The number of slots avail for recruits each year is a factor, which ebbs and flows, but it must remain under the NCAA cap total. One year you may have 20-30 something slots avail versus another year where you may be only able to sign 17-20. Class rankings are also about the quality of the recruits which will vary according each given recruiting site service. The point being that it is much better to end up in the top half of the rankings than bottom half..... 60 and lower out of 126 programs.
It is even more impressive when your program recruits in the 80's one year and cuts that in half or thereabouts the very next year moving up into the 30-40's or even 50. Thats hard to do in the fickle world of recruiting, where the perception of a school plays such a large part in the minds of these young men. Any coach who can pull that off in his first year has set the foundation for success for future classes...... and helps to establish or re-establishing broken pipe lines to talent. I would take 30's 40's or even 50 any day of the week because it is moving in the right direction which is up.
Say what you like about Daz and his staff, but they have done a lot of damage control, re-stablished ties to schools in Mass with (7) recruits, and expanded the recruiting grounds into the South picking up (6). The other 10 are from the North East, Mid Atlantic, and Mid West. Pretty balanced if you ask me. They have worked hard from day one, bringing a much needed boost of energy and pride back to the program. U Conn can do the same with a good hire of a young coach that exudes passion and fire for recruiting and coaching. Small steps first, onto a brisk walk, then a jog and a short sprint, finally it becomes a marathon for the long term success of the program.
