Progress report: Checking in on the recruiting class of 2017 – Champaign/Urbana News-Gazette

The Class of 2017 is heading into its senior season. Heres a look at how that group has fared in the Big Ten, courtesy college basketball writer SCOTT RICHEY:

Ohio State Buckeyes forward Kaleb Wesson (34) is congratulated by forward Justin Ahrens (10) after drawing a foul during the first half of Sunday's NCAA basketball game against the UMass Lowell River Hawks at Value City Arena in Columbus on November 10, 2019. Ohio State won the game 76-56. [Barbara J. Perenic]Ohio State Buckeyes forward Kaleb Wesson (34) is congratulated by forward Justin Ahrens (10) after drawing a foul during the first half of Sunday's NCAA basketball game against the UMass Lowell River Hawks at Value City Arena in Columbus on November 10, 2019. Ohio State won the game 76-56. [Barbara J. Perenic]

Class: No. 75 Kaleb Wesson, No. 80 Kyle Young, No. 149 Musa Jallow

Breakdown: Wesson became the centerpiece for the Chris Holtmann era and has led the Buckeyes in scoring the past two seasons. Young ultimately transferred to Wisconsin, and Jallow missed all of the 2019-20 season with an ankle injury after being a part-time starter as a freshman and sophomore.

Robin Scholz/The News-Gazette llinois guard Trent Frazier (1) reacts to making the 3-point basket that put him over thew 1000 point mark in an NCAA basketball game at the State Farm Center in Champaign on Saturday, January 18, 2020.Robin Scholz/The News-Gazette llinois guard Trent Frazier (1) reacts to making the 3-point basket that put him over thew 1000 point mark in an NCAA basketball game at the State Farm Center in Champaign on Saturday, January 18, 2020.

Class: No. 79 Mark Smith, No. 109 Trent Frazier, No. 177 DaMonte Williams, No. 510 Greg Eboigbodin, Matic Vesel

Breakdown: The two John Groce recruits have stuck around and carved out key roles for the Illini. Meanwhile, the three players Brad Underwood added after being hired all left the program after one year for Missouri (Smith), Northeastern (Eboigbodin) and home to Slovenia (Vesel).

New York, NY - 12/10/19 - Connecticut Huskies guard Alterique Gilbert (3), right, collides with Indiana Hoosiers forward Justin SmithNew York, NY - 12/10/19 - Connecticut Huskies guard Alterique Gilbert (3), right, collides with Indiana Hoosiers forward Justin Smith

Class: No. 78 Justin Smith, No. 134 Race Thompson, No. 151 Clifton Moore, No. 230 Aljami Durham

Breakdown: Both Tom Crean recruits, Smith and Durham, have developed into starters for Archie Miller the past two seasons. Thompsons tenure with the Hoosiers has been hampered by multiple injuries, while Moore transferred to La Salle after the 2018-19 season.

Nojel Eastern #20 of the Purdue Boilermakers puts up a shot in front of Donta Scott #24 of the Maryland Terrapins in the first half at Xfinity Center on January 18, 2020 in College Park, Maryland. (Rob Carr/Getty Images/TNS)Nojel Eastern #20 of the Purdue Boilermakers puts up a shot in front of Donta Scott #24 of the Maryland Terrapins in the first half at Xfinity Center on January 18, 2020 in College Park, Maryland. (Rob Carr/Getty Images/TNS)

Class: No. 69 Nojel Eastern, No. 174 Aaron Wheeler, No. 352 Matt Haarms, No. 374 Sasha Stefanovic, Eden Ewing

Breakdown: The 7-foot-3 Haarms (headed to BYU as a grad transfer) arguably made the biggest impact of the class, although Eastern and Stefanovic have filled key roles. Wheeler has been a role player, and Ewing lasted just six games at Purdue before transferring to Texas Southern.

Wisconsin Badgers forward Nate Reuvers (35) scores the first field goal of the game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights on Feb. 23, 2020 at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. (John Fisher/CSM/Zuma Press/TNS)Wisconsin Badgers forward Nate Reuvers (35) scores the first field goal of the game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights on Feb. 23, 2020 at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. (John Fisher/CSM/Zuma Press/TNS)

Class: No. 66 Nate Reuvers, No. 108 Brad Davison, No. 197 Kobe King

Breakdown: Reuvers remains the top dog in this class, but the group made headlines for non-basketball reasons in 2019-20. King left the team in the middle of the season, and Davison was suspended for one game for a low blow to Iowas Connor McCaffery.

Michigan forward Isaiah Livers (2) shoots a 3-pointer in the second half of their Big Ten Basketball game against Nebraska at Crisler Center in Ann Arbor, on Thursday, March 5, 2020. Michigan won the game, 82-58.Michigan forward Isaiah Livers (2) shoots a 3-pointer in the second half of their Big Ten Basketball game against Nebraska at Crisler Center in Ann Arbor, on Thursday, March 5, 2020. Michigan won the game, 82-58.

Class: No. 93 Jordan Poole, No. 133 Isaiah Livers, No. 201 Eli Brooks

Breakdown: Poole stayed just two seasons in Ann Arbor before declaring for the 2019 NBA Draft, where he wound up a surprise first round pick. Livers and Brooks, meanwhile, saw a significant increase in production in 2019-20 for first-year coach Juwan Howard.

