2025 and beyond recruits

[Heemeskerk]

247sports.com ranks recruiting classes each year. Below is the ranking for the class of 2025. They have Bradley ranked # 59 with the 3 commits they have so far (Zobrist, Richardson, & Wheeler). There are only a few mid-majors ranked higher. And Bradley is the highest ranked MVC school, though note that Illinois State's 4-man recruiting class is ranked slightly behind Bradley at # 61. The next highest MVC school is northern Iowa at # 89.
And Bradley will add several more to their 2025 class.
>> https://247sports.com/Season/2025-Ba...eTeamRankings/

Suprised Zobrist is not ranked on that site when you drill in on bradley commits he has zero stars... excited about this class but need an athletic big man. I think juco or low major transfer portal will be the way to go. Hard to find athletic center out of high school but man Wardle should have something to sell in that you can play with a high level talent of incomers and get lots of playing time!

[egib52]

DC, I believe you mentioned a game or two ago that Davis was introduced as a junior?

I thought it was interesting in Wardle's interview on the recruits that he would continue to recruit freshman if they were talented. I'm in the minority but I wouldn't mind a freshman center, if talented, to develop with the guards we have.

The problem with freshman centers at the MM level is that most come in and are either not strong enough or athletic enough to play day one. Now obviously there are exceptions, but we have seen our fair share of centers that never developed. I would rather get an athletic center from the JUCO or low major level.

[Da Coach]

DC, I believe you mentioned a game or two ago that Davis was introduced as a junior?

I thought it was interesting in Wardle's interview on the recruits that he would continue to recruit freshman if they were talented. I'm in the minority but I wouldn't mind a freshman center, if talented, to develop with the guards we have.

What I posted is that at both home games this season, Christian Davis has been introduced as "junior Christian Davis".
I can only presume that may mean Bradley believes he can play another season after this current season.

He redshirted in his freshman season at Lemoyne, which was then cancelled by the school due to Covid. He played there as a redshirt-freshman in 2021-22 and lead the team in scoring. Then he transferred and has played at Bradley in 2022-23, 2023-24, and 2024-25. So will the NCAA allow him an extra year for the Covid year of 2020-21, since he got that year back anyway with his redshirt? I hope so.

[LongTimeFan]

DC, I believe you mentioned a game or two ago that Davis was introduced as a junior?

I thought it was interesting in Wardle's interview on the recruits that he would continue to recruit freshman if they were talented. I'm in the minority but I wouldn't mind a freshman center, if talented, to develop with the guards we have.

[Da Coach]

247sports.com ranks recruiting classes each year. Below is the ranking for the class of 2025. They have Bradley ranked # 59 with the 3 commits they have so far (Zobrist, Richardson, & Wheeler). There are only a few mid-majors ranked higher. And Bradley is the highest ranked MVC school, though note that Illinois State's 4-man recruiting class is ranked slightly behind Bradley at # 61. The next highest MVC school is northern Iowa at # 89.
And Bradley will add several more to their 2025 class.
>> https://247sports.com/Season/2025-Ba...eTeamRankings/

[Da Coach]

Aiden Goins visited Bradley this past weekend... https://www.instagram.com/p/DAykcjQPIug/?img_index=1

Bradley recruit Aiden Goins is off to a good start in his sophomore season at Walters State Community College in Tennessee. Through 5 games, he is averaging 17.2 points and 7.0 rebounds. He is shooting 33-56 (58.9%) overall and 9-15 from three (60.0%). They don't play again until next Wednesday.

[Da Coach]

One new name-
2025 Aleksa Vlajić- 6'10" forward at the Hoosac School, a prep school in Hoosick, NY. He is originally from Serbia.
>> https://verbalcommits.com/players/aleksa-vlaji
>> https://www.madehoops.com/made-socie...stateside.aspx
>> https://basketball.eurobasket.com/pl...oogle_vignette
Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOUcVU6nX5w

[Dubl R 1]

in most years, yes, but I'm thinking that we've likely already filled our "quota" of high school recruits.
I have to think any further scholarships will be filled by experienced players from juco or the portal.

I'm okay with that. I don't care where they come from as long as they fill our needs.

[yoda]

He'd have been a good one to add to the 3 recruits we have coming in. We need a commitment from a big.

in most years, yes, but I'm thinking that we've likely already filled our "quota" of high school recruits.
I have to think any further scholarships will be filled by experienced players from juco or the portal.

[tomahawk chop]

We need some athletic rebounders and rim protectors. Thomas may prove to be one but we need more than one.

Recruited players Nick Allen and Saadi went to other valley schools.

I agree on needing another center and 2 athletic forwards that can rebound and score. I prefer proven JUCOS or transfers because of experience. I would go after freshman bigs 2025-2026.

[LongTimeFan]

We need some athletic rebounders and rim protectors. Thomas may prove to be one but we need more than one.

Recruited players Nick Allen and Saadi went to other valley schools.

[Dubl R 1]

Bradley recruit Simm-Marten Saadi just committed to Drake - https://x.com/SimmSaadi/status/1855040215217586673

He'd have been a good one to add to the 3 recruits we have coming in. We need a commitment from a big.

[Da Coach]

Bradley offers 2025 Simm Marten Saadi, a 6'9" forward at Sunrise Christian Academy in Wichita. He is originally from Tallin, Estonia.
He has played for a couple club teams in Estonia (SK Nord Aid/Cramo and Audentese SK). And he averaged 11.9 ppg/6.6 rpg for the U20 Estonian National team this past summer, and 15.0 ppg/8.6 rpg the summer 2023 for their U19 team in international competition. He just turned 19 y/o.
>> https://x.com/Derek__Murray/status/1836928001033863465
>> https://verbalcommits.com/players/simm-marten-saadi
>> https://basketball.eurobasket.com/pl...n-Saadi/553228
>> https://www.fiba.basketball/europe/u...m-Marten-Saadi
>> Short video- https://x.com/CBB_Europe/status/1788950244912144600
>> https://www.proballers.com/basketbal...m-marten-saadi

Bradley recruit Simm-Marten Saadi just committed to Drake - https://x.com/SimmSaadi/status/1855040215217586673

[yoda]

It's questionable on whether Funk is a Mid-Major prospect.

Time will tell...I recall many saying the exact same thing about Scottie James, Bret Bisping & Alec Peters,
Many also said this about Hank Alvey, yet he's a starter already averaging 10 ppg against high major
Big Ten & Big East opponents

https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/player/_/id/5243042/hank-alvey

[Da Coach]

Bradley recruit Jonah Funk commits to South Dakota - https://x.com/tdc200/status/1854904694759383419