We are less than three weeks until the early signing period and just 35 members of the 2018 Rivals150 remain uncommitted. There is still a lot of work to be done for a handful of power conference programs in rounding out their classes. Which programs have the most to gain between now until the end of the early signing period on Nov. 15?
RELATED: Breaking down the recruitment of the nine uncommitted Rivals150 PGs
ACC: NORTH CAROLINA
Having finally escaped the cloud of potential NCAA sanctions that had been hanging over the program, North Carolina is gaining momentum on the recruiting trail. Earlier this month, five-star Nassir Little committed there and the Tar Heels aren't done. UNC already sits with a top-five class nationally and could end the early signing period atop the rankings. Top-ranked forward Zion Williamson will visit Chapel Hill this weekend, five-star Simi Shittu will follow on Nov. 10 and the Tar Heels remain the darkhorse for top scoring wing Romeo Langford. North Carolina will likely to find a way to land at least one of the three in the coming weeks, cementing one of the top classes of the early signing period.
BIG EAST: DEPAUL
There are a number of Big East programs involved for elite talents this fall but only DePaul is in the mix for multiple four- or five-star prospect. Tyger Campbell, a Rivals150 guard and one of the top playmakers in America, visited DePaul’s campus two weeks ago for an unofficial visit. Campbell could be in line to sign in the late period and DePaul will need to fend off Purdue for his signature next month. Bryan Penn-Johnson, a 7-footer from the West Coast and one of the top upside bigs in America, will likely sign in a few weeks. He heads to Washington this weekend and it looks as if his choice will come down to the Huskies and Blue Demons. If Campbell and Penn-Johnson pledge to Dave Leitao’s squad next month, DePaul's early signing class would immediately be among the Big East’s elite.
BIG TEN: MARYLAND
The Terps already boast a top-15 class this fall but they could make a giant jump within the rankings if things fall their way over the next few weeks. Their primary target remains – Keldon Johnson, a 6-foot-6 scoring wing that is also considering Kentucky, NC State and Texas. Moses Brown, a five-star center, was a one-time lean to Maryland, though Florida State, UCLA and a handful of others have entered the picture. Jairus Hamilton, a Rivals150 four-star forward, visited the College Park campus two weeks ago. Some combination of Johnson or Hamilton plus Brown would give Maryland the Big Ten's best class and bolster the program's argument for a top-five group nationally.
BIG 12: TEXAS
Shaka Smart’s priority since taking over in Austin has been simple: Keep the state's best talent home. He has done a phenomenal job of doing just that; this fall the Longhorns already boast the commitments of in-state talents Brock Cunningham and Gerald Liddell. The Longhorns have begun to throw greater attention to in-state, five-star guard Quentin Grimes and should be considered a major darkhorse in his recruitment. UT sits in the top two for Kamaka Hepa, an Alaskan native that will likely sign next month. Landing Grimes, Hepa or Keldon Johnson would boost the Longhorns’ class this fall.
PAC-12: UCLA
No other program could make a bigger jump in the rankings than the UCLA Bruins. They do hold the pledges of talented scoring wings David Singleton and Jules Bernard, but much more work needs to be done in Westwood. This weekend, UCLA will host five-star talents Darius Garland and Moses Brown, though Steve Alford's program is playing catch-up with both. The Bruins are in the top three for Rivals150 center Bryan Penn-Johnson. They should be seen as the favorites for five-star big man Jordan Brown and remain heavily involved for physical center Kenneth Nwuba and stretch power forward Kevin Zhang. UCLA has also remained in the picture for Romeo Langford.
SEC: KENTUCKY
Here we are again: Kentucky enters the recruiting spotlight. As in recent years, the Wildcats have started off slowly when it comes to commitments as most of their work is usually done in the spring. The program boasts just one commitment, five-star lead guard Immanuel Quickley, but more could be coming in the near future. Five-star big man Bol Bol is down to Kentucky and Oregon and could commit at any time. R.J. Barrett, the top-ranked prospect in the 2018 Rivals150, will announce his commitment on Nov. 10; he is down to Kentucky, Duke and Oregon. Keldon Johnson, Darius Garland and Quentin Grimes are all expected to sign early and the Wildcats have hosted each on official visits over the past month. Zion Williamson is also a possibility for the Wildcats and they remain deeply involved in his recruitment.