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NBPA Top 100: Four programs that should feel good

Immanuel Quickley
Immanuel Quickley

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. -- The 2017 NBPA Top 100 Camp has come to a close. With the 2018 class filled with indecision, here's a look at four programs that should feel good about things after camp.

IOWA

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Joe Wieskamp
Joe Wieskamp

Fran McCaffery had to have been cracking some smiles as he sat back and watched his son Patrick McCaffery show why he's already ranked as a top 25 prospect in the class of 2019. The 6-foot-8 rising junior hasn't yet committed to play for his father at Iowa, but it's merely a formality as there is no doubt he'll play for his dad as long as he's coaching in Iowa City.

The younger McCaffery needs to get stronger but he's a fluid athlete, can shoot with range and plays with a bit of a mean streak.

Also impressive in camp was the Hawkeyes' 2018 commitment Joe Wieskamp. A 6-foot-5 shooting guard with length, shooting touch and very good athleticism, he's a pure scorer with a great feel for the game.

KENTUCKY

Immanuel Quickley
Immanuel Quickley

From the class of 2018, there weren't a lot of major Kentucky targets on hand. Five-star combo guard Quentin Grimes played for a day or so and five-star big man Nazreon Reid had some flashes. But the reason we think the Wildcats should be feeling good about camp is because of five-star point guard Immanuel Quickley.

The product of Baltimore who can score and is among the premier on the ball defenders in high school basketball is down to Kentucky, Kansas, Maryland and Miami. However, word circulating among the campers and through other behind the scenes sources is that the Wildcats are going to be awfully tough to beat.

To already be in pole position for one of the potential difference makers in 2018 is a good thing.

LOUISVILLE

On one hand, Louisville is dealing with potentially significant penalties from the NCAA as a result of their stripper/recruit scandal. On the other, things are looking very good for them in the class of 2018.

Rick Pitino and the Cardinals have already locked down their backcourt of the future in high scoring combo guard Anfernee Simons and point guard Courtney Ramey. Simons can flat out shoot the ball, creates off the dribble and is in position to make a move up in the next set of rankings. In Ramey, the Cardinals have a quick, long armed point guard who should be able to exert the type of defensive pressure that Louisville fans have come to expect and he's a floor general who looks to get others involved first.

In addition to those two, Louisville looks to be in solid shape with several other prospects. For example, four-star combo forward Darius Bazley recently visited and had good things to say about the Cardinals.

LSU

Javonte Smart
Javonte Smart (Jon Lopez/Nike @NikeEYB)

New head coach Will Wade got off to a great start in 2017 landing top 40 point guard Tremont Waters. From the looks of it, that momentum has real potential to continue with the class of 2018.

Point guard Javonte Smart is LSU's priority and the five-star from Louisiana is said to be a heavy lean to Wade and the Tigers. Florida State, Kansas, Kentucky, Oklahoma State and UCLA are also in the mix but it's getting harder and harder to envision him playing somewhere other than Baton Rouge. From asking some of his peers, they seem to feel the same way.

Also important to note is that LSU is in the top two for super athletic combo forward Josh LeBlanc. The Rivals150 forward said he was high on how Wade runs his program after watching them practice and the main competition here is Texas A&M. Another that they seem to be in good shape with is soon-to-be Rivals150 wing Kaden Archie who impresses with his athleticism in the open floor.

Finally, the Tigers are even going to get a visit out of five-star big man Nazreon Reid. There will need to be some work done to land a talent like Reid, but just getting into contention is big.

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