldhouse and has pointed to Kansas' use of Andrew Wiggins as a path to follow."
Perhaps one deciding factor for Kansas is whether their perimeter starters will return. The new rule allows players to declare for the draft with an option to return until after the pre-draft combine in May as long as they don't hire an agent.
Recently, another five-star wing, Rawle Alkins, committed to Arizona and this may sway Jackson to Kansas, provided the draftees don't return.