Following the advent of the transfer portal and NIL, the Big Ten has been as dominant as ever in basketball, as evidenced by Michigan breaking the Big Ten’s national title drought. This power shift can be felt in recruiting too. According to 247Sports, six of the Top 10 recruiting classes reside in the Big Ten, with Michigan leading the pack at No. 4.

Individually, this means we will get to witness some new stars and major contributors next season. Without further ado, here are our projected five best incoming freshmen in the Big Ten.

T-5. C Darius Ratliff, C Adonis Ratliff, USC

Twin brothers Darius and Adonis Ratliff are both in the Top 25 nationally by both 247Sports and Rivals. Both are centers and are between 6-foot-11 and 7-foot, depending on the source you look at. They are sons of former one-time NBA All-Star Theo Ratliff.

Both twins were McDonald’s All-Americans and are modern bigs. They have decent shooting strokes for their size and are versatile, athletic and quick to get up and down the court. Adonis is slightly more skilled, but Darius is more physical.

4. SF Baba Oladotun, Maryland

Oladotun is a five-star and a major recruiting win for the Terrapins. A hometown kid, he hails from James Hubert Blake High School in Silver Springs, Maryland. He is a typical NBA prospect in that he plays like a wing but continued to grow late into his high school career. Now standing at 6-foot-10 and just 195 pounds, Oladotun is lanky and will need to fill out his frame, but is oozing with potential. There’s a chance he will be the best player on this Maryland squad by the end of the season.

3. SG Brandon McCoy Jr., Michigan

A five-star prospect and in the Top 15 nationally, McCoy will join the reigning champs to shore up the backcourt. The 6-foot-5 guard isn’t the greatest shooter, but he may be the best athlete in the entire class. He will instantly become Michigan’s best perimeter defender thanks to his speed, motor and 6-foot-10 wingspan.

McCoy figures to come off the bench for the Wolverines, but that is only because of the returns of Elliot Cadeau and Trey McKenney. It’s not out of the realm of possibility he starts at the 3 as well. McCoy attacks the basket with ferocity and is an excellent rebounder for his size. If he develops his jump shot, he could very well be a one-and-done.

2. SF Anthony Thompson, Ohio State

Thompson was a major recruiting win for Jake Diebler. Per 247, he is the fourth-highest rated recruit to ever commit to Ohio State, behind Greg Oden, B.J. Mullens and Jared Sullinger. Thompson’s game is modeled after Kevin Durant in that he’s a lanky 6-foot-8, but plays a finesse style while being a lethal shooter.

Thanks to a 7-foot-3 wingspan, he is a versatile defender but primarily has only guarded the 3 and the 4. A Hudson, Ohio native, it was imperative for the Buckeyes to keep him home. Thompson is the centerpiece of a Buckeye rebuild following several key departures, most notably Bruce Thornton.

1. PF Christian Collins, USC

Collins opted to stay home and play for USC despite interest from just about everyone around the country. He is a 6-foot-8 forward like Thompson, except he is more physical and a better rebounder. Collins has incredible athleticism and is a versatile defender. While his offensive game isn’t quite as polished as a few others on this list, his upside is the highest. He is a high-energy big man that should fit seamlessly into the college game.