This series will discuss the best recruiting classes amongst each region’s mid-majors programs. To help us dig a little deeper into less talked about conferences, AAC, A-10, MWC and WCC teams will not be discussed.
First up: the best mid-major recruiting classes of the Northeast: schools from DC through New England.
#1 Mid-Major Recruiting Class of the Northeast: Columbia.
247 Sports’ composite class rating: 68th best in the nation
Prospects ranked within 247’s composite rating:
#191 Avery Brown, 6’4 180 from Northfield Mount Hermon, CT
#228 Blair Thompson, 6’7 180 from Northfield Mount Hermon, CT
#325 Richard Nweke, 6’7 225 from Dwight School, CT
Six seasons across Jim Engles’ tenure, the Columbia Lions have been one of the worst teams in division one basketball, with an overall record of 39-99 (.283) with no season record better than 11-16.
That ineptitude on the court has done nothing to prevent prospects from lining up to play at Levien Gymnasium over the last few offseasons. Case in point, last season’s recruiting class was led by three-star prospects Noah Robledo and Geronimo Rubio de la Rosa, the latter leading the team last season with points scored and assists.
With eighteen consecutive years rostering a player committing to an Ivy School, it comes as no surprise that the talents from Northfield Mount Hermon headline the Lions’ 2022 recruiting class of combo guard Avery Brown and shooting wing Blair Thompson.
A point guard at NMH, Avery Brown shot 41% from beyond the arc and scored 30+ points seven times his senior season, making Brown an immediate candidate to play alongside Rubio de la Rosa in a dynamic, young backcourt pairing.
Brown’s teammate at NMH, Blair Thompson is a smooth shooting wing whose balanced, pretty stroke helps him score efficiently from all three levels and especially from beyond the arc, a skill that highlights the one bright spot of Columbia’s offense: last year, the Lions collectively shot 34.9% from three, good for 92nd in the nation.
While currently not listed on Columbia’s roster, Richard Nweke is listed as a ‘23 commit according to recruitthebronx.com and is expected to take his post-grad year at Northfield Mount Hermon. A strong, athletic slashing forward, Nweke will continue to expand his game with a shot to earn a rotation spot in the 2023-24 season.
#2 Mid-Major Recruiting Class of the Northeast: Northeastern
247 Sports’ composite class rating: 72nd best in the nation
Prospects ranked within 247’s composite rating:
#233 Chase Cormier, 6’2 165 from Milton High, GA
#273 Jared Turner, 6’8 210 from Gonzaga Prep, DC
NR Masai Troutman, 6’5 180 from St. Andrew’s Episcopal School, MD
Entering his seventeen season as the head coach, Bill Coen has been one of the winningest coaches in the CAA, leading the Huskies to four regular season championships and two tournament appearances in the last decade.
With three of his regular season championships immediately following a below-.500 season, Coen is poised to lead another Huskies rebuild after last year’s 9-22 season filled with injury woes.
With junior Glen McClintock and sophomore To Randriasalama as the Huskies’ only returning guards, Chase Cormier has an immediate opportunity to start from Day 1. A lefty point guard with great vision, quickness and an ability to attack the rim, Cormier will look to continue to work on his shooting consistency.
Playing at Washington DC powerhouse Gonzaga Prep along with George Mason recruit Devin Dinkins, Jared Turner is a willing shooter from deep (two threes made per game at 34%) who recorded four double-doubles last season. Touted for his IQ and court vision, Turner has a chance to earn a spot in the rotation right away.
While Cormier and Turner respectively rank as Northeastern’s top and third best recruits, according to 247, the unranked prospect Masai Troutman does not register on the team’s overall recruiting score, but offers from Indiana, Xavier, Florida and Georgetown highlight his wide array of interest out of high school. Comparing his style of play to Victor Oladipo, Troutman is a self-described “athletic wing that plays both ends of the floor”. On a roster with six incoming freshmen, Troutman can earn significant playing time as a freshman, especially if Coen decides to expand his rotations and treat this season as another rebuilding season.
#3 Mid-Major Recruiting Class of the Northeast: Iona.
247 Sports’ composite class rating: 73rd best in the nation
Prospects ranked within 247’s composite rating:
#218 Cruz Davis, 6’3 170 from Huntington Prep, WV
#304 Silas Sunday, 7’0 260 from Our Saviour Lutheran School, NY
#55 ranked SF Sadiku Ibina Ayo, 6’7 210 from Our Saviour Lutheran School, NY
Originally from Ghana
Eight total offers, four high-major offers
Torn meniscus surgery, out til January
For the last twenty-five years, Iona has been a prime mid-major basketball recruit destination for good reason: great coaches, a culture of winning and one of the most dedicated fan bases in the NYC area.
