SEC basketball superlatives: Crowning the conference's best recruiting class and more

Let's look at how the SEC has faired on the recruitment front.

Wednesday is the final day of the Early Signing Period. Even though we anticipate more movement and commitments throughout the day, let's look at how the SEC has faired on the recruitment front.

Here are the conference superlatives in 2024 for the Southeastern Conference:

Best in Show: Kentucky Wildcats

John Calipari (Photo: Jordan Prather, USA TODAY Sports)

Kentucky entered the early signing period outside of the top-20 in the national recruiting class rankings. But here we are on the final day of the Early Signing Period and John Calipari has added Travis Perry and Jayden Quaintance since Sunday to leap to the top of the SEC in recruiting classes and up to No. 2 in the country.

Along with Quaintance and Perry, Kentucky entered the period with Boogie Fland and Somto Cyril already on board. This class has a blend of size, power and athleticism in Quaintance and Cyril combine with the skill coming in the backcourt additions of Perry and Fland.

The Wildcats aren't expected to be done yet, either. Kentucky is still in pursuit of two more top-25 recruits in VJ Edgecombe and Billy Richmond. It's expected that Kentucky will add one more to their class before looking to the portal for addition. If it's all quiet on the signing period front, we will be watching Kentucky closely over the next two months to see how things unfold with Richmond and Edgecombe.

Coming in Clutch: Texas Longhorns

Texas is preparing for their new lives in the SEC. Rodney Terry has won two commitments despite tough recruitment battles to land the No. 3 overall class in the conference.

The Longhorns are bringing in two top-50 recruits in Nicolas Codie and Cam Scott, but they aren't done. Terry and the Texas program are heavily in pursuit of Tre Johnson, the former No. 1 recruit in the class and could be in the midst of flipping him from Baylor.

If Texas can reel in Johnson, then hat will take this class to another level of "clutch".

Most Pleasant Surprise: Missouri Tigers

What Dennis Gates has done at Missouri entering just his second season is astonishing. Missouri made a big run on the court and is taking the success to the recruiting trail by landing the No. 3 class in the nation.

The Tigers have five four-star commits in Annor Boating, Peyton Marshall, Marcus Allen, TO Barrett and Trent Burns, providing Missouri with size, length, versatility and a lot of toughness.

The future is brighter than it has ever been at Missouri.

Winter Watch: Kentucky, Alabama and Georgia

Alabama head coach Nate Oats (Photo: Getty)

There are very few prospects left available in the top-150. As a result, it feels unfair to pick just one school to watch this winter since there is a trio of teams in competition with each other.

First off, Georgia and Alabama have been duking things out for the last month for Derrion Reid. The five-star forward was set to make his college decision (which sounded to be for the Bulldogs) but backed off after each of his three finalists flew out one last time to see him.

It's neck-and-neck for Reid and something we are closely monitoring over the coming weeks.

Georgia isn't the only school Alabama is competing with. They're also in a recruiting battle with the Kentucky Wildcats for Billy Richmond.

However, as stated earlier, we are keeping a closer eye on Kentucky with Richmond who has long been the leader to land his talents. Whether a decision comes today or two months from today, the Wildcats are currently in the drivers seat with Memphis and the Crimson Tide behind them.

Ranking the conference

1. Kentucky Wildcats: Another year and another top-two class for John Calipari. The Wildcats have had the biggest signing period thus far with their class now headlined by top-ten recruit Jayden Quaintance who will have to play two seasons before becoming draft eligible. They aren't done yet though and are one to keep a close eye on as things unfold with Billy Richmond and VJ Edgecombe.

2. Missouri Tigers: Missouri is recruiting at a level the program has never seen and have reeled in five four-star commitments this cycle. They have versatility, depth, toughness, size and upside all coming in which will continue to make them a player in the SEC.

3. Alabama Crimson Tide: Nate Oats has two talented four-star recruits coming in with Aiden Sherrell and Naas Cunningham. Both bring size, length, versatility and upside to tap into and there's a lot to like about the fit with both commits. They aren't done yet though as they continue to battle things out for five-star forward Derrion Reid and Billy Richmond.