Michigan State forward Xavier Tillman (23) gets by Maryland forward Jalen Smith (25) in the first half of their Big Ten basketball game at the Breslin Center in East Lansing, on Saturday, February 15, 2020.Michigan State forward Xavier Tillman (23) gets by Maryland forward Jalen Smith (25) in the first half of their Big Ten basketball game at the Breslin Center in East Lansing, on Saturday, February 15, 2020.

Class: No. 8 Jaren Jackson Jr., No. 112 Xavier Tillman Sr.

Breakdown: Size of the class, not talent, had more to do with the ranking. Jackson was one-and-done with the Spartans and became the No. 4 overall pick in the 2018 NBA draft, while Tillman went from valuable sixth man to Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year.

Maryland's Darryl Morsell (11) celebrates late in the second half of a 67-60 win against Michigan State at the Breslin Center in East Lansing, Mich., on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2020.

Class: No. 74 Darryl Morsell, No. 87 Bruno Fernando

Breakdown: Fernando made a significant impact as a true freshman then blew up as a sophomore, averaging a double-double to turn into a second round draft pick. Morsell, meanwhile, has been a three-year starter and key role player for the Terrapins.

Iowa center Luka Garza celebrates a basket against Ohio State on Feb. 20, 2020, in Iowa City. Iowa center Luka Garza celebrates a basket against Ohio State on Feb. 20, 2020, in Iowa City.

Class: No. 118 Luka Garza, No. 152 Connor McCaffery, No. 202 Jack Nunge

Breakdown: Garzas presence alone means the Hawkeyes have out-produced their ranking with this class. Garza was a four-star recruit, but he turned into a national player of the year in 2019-20. McCaffery became a starter his past season, but Nunges year was cut short by an ACL tear.

Rutgers guard Geo Baker Rutgers guard Geo Baker

Class: No. 150 Mamadou Doucoure, No. 371 Myles Johnson, No. 414 Geo Baker, Souf Mensah

Breakdown: The Scarlet Knights hit big on Baker and Johnson. Baker has been a starter and double-digit scorer since day one, while Johnson emerged as a starter in 2019-20 as a redshirt sophomore. Mensah lasted just one year as a JUCO transfer, and Doucoure has played sparingly in three seasons.

Minnesota's Isaiah Washington (11) drives against Wisconsin's Brad Davison (34) in the first half on Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2019, at Williams Arena in Minneapolis. (Jeff Wheeler/Minneapolis Star Tribune/TNS)Minnesota's Isaiah Washington (11) drives against Wisconsin's Brad Davison (34) in the first half on Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2019, at Williams Arena in Minneapolis. (Jeff Wheeler/Minneapolis Star Tribune/TNS)

Class: No. 62 Isaiah Washington, No. 294 Jamir Harris

Breakdown: Washington was a huge get for the Gophers and Richard Pitino as a four-star point guard, but he lasted just two seasons in Minnesota before transferring closer to home at Iona. Harris didnt even last that long. He was one-and-done with the Gophers before transferring to American.

Robin Scholz/The News-Gazette Illinois' guard Da'Monte Williams (20) and Nebraska's guard Thorir Thorbjarnarson (34) during their NCAA basketball game at the State Farm Center in Champaign on Monday, feb. 24, 2020.Robin Scholz/The News-Gazette Illinois' guard Da'Monte Williams (20) and Nebraska's guard Thorir Thorbjarnarson (34) during their NCAA basketball game at the State Farm Center in Champaign on Monday, feb. 24, 2020.

Class: No. 103 Thomas Allen, No. 187 Nana Akenten, Thorir Thorbjarnarson

Breakdown: Only Thorbjarnarson, who started 24 of 32 games and averaged career highs in points, rebounds, assist and steals in 2019-20, is still with the Cornhuskers. Allen transferred to North Carolina State and Akenten to Southeast Missouri State after Tim Miles was fired last March.

Penn State guard Jamari Wheeler moves in toward the basket during a game against Wisconsin on Monday, Dec. 4, 2017 at the Bryce Jordan Center in University Park, Pa. (Phoebe Sheehan/Centre Daily Times/TNS)Penn State guard Jamari Wheeler moves in toward the basket during a game against Wisconsin on Monday, Dec. 4, 2017 at the Bryce Jordan Center in University Park, Pa. (Phoebe Sheehan/Centre Daily Times/TNS)

Class: No. 391 Jamari Wheeler, No. 527 Trent Buttrick, No. 531 John Harrar

Breakdown: While Buttrick has played just 54 games in three seasons and only sparingly off the bench in those appearances, Wheeler and Harrar have grown into key roles for the Nittany Lions. Wheeler is a two-year starter at point guard, while Harrar is a part-time starter in the frontcourt.

Ohio State's Luther Muhammad (1) works around Northwestern's Anthony Gaines in the first half at Schottenstein Arena in Columbus, Ohio, on Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2019. (Brooke LaValley/Columbus Dispatch/TNS)Ohio State's Luther Muhammad (1) works around Northwestern's Anthony Gaines in the first half at Schottenstein Arena in Columbus, Ohio, on Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2019. (Brooke LaValley/Columbus Dispatch/TNS)

Class: No. 189 Anthony Gaines

Breakdown: Gaines was off to a solid start in 2019-20 before a shoulder injury sidelined him for the year after just 10 games for a team that could have used his veteran presence on the court. The 6-foot-4 guard has averaged 5.5 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.7 assists for his career with the Wildcats.

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Progress report: Checking in on the recruiting class of 2017 - Champaign/Urbana News-Gazette

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