Published Nov 8, 2017
Class of 2018 team recruiting title on the line
Eric Bossi  •  Rivals Network Hoops Hub
National Analyst
Twitter
@ebosshoops

As the early signing period tips off, Bill Self and the Kansas Jayhawks hold the top spot in the 2018 team rankings but the eventual recruiting national champion is far from decided.

The Jayhawks' class features five-star point guard Devon Dotson, five-star big man Silvio De Sousa and near five-star big man David McCormack. An impressive haul to say the least, but it could still get better as the Jayhawks are among the finalists for five-star prospects Zion Williamson, Romeo Langford and Quentin Grimes.

Just behind the Jayhawks in the team rankings to start off the early signing period are Tom Izzo's Michigan State Spartans. Though they appear to be done in 2018, Izzo and his staff have to be excited about their haul of five four-star players that includes four from within the state of Michigan – Marcus Bingham, Foster Loyer, Gabe Brown and Thomas Kithier.

Finally cleared of the NCAA investigation into academic fraud across multiple sports at North Carolina, Roy Williams and the Tar Heels also have a big haul at No. 3 overall. Their headliner is top-five Nassir Little from Florida and he's joined by in-state four-stars Coby White and Rechon Black.

Currently rounding out the top five are USC and LSU. Andy Enfield and the Trojans appeared to have survived the arrest of assistant Tony Bland in connection to the federal investigation into college hoops corruption. Meanwhile, Will Wade has currently put together the top class of any coach in his first year at a new program.

There are still 14 five-star prospects that haven't made decisions so that means there will be plenty of movement. For the past several years Kentucky (currently No. 33) and Duke (No. 6) have dominated the team rankings and they look to be primed to make moves up the list as they are involved with many of the top remaining prospects. Others who could make big moves with a strong signing week include Indiana, Maryland, Oregon and Vanderbilt.