The All Star Girls Report has released its rankings for the Top 10 recruiting classes for 2016, and the list is led by the Baylor Bears, who edged out South Carolina and Maryland for the top spot.
The ASGR staff ranks each class on the level of success they should expect to have at the college of their choice. The classes include transfer athletes who will be eligible for the first time in 2016, and the ASGR staff also considers the entire program.
Baylor took the No. 1 stop with a three-player class that included Lauren Cox (#1, 6’4, F), Natalie Chou (#12, 6’0, G) and Calveion Landrum (#31, 5’11, G).
“Baylor is getting three players who will have an immediate impact,” noted ASGR analyst Bret McCormick. “Cox is a versatile four-five player who is the No. 1 recruit in the country. She can score with either hand, and she is a great passer.
“Chou is listed at No. 12, but I think she is the missing piece for Baylor. She can do it all, but her greatest asset is her shooting, and that’s something Baylor has not had since their national championship run.”
The second spot on the rankings goes to South Carolina. The Gamecocks will add Kaela Davis (Transfer From Georgia Tech, #3, 6’2, F), Allisha Gray (Transfer From UNC, #8, 5’11, G), Araon Bradshaw (#69, 5’6, G), and Mikiah Harrigan (#77, 6’1, F).
“Dawn Staley has taken that program to the elite level, and this class will help them stay there,” McCormick said. “With Davis and Gray, they are getting two of the best players from the ACC. Plus, Bradshaw is a key recruit because will will give them a talented true point guard. Bradshaw can score, but she is known as a great floor general.”
Maryland lands at No. 3 on the chart with an impressive seven player class that includes Destiny Slocum (#7, 5’7, G), Ieshia Small (Transfer From Baylor, # 20, 6’0, F), Kaila Charles (#21, 6’0, G), Blair Watson (#24, 5’11, F), Jenna Staiti (#29, 6’5, C), Stephanie Jones (#35, 6’1, F) and Sarah Myers (#92, 5’11, G).
“This is a great class, with five players who are going to be playing professionally down the road,” McCormick predicted. “I think the biggest get for Maryland is Slocum, who will be the best point guard they have had since (All-American) Kristi Toliver.”
Next on the list is Ohio State, which lands at No. 4 with Stephanie Mavunga (Transfer From UNC, #5, 6’3, F), Sierra Calhoun (Transfer From Duke, #13, 6’1, G) and Kiara Lewis (#17, 5’8, G).
“This is a very strong class, especially with Mavunga, who has the ability to carry a team with her play in the paint,” McCormick said. “Ohio State could move even higher because they are still in the hunt for Tori McCoy (No. 4) and Jensen Carretti (No. 33).”
The No. 5 slot in the rankings belongs to Texas. The Longhorns will be adding Joyner Holmes (#3, 6’3, F), Alecia Sutton (#10, 5’8, G), Khale’ann Caron-Goudreau (Transfer From Vanderbilt, #56, 6’3, F), Ashley Ann Caron-Goudreau (#12 JUCO, 6’3, C), Jada Underwood (#75, 5’11, WF).
“This outstanding class will be led by Holmes, who is developing into a very versatile player,” McCormick said. “By the time she gets to Texas, she might be able to play the three, four or five. She is an inside-outside player who already has a college body. She is still improving, and she could end up being the best player in this entire class.”
Notre Dame takes the next spot with a pair of Top 10 prospects — Erin Boley (#5, 6’3, F), Jackie Young (#8, 5’11, G).
“Notre Dame is getting two very, very good players,” McCormick said. “Boley is really impressive because she has a great basketball IQ and tremendous fundamentals. She is a great shooter with an inside-outside game, so she will be a tough match-up.”
The seventh-best class belongs to the Louisville Cardinals, who will be signing Jazmine Jones (#13, 6’0, G), Ciera Johnson (#28, 6’4, C), Kylee Shook (#30, 6’4, C), Sydney Zambrotta (#109, 5’8, G) and Bionca Dunham (6-3, PF).
“Jones is the headliner for this class,” McCormick said. “She is just an unbelievable athlete with a tremendous upside. She is an explosive leaper who is great in the open floor, and she has the ability to elevate and score. They are also getting two impressive young post players.”
Defending national champion Connecticut is in the No. 8 spot. The Huskies class includes Crystal Dangerfield (#2, 5’5, G), Molly Bent (#56, 5’8, G) and Kyla Irwin (#121, 6’2, F).
“UConn’s class is led by Dangerfield, who is an ultra quick point guard who has an off-the-charts basketball IQ,” McCormick said. “She can handle it, pass it, and score from just about anywhere on the court. I think she will another Moriah Jefferson for UConn.”
Next up are the Duke Blue Devils, who will sign Lexie Brown (Transfer From Maryland, #12, 5’11, G) and Leaonna Odom (#18, 6’0, F).
“Brown will be a starter at Duke from Day One,” McCormick said. “She is a great scorer with a true killer instinct, and she has the experience that comes from playing in two Final Fours.”
The Top 10 is completed by Stanford. The Cardinal class includes Di’Jonai Carrington (#19, 5’11, G), Anna Wilson (#25, 5’8, G), Nadia Fingall (#44, 6’2, F) and Mikaela Brewer (#101 5’11 G).
“Carrington is a great athlete who can effect a game with every facet,” McCormick said. “Wilson, who is the sister of Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, will also make an immediate impact.”