Though the class of 2014 has already produced it’s fair share of pros, what is making it remarkable is the massive amount of highly productive college players that it has produced. Taking a look back at the Rivals150 from that year, it’s littered with players who have had impactful college careers, especially those ranked in the 25-150 range. In today’s Bossi’s Best, national analyst Eric Bossi picks the current seniors who have proven to be the best values from the class. It wasn’t easy either as any of 30 or so players had valid arguments for inclusion.
As a senior: 16.0 points, 2.4 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game
Recruitment: Berry considered home-state Florida, Florida State and Miami, but North Carolina was always the favorite, and he committed immediately after his official visit as a junior in high school.
Bossi’s take: A near five-star prospect and McDonald’s All-American in high school, Berry has had the type of career you would hope for from a player of his stature. He’s been in two national championship games, winning one of them, and will finish with somewhere in the neighborhood of 1,700 points and 500 assists at his current pace. A great value for Roy Williams.
How he’ll be replaced: Similarly ranked out of high school and going through similar freshman struggles behind a veteran, the hope is that current freshman Jalek Felton is the guy. Class of 2018 signee Coby White is a high scoring combo guard who also figures into the plan.
As a senior: 17.2 points, 3.3 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game
Recruitment: In-state schools Florida, Florida State and Miami were prominent early, but when Allen got a Duke offer during the spring of his junior he committed within 10 days and was the first piece of a 2014 class that led to their 2015 national championship.
Bossi’s take: The bad boy of college basketball, Allen is the guy that everybody loves to hate. It was he and not the more celebrated five-stars Jahlil Okafor, Tyus Jones and Justise Winslow that came up biggest in the 2015 title game. For a guy ranked as highly as he was and with his credentials, there are big expectations, but he’s been better than anybody could have hoped. Allen has an outside chance to crack Duke’s top 10 all-time scoring list and is in position to compete for a second national title.
How he’ll be replaced: Five-star freshman Gary Trent should be back for a second year and would likely have an expanded role. On top of that the Blue Devils’ top two commitments R.J. Barrett and Cameron Reddish are both wings and may be the best two players in the class of 2018.
As a senior: 21.7 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game
Recruitment: Bluiett was initially set to follow his high school coach Ed Schilling (who is now at Indiana) to UCLA. However, he backed off his Bruins commitment before ending up at Xavier.
Bossi’s take: Things sure worked out well for Chris Mack and Xavier on this one. Bluiett has had a memorable career and has a chance to leave as the Musketeers' No. 2 all-time scorer and a top 10 rebounder. It’s hard to do much better than Bluiett has done.
How he’ll be replaced: The Musketeers 2018 class is a little lean right now and three-star shooting guard Keonte Kennedy has a chance to be good but can’t be expected to replace Bluiett. The mostly likely candidate to step up is freshman Naji Marshall.
As a senior: 16.9 points, 4.1 rebounds and 7.7 assists per game
Recruitment: Graham originally signed with Appalachian State before heading to prep school to wait out a release from his scholarship. He ended up picking the Jayhawks over hometown NC State and Virginia.
Bossi’s take: Graham hasn’t quite yet filled the void left by National Player of the Year Frank Mason, but he’s been pretty good even with a few early season stumbles by the Jayhawks. The fact is that a guy once headed to App State is going to finish his career with around 1,500 points and 500 assists to go with at least three Big 12 titles.
How he’ll be replaced: Cal transfer Charlie Moore scored a bunch as a freshman out west and five-star guards Devon Dotson and Quentin Grimes are coming in. The Jayhawks are more than adequately prepared to make up for his departure.
As a senior: 13.3 points, 9.7 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game
Recruitment: A native of the Dominican Republic, Delgado was part of a big-time 2014 class that helped to change the Pirates hoops fortunes.
Bossi’s take: Delgado’s numbers have dipped some, but there’s no denying that he’s been rock of a 2014 effort that changed Seton Hall hoops. That class also included five-star guard Isaiah Whitehead, Rivals150 guard Khadeen Carrington and forwards Desi Rodriguez and Ismael Sanogo. Delgado should finish as a top 20 scorer and the No. 2 rebounder in program history.
How he’ll be replaced: There are high hopes for current freshman Sandro Mamukelashvili, but Delgado is going to be incredibly difficult to replace.
As a senior: 16.8 points, 2.6 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game
Recruitment: Terrell initially signed with Oklahoma State but opened things in the spring of his senior year. After opening back up, he selected Rhode Island over Boston College and Providence in a local recruiting battle.
