While the 2017 recruiting cycle is winding down and the 2018 cycle is revving up, it would seem that it's the perfect time for a way-too-early top 25 ranking for the 2017-18 season. CBS Sports has released theirs and there are some major blue bloods missing from the top five.
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Here's the list in its entirety:
- Kansas
- Arizona
- Michigan State
- UNC
- Wichita State
- Duke
- Louisville
- Kentucky
- Villanova
- USC
- Florida
- Notre Dame
- Minnesota
- Miami
- Northwestern
- Cincinnati
- Gonzaga
- Butler
- Baylor
- Alabama
- UCLA
- West Virginia
- Saint Mary's
- Purdue
- Xavier
RELATED: Duke gets the win it needed with latest recruit announcement
While the top five do make some sense, the fact that Kentucky and Duke aren't in there doesn't quite add up. Those two teams are at the top of the recruiting rankings with the Wildcats No. 1 and Duke right behind them. Kentucky has had seven commitments —- eight if you include Hamidou Diallo who is currently trying to make it to the NBA —- while Duke has secured a couple key ones in the last week.
Top recruiting classes don't always translate to wins, but with two legendary coaches like Mike Krzyzewski and John Calipari, they do more often than not. So to have them outside of the top five with what they have returning and with the players coming in seems pretty ridiculous even if those other teams have solid recruiting classes coming in.
