Link Below. I am using Xavier's 2019 recruiting class as an example because to me it is the ideal recruiting class for the Big East. You have 5 kids coming in (I usually think 3 or 4 is enough every year but that is besides the point here), 4 out of the 5 are Top 150 kids, and 2 out of those 4 are 4 star recruits. The last recruit is a 3 star big man who is still a Top 250 kid, plus as the saying goes, you can't teach size, always nice to land a big guy with potential.
These were the types of recruiting classes that Jay Wright built his program with. You are getting solid kids, but you aren't getting the one-and-dones with their eye on the league. You get consistent classes like this and these kids buy into the program and stick around for 3 or 4 years, and you will be a constant Top 20 / Sweet 16 team. There is no doubt. When these kids stick together, and play together for a few years, and develop together, they gel together, and then you get the Senior leadership that a program like Villanova thrives on.
When I make comments to St. John's fans about how I feel that building your program on transfers is not the way to build a program, it is not because I am taking a shot at St. John's, it is just because getting the kids right out of High School who buy into your program, grow in your program, and then lead your program, it is a much different ballgame than when you are relying on kids who haven't played with each other that long and are just coming in to play for 2 years. I just don't think you will ever build a consistent team that way. A good year here or there? Sure, but very hard to stay consistent.
To conclude, congrats to Xavier on this tremendous class. It should be an example to all Big East programs of the type of class you want your coach to pull in every year. If Steele continues to pull in classes like this on a consistent basis, Xavier will be a Top Big East team for the foreseeable future.
https://247sports.com/college/xavier/Se ... l/Targets/