I’ve Got Five on This: Mandatory Recruits for Certain Programs

Rivals.com

The 2025 recruiting cycle is entering a critical juncture as prospects are beginning to plan senior year visits and narrow down their list of college options. As coaches establish their high-priority goals, some perspectives have become must-haves for certain programs.

Down, rivals To steal Cassidy explores five of these perspectives and describes why achieving each is critical for specific schools.

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2025 Ratings: Rivals150 | Team

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MUST GET FOR: Michigan

In a recent interview, Acuff essentially admitted that Michigan led his recruiting when the Wolverines were being led by the now-fired Juwan HowardSo it stands to reason that the Wolverines are back in the hunt now that the program is on a more stable footing under the newly hired Dusty May.

Acuff grew up a Michigan fan and appears to want to play for the Wolverines if all things are equal, but it’s up to May to seal the deal amid serious interest from programs like Kansas, Houston, Rutgers It is Arkansas. May has already reached out to Acuff, so the groundwork for Michigan is being re-established.

Acuff could wait until the fall or winter to make a decision, which seems like positive news for the Wolverines.

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© Matt Stone / The Louisville Courier Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK

SHOULD ARRIVE: Kentucky

Kentucky appears to be prioritizing homegrown stars under new coach Marcos Papa, and the 7-foot Moreno certainly fits that profile. The four-star center lives just 20 minutes from Lexington and grew up watching Wildcat basketball. Pope and his team targeted Moreno from the beginning and have already convinced him to come to campus for an unofficial meeting and visit in the coming weeks, although Moreno says the date for such a trip has not been set.

The highly rated center is familiar with Pope’s track record as captain of UK’s 1996 national title team and appears genuinely open to staying home and playing for the Wildcats. Locking up Moreno would allow the new team to make a statement about his recruiting prowess while watching him go elsewhere, especially to João Calipriin Arkansas show, it would be a strange pill for fans to swallow.

Moreno’s recruitment will obviously not determine the future of the Pope’s Era, but it will certainly represent an initial data.

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MUST GET FOR: Arizona

Peat is Arizona State’s top target in the Class of 2025, and the existing relationship is strong. The five-star forward has been to the Tucson campus on several occasions and plans to return at least two more times – a final unofficial visit this spring as well as an official visit in the fall.

He feels comfortable with the head coach Tommy Lloyd and says he currently barely talks about basketball with the UofA team, instead engaging in deeper, more meaningful personal conversations due to the level of familiarity.

Most signs point to the Wildcats as the leaders of the group, but no one registered it in those words. Whatever the case, losing Peat in the future would be a minor disaster, as the perception of him as a leader has created certain expectations.

To seal the deal, LLoyd and his team will need to delay Kansas, Ohio State, Kentucky, Arkansas It is North Caroline.

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MUST GET FOR: Syracuse

Syracuse could build on a high-profile recruiting win under head coach Adriano Autry, and the opportunities don’t come much better than this. The son of the Syracuse star became a New York legend Carmelo Anthony, Kiyan Anthony is seriously considering the Orange. That said, there will be nervous moments on campus as Kiyan considers options like State of Florida, Indiana It is Memphis.

There’s also a chance that a late offer could shake things up, as the Syracuse legacy recruit is off to a strong start this junior season. Obviously, a recruiting battle won’t determine Autry’s future with the program, but losing Kiyan Anthony having a building on campus that bears his last name would be a tough look, to say the least.

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MUST GET FOR: Duke

Duke head coach Jon Scheyer has received almost everything he wants on the recruiting trail since taking over the program in 2022, thus landing the former Blue Devils star Carlos BoozerTwin children once seemed like a mere formality. Nowadays, however, Miami and, to a lesser extent, Arkansas seem like minor threats to provoke an upset.

Duke is still viewed as the favorite for good reason, so losing the Boozers now, after investing a pile of resources into their recruitment, wouldn’t send the best message to fans or other top prospects. The situation is intriguing because, on paper, Scheyer should win this battle easily and will receive a silent ovation if he does. If you don’t, however, the sighs and grumbles will be much louder.

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