In Reply to: Premature speculation posted by Dr.Bruin on April 23, 2026 at 17:16:58
You can believe Cronin is a good coach and still question his recruiting. I’m trying to look at the full picture, and over the last four years, his high school recruiting in particular has been underwhelming. This isn’t just about one cycle.
The same nuance applies to how we talk about high school players overall. Yes, a freshman mistake may have cost Duke a chance to advance—but a freshman also hit the 40-foot game-winner. It cuts both ways. To ignore the impact of high school recruits on top teams this year doesn’t hold up. Even a transfer-heavy Michigan team had Trey McKenney, who averaged around 10 points and played a significant role. Then you have players like Boozer, Wagler, Flemings, Burries, Dybansa, and Peterson—many of the best players in college basketball this season. At least six of the final eight teams had a freshman who made a major impact, and in several cases, that freshman was the team’s best player.
So while it may be fair to hold off on judging transfer recruiting for now, the high school results are open to scrutiny. And beyond rankings, high school recruiting still matters because it creates a pipeline for development. Even if they aren’t all five-star prospects, you need players you can grow within the program.
It’s also fair to say another coach might land higher-level recruits—but that’s never guaranteed. It’s a gamble, and you’re betting the upside outweighs the risk. Very few people expected Tommy Lloyd at Arizona to recruit at the level he has. Even USC is currently outrecruiting Cronin. Have they turned that into results yet? Not really—but they are bringing in talent.
Personally, I like what Cronin has added through the portal. Those players seem to fit his system, and that should translate to another solid year. But the bigger question still lingers: can Cronin elevate the program to the next level? When you look at other successful programs, the formula usually includes a balance—players you can develop, impact transfers, and at least an occasional elite, five-star talent.