4. Texas Longhorns: Rodney Terry is having a successful 2024 cycle but it could get a whole lot better soon. He has inked two four-star commits in Nicolas Codie and Cam Scott but have made up significant ground and momentum for five-star bucket-getter Tre Johnson. By the end of the period, Texas could have the No. 4 overall class in the country and not just the No. 4 overall class in the SEC.

5. Arkansas Razorbacks: Eric Musselman has gone out and landed two high school kids ahead of what is assumed to be another big transfer class. He has two four-star commits in Isaiah Elohim and Jalen Shelley in which Elohim can get downhill and score inside 15-feet and Shelley has a lot of upside to tap into.

6. Auburn Tigers: Auburn kicked off the signing period for the country with the commitment of Jahki Howard. He joined top-25 recruit Tahaad Pettiford, his AAU teammate, and the two make for the most athletic recruiting class in the country. Both are explosive and electric, high-flying athletes that will surely get fans out of their seats and load up the highlights for Auburn.

7. LSU Tigers: LSU holds two commits in 2024 with Robert Miller and Curtis Givens III. Matt McMahon was able to win out a major recruiting battle against Memphis for Givens III. Now they are looking close on Vyctorius Miller who will announce his decision on Wednesday live on 247Sports.

8. Texas A&M: Texas A&M is clicking on the court this season and have a two-man class coming in to help continue their efforts in the SEC. Buzz Williams went to the northeast and pulled out two top-150 commits in Andre Mills and George Turkson which makes for a sneaky good recruiting class, according to our Brandon Jenkins.

9. Florida Gators: Todd Golden got on the board early by landing a sleeper out of the state in Isaiah Brown, who ranks inside the top-150. Since then, he has aimed high with guys like Jayden Quaintance and VJ Edgecombe. Quaintance obviously chose Kentucky but they are still trying to claw their way into the top with Edgecombe. They also landed a massive preferred walk-on this week in the tallest teenager in the world - Olivier Rioux.

10. South Carolina Gamecocks: Lamont Paris has quietly had a nice class by landing Trent Noah and Okku Federiko. Both are three-star recruits but Noah ranks inside the top-150 and will be able to provide a lot of skill, shooting and IQ for the years ahead.

11. Oklahoma Sooners: Porter Moser is bringing in two commits out of the 2024 class in Dayton Forsythe and Kuol Atak. Atak made his decision during this early signing period window, ranking inside the top-150 and the Sooners are now expected to wait and see what happens in the portal to build out the rest of the class as they prepare their move to the SEC.

12. Mississippi State Bulldogs: Chris Jans is continuing to rebuild Mississippi State and moved the needle in 2024 by landing Dellquan Warren and Chol Machot. Warren, in particular, is an athletic and tough combo guard who can score and create for others as well as defend. We will keep an eye on Mississippi State as they continue to fill out their class in other avenues aside from high school.

13. Georgia Bulldogs: Don't let the ranking here fool you, it's been a big cycle for Georgia as they landed five-star big man Asa Newell. They may not be done as they continue to battle and try to close on Derrion Reid. Whether they get Reid or not, it has been another big cycle for the Bulldogs as they continue to rebuild the program.

14. Ole Miss Rebels: Chris Beard has one of the more intriguing classes in the SEC bringing in John Bol and Eduardo Klafke. Bol is highly mobile big man that can cover ground in a hurry with long-term upside, especially as a defender while Klafke comes out of the NBA Academies which continues to produce impactful college players and pros.

15. Tennessee Volunteers: It has been a quiet recruiting cycle out of Tennessee who didn't look to go after a big class. They have landed just one commitment and will wait for the portal to open to fill out their roster. Their lone signee is Bishop Boswell, a four-star guard that can make shots, rebound and facilitate.

16. Vanderbilt Commodores: Closing out the SEC are the Vanderbilt Commodores with a two-man class, both ranking as three-star recruits. Jerry Stackhouse and his program will need to continue hitting the portal hard on top Karris Bilal and Tyler Tanner to turn this ship around.