Big 12 basketball early signing period superlatives
The Big 12 conference posted another successful early signing period in basketball.
A conference that has been best known for football over the last two decades has developed into arguably the best basketball conference. Baylor is the defending National Champion, Texas Tech played for all the marbles three seasons ago, Kansas is a national power and six head coaches in the league have coached in a Final Four.
And the talent continues to flow in with all the strong resumes and on court accomplishments. Half the league signed top 40 recruiting classes, and 12 members ranked in the top 100 of the On3 Consensus prospect rankings are headed to the league.
Big 12 trio in top 20 of the On3 Consensus team rankings
Three members of the Big 12-signed classes ranked in the top 20 of the On3 Consensus team rankings.
Texas’ two-man class of No. 18 Arterio Morris (Dallas, Texas/Kimball) and No. 26 Dillon Mitchell (Spring Hill, Fla./Montverde Academy) comes in at No. 5 in the team rankings.
Kansas’ four man class is right behind at No. 6 with a class full of big wings and power forwards. The Jayhawks signed the best shooter in the league in Gradey Dick (Wichita, Ks./Sunrise Christian). The 6-foot-7 small forward ranks No. 33 in the On3 Consensus prospect rankings.
Baylor sits at No. 18 headlined by No. 3 overall Keyonte George (Lewisville, Texas/IMG Academy). The Bears will likely have to battle against the G-league until the day George moves to Waco. International big man and On3 Consensus No. 96 Joshua Ojianwuna (Ireland/NBA Global Academy) will be a force in the middle defensively and rebounding the ball.
Two other classes ranked among the top 40. Oklahoma signed the No. 25 ranked class, and Oklahoma State the 37th-best class.
Big 12 signs 12 top 100 ranked prospects
The Big 12 has arguably been the strongest conference in basketball in the last few years. To continue the honor, the league must continue to be filled with future pro players.
The 10 team conference will be bringing in more high-end talent in June. Thirteen members of the Top 150 in the On3 Consensus rankings inked with Big 12 programs. That includes 12 in the top 100. Four programs signed 11 of the 12 in Kansas, Baylor, Texas and Oklahoma.
The state of Texas is loaded in the 2022 cycle, and that paid off for Big 12 programs. Five members of the On3 Consensus top 150 signed with Big 12 programs from the Lone Star State. TCU guard P.J. Haggerty (Crosby, Texas) is the least talked about, but will bring elite scoring punch to the Horned Frogs program.
Two first year head coaches sign terrific classes
Texas’ Chris Beard has enjoyed the majority of the headlines among Big 12 head coaches in their first seasons. And Beard delivered by signing two of the top 26 ranked prospects in the On3 Consensus rankings. The two future Longhorns will be the best two athletes in the program the day they step foot on campus. Both are future NBA Draft picks.
With that said, Oklahoma’s Porter Moser is quietly doing a tremendous job in Norman. The Sooners two man class is ranked No. 25 in the On3 Consensus team rankings. The Sooners signed their future point guard in Milos Uzan (Napa, Calif./Prolific Prep). Uzan checks in at No. 56 in the On3 Consensus rankings. Uzan is joined in the backcourt by strong-bodied shooting guard Otega Oweh (Blairsville, N.J./Blair Academy).
Future members of the Big 12 enjoyed a great week
Four future members of the Big 12 are already reaping the rewards of the future move led by Houston. The Cougars made the most of a Final Four appearance and the future move by signing the No. 13 ranked class. The each member of the three-man class sits within the top 80 of the On3 Consensus prospect rankings.
Cincinnati, UCF and BYU all signed top-100 ranked prospects.
Signing day starting five
It comes without surprise that Kansas, Texas and Baylor signees make up the Big 12 early signing period starting five.
PG Arterio Morris, Dallas (Texas) Kimball
On3 Consensus ranking: No. 18
Signed with Texas
SG Keyonte George, Lewisville (Texas) IMG Academy
On3 Consensus ranking: No. 3
Signed with Baylor
SF Dillon Mitchell, Spring Hill (Fla.) Montverde Academy
On3 Consensus ranking: No. 26
Signed with Texas
PF Zuby Ejiofor, Garland (Texas)
On3 Consensus ranking: No. 54
Signed with Kansas
C Ernest Udeh Jr., Orlando (Fla.) Dr. Phillips
On3 Consensus ranking: No. 29
Signed with Kansas
Sixth man M.J. Rice, SF, Mouth of Wilson (Va.) Prolific Prep
On3 Consensus ranking: No. 27
Signed with Kansas