Rick Pitino’s return to basketball prior to the 2020-21 season amped up the Gaels’ recruiting pitch and the results have built up recruiting classes diverse with high school, transfer and JuCo talent.
This season’s high school graduate class is led by Oregon State decommit Cruz Davis. With All-MAAC First Team selection Tyson Jolly and All-MAAC Second Team selection Elijah Joiner graduating, there is an open competition for playing time in Iona’s backcourt, leaving Cruz Davis as the freshman with the best chance of immediate playing time, although he faces stiff competition between promising returning sophomore Walter Clayton Jr, Missouri transfer Anton Brookshire and Pacific transfer Daniss Jenkins.
The second highest rated recruit in Iona’s history, Davis has a smooth lefty stroke, but needs to hit the weight room in order to help absorb contact when attacking the rim. Considering the talent added into the program, Davis is the least likely of the four guards mentioned to earn a starting role, but his upside is immense.
Arriving to Iona weighing 317 pounds, Silas Sunday made clear his commitment and dedication by losing 57 pounds over the summer working along with strength coach Jason Martinez. Firmly entrenched for playing time behind junior All-MAAC First Team selection Nelly Junior Joseph and senior Osborn Shemna, Sunday will be a long-term project but hecis a versatile offensive piece comfortable scoring, rebounding and passing from the low block.
Sunday’s high school teammate Sadiku Ibina Ayo is a strong, physical and athletic, two-way combo forward poised for immediate playing time, but a torn meniscus injury will keep Ayo out until likely January. When healthy, Ayo will slot for playing time behind starting stretch big Quinn Slazinski and might even get minutes at the 3.
#4 Mid-Major Recruiting Class of the Northeast: Vermont
247 Sports’ composite class rating: 78th best in the nation
Prospects ranked within 247’s composite rating:
#281 Perry Smith Jr., 6’9 225 from Legacy Early College, SC
#299 Jorge Ochoa, 6’7 225 from Veritas Training Academy, CA
Tom Brennan was the architect, Mike Lonergan kept the momentum going but John Becker has solidified Vermont as one of the most formidable and respected basketball programs in New England.
Their success since the 05-06 season has been remarkable: a 383-170 record (.693), ten regular season championships, five America East Conference Tournament championships.
Over the last six seasons, Becker has led the Catamounts through quite a run: six consecutive regular season championships, three conference championships and three 13-seeds. That level of consistency makes it clear that Becker and his squad never rebuild, they just keep reloading.
Usually reluctant to play freshmen to key roles, history suggests that both Smith and Ochoa will need to wait to make an impact in Burlington, but stud forward Ryan Davis’ graduation leaves a major opportunity for Smith to earn an immediate role at the 5.
Out of Legacy Early College in Greenville, South Carolina, the 6’9 220 Perry Smith Jr. has fans in Burlington buzzing about Smith’s potential as the next great Vermont big. Smith picked Vermont over high-major schools LSU, Alabama, South Carolina, Texas A&M, TCU, Marquette and others.
Smith was kind enough to share with me about what excites him most about playing for Becker and the Catamounts: “There is a true family atmosphere here at Vermont and we are already coming together as a team to learn from each other and appreciate what we all bring to the table. Vermont is a winning program and we plan to continue the tradition this year.”
Smith is very aware of what great Vermont bigs like Ryan Davis have excelled with in the past: “From what I’ve seen with Ryan [Davis], he was great offensively and moved well without the ball. I will use my athleticism to match his intensity.”
Smith also sees his skillset meshing with Vermont basketball: “My game will transfer smoothly with pick and pops, playing tough around the basket, defending the post and the perimeter, blocking shots and securing double-digit rebounds every game.”
While Smith is well aware that he will have to work his way into the rotation, the departure of Davis allows for a huge opportunity for Smith to compete for minutes at the 5 alongside Fiorillo.
More likely to spend this season on the bench, Ochoa brings three-level scoring potential thanks to his footwork and awareness in the paint, his ability to play above the rim and his outside range.
Other top-300 recruits signing with northeast mid-majors:
#172 Paul McMillan IV, NJIT, 6’2 170
#177 Chisom Okpara, Harvard, 6’8 225
#224 Josh Rivera, Lafayette, 6’7 200
#253 Shy Odom, Howard, 6’5 210
#254 James Johns, Fairfield, 6’6 185
#267 Jaret Valencia, Monmouth, 6’8 175
#273 Henri Adiassa, Lehigh, 6’11 240
#283 DJ Nix, Cornell, 6’6 220
