Prep Hoops National Notebook: Mid Major’s Best 5 2019 Classes

What five mid-major conference programs put together the best recruiting classes of 2019?  Prep Hoops gives you the answer today in the National Notebook.

What is a mid-major?  Today we are defining mid-major as any school that isn't in one of the top seven leagues, and isn't Gonzaga.  Here are our five followed by an additional five.  

One. Florida International. FIU worked their way to this spot partially in numbers (7 players added) but mostly because of the quality of player they are bringing in.  Forward Kenny Isnord of the Bahamas is a top 300 level 2019 high school product that selected FIU from a long list of quality suitors.  They also earned a commitment from Dimon Carrigan, a top ten junior college prospect that will join Isnord up front. Juco Eric Lovett is a top 50 juco player as well. Coach Jeremy Ballard needed a quality group, and a big group, and he accomplished both. 

Two. Rhode Island. Small forward Mekhi Long is a four star wing ranked in the top 100 nationally.  Long had 6-7 major conference offers but on signing day he selected the Rams.  Shooting guard Gregory Hammond out of Louisiana is a top 300 high school product and Jacob Toppin had earned five high major offers prior to committing. Coach David Cox is beginning his second year as leader of the program and he has excellent talent to carry into the future. 

Three. Harvard.  Six-foot-6 small forward Chris Ledlum out of New York is ranked 126th in the 2019 class and he will instantly give production to the Crimson.  Shooting guard Idan Tretout and power forward Ciaran Brayboy are top 300 level high school talents and the sleeper of the class is Canadian 6-foot-6 ball handler Luka Sakota.  This is the group of players that will keep Harvard as an Ivy League leader and a ranked team nationally at different points. Tommy Amaker continues to recruit at a high level. 

Four. Colorado State. Colorado State's new staff - led by Coach Niko Medved - put together the top class in the Mountain West.  The rams grabbed a top five prospect in the state of Minnesota beating Minnesota and Northwestern for David Roddy, and going to Texas to get two top 300 level players in point guard Isaiah Stevens (ranked 173rd nationally) and power forward Dischon Thomas. The final piece of the class was James Moors from New Zealand, a 6-foot-9 big with ten major conference offers. 

Five. Saint Louis.  Terrence Hargrove Jr had offers from New Mexico and Missouri but went with the Bills who were the first to offer.  The 6-foot-7 wing headlines a group that also includes point guard Yuri Collins - a top 200 three star prospect - and shooting guard Gibson Jimerson who was at Montverde Academy last winter.  Seven foot center Jimmy Bell is another top 500 get for Coach Travis Ford. 

Five More

Loyola Chicago. Top 70 national group is led Marquise Kennedy and Tom Welch lead the class.  

UNCG. Commits Dericko Williams, Keyshaun Langley, and Kobe Langley are all ranked in the top 300 of the Prep Hoops 2019 rankings. 

Pacific. Four man class with three top 300 level 2019 talents highlighted by Jonathan Salazar and James Hampshire. 

LaSalle. Findlay prep small forward Sherif Kenney is ranked 159th overall, he and Brandon Stone give LaSalle a top 75 class nationally. 

Missouri State. Head Coach Dana Ford landed four Prep Hoops top 500 players with Isiaih Mosley being the top member of the group.