Bossi’s take: Danny Hurley has built a strong program and Rhode Island and Terrell has been a centerpiece of that effort. A bruising scorer, he’s turned out to be a fabulous late pickup. He’s on pace to score 1,600 or so points and guys like that aren’t easy to find. Especially in mid-May of their senior year.
How he’ll be replaced: Sophomore Jeff Dowtin figures to make another big leap next season. Also, 2018 Rivals150 guard Brendan Adams was a huge get and three-star recruit Tyrese Martin could be a sleeper. The Rams look to be in good shape.
As a senior: 14.0 points, 8.6 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game
Recruitment: A four-star prospect and top 100 player, Hutchison was pretty much overlooked until he had already signed with Boise State.
Bossi’s take: When a four-star prospects picks a mid-major, you expect big things and Hutchison has lived up to his top 100 billing coming out of high school. His first two years were somewhat lean in terms of production, but he was All-Conference as a junior, will likely repeat that as a senior and is a potential NBA Draft pick.
How he’ll be replaced: The Broncos don’t have any other top 100 players in the fold, but three-star senior Jaycson Bereal from Oklahoma is a big-time athlete who has the upside to become a major player in Boise.
As a senior: 21.2 points, 5.6 rebounds and 5.2 assists per game
Recruitment: Holder burst onto the national scene during the spring of his junior season. Arizona State moved swiftly to get him on campus and beat out San Diego State and Florida State to lock up Holder in May of his junior year.
Bossi’s take: A holdover from the Herb Sendek era, Holder is big part of the Sun Devils' current emergence under Bobby Hurley. At this point, Holder is playing like a legitimate All-American and potential National Player of the Year contender. He’s going to rack up close to 1,800 points and 450 assists before he’s done in Tempe. For a guy who just snuck into the end of the Rivals150, that’s incredible production.
How he’ll be replaced: Current Sun Devils freshman Remy Martin – who was ranked very similarly as a high school senior – looks to be the next guy in Tempe. Big things are also expected from star combo guard recruit Luguentz Dort who arrives next season
As a senior: 17.6 points, 7.7 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game
Recruitment: Western Kentucky, St. Louis and Xavier also warmed up to Martin, but it took one official visit to Butler in October of his senior year to lock him up.
Bossi’s take: It’s the success that mismatch/undersized/skilled/combo forwards like Martin have had the past few years that have really changed the way programs look at “tweeners” in the past couple of years. He’s tough, he can shoot and he has a short memory, which has turned him into a star at Butler.
How he’ll be replaced: It’s not going to be easy to replace a guy like Martin who has an outside chance at finishing his career with over 2,000 points. The Bulldogs don’t have anybody else on the roster like him and while 2018 three-star Markeese Hastings has promise, it’s unfair to expect he steps right in to replace Martin.
As a senior: 19.5 points, 9.6 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game.
Recruitment: Many high-major coaches and evaluators struggled to wrap their heads around Colson’s unorthodox but effective interior game. Notre Dame ended up beating out Florida State for his services.
Bossi’s take: Swing and a miss by me. I felt pretty good about having the vision to put a guy who was essentially a 6-foot-4-ish center into the final rankings. But man, I had no idea he would be this good. Colson should leave South Bend having racked up close to 1,800 points and 1,000 rebounds. For a guy his size, who plays the way he does, it’s pure insanity and incredible value for Mike Brey and the Irish.
How he’ll be replaced: Nobody is replacing Colson. It’s not happening. Perhaps John Mooney can take a big step forward in year three and there will certainly be high hopes for skilled four-star 2018 recruit Nate Laszewski.
As seniors: 42.4 points, 18.5 rebounds and 8.1 assists per game
Recruitment: Mathias committed to the Boilers as a junior, Edwards early in his senior year and Haas just in time for the early signing period as a senior.
Bossi’s take: I decided to go ahead and take these guys as a group because I couldn’t choose just one and felt that at least one of them had to make the list. Mathias has been a shooting threat and an All-Big Ten level defender, Edwards has played the tweener role and been a scorer and rebounder while Haas is one of the true old school big men in college hoops. They will end up making the NCAA Tournament all four years barring a major surprise.
How they’ll be replaced: Replacing a group like this – that also includes point guard P.J. Thompson who was an unranked three-star – won’t be easy. The team’s next star is already in place in high scoring combo guard Carsen Edwards. There’s a replacement for Haas in freshman big man Matt Haarms and freshman forward Aaron Wheeler will have big upside after redshirting. The incoming freshman class looks to be another foundation class of four-year stalwarts.
