After all the discussion about the drop-off in recruiting, which I believe is real, I decided to go back and research our recruiting classes in the Blair era to give some context. Basically there have been 4 different eras in recruiting at A&M -- 2004-2006, 2007-2009, 2010-2012, and 2013-present. During the first era we recruited and signed mostly 3-star and a few low 4-star players that fit Vic's high pressure defensive system with super athletes that were not necessarily good shooters or pure basketball players. As we began to win more games and made the NCAA tournament, we started signing mostly mid to high 4-star players ranked in the Top 50-75 (this was the second era), which included Danielle Adams (JC #1), Tyra White, Sydney Colson, and Sydney Carter. This culminated in a national title in 2011. A&M peaked during the third era when A&M signed four 5-star recruits (Bone, Gilbert, Williams, Jones) and led to our best class ever in 2012 (#2 in the nation). This incredible run of success in recruiting began to decline after the departure of Vic and Johnny to MSU. And unfortunately we began to lose top recruits in the program to transfers, including Alexia Standish, Peyton Little, and Jada Terry. This coincided with the fourth era, where we find ourselves today. Most signees in this current era have been JC transfers or transfers from other schools, with a few Top 100 prospects as well. The 2016 class (with currently 1 Top 100 prospect) will be one of the weakest in the Blair era, probably only better than the 2006 class. That is not an encouraging sign, although I will admit that the 2015 class that includes A. Howard and D. Williams looks capable.
After this season, A&M's oldest signees still on campus for next season will be Curtyce Knox (2012), a backup PG, and Taylor Cooper (2013), a little used transfer off the bench. It's scary to think about how bad things could get next year with little experience and unknown recruits coming in to fill out the roster. The good news is that the 2017 class is absolutely loaded in the state of Texas yet again (we whiffed on everyone in 2016) with no fewer than 7 Top 25 elite prospects nationally. Blair absolutely must sign at least 2 of those prospects if A&M is going to remain in the top half of the SEC in the future.
Here's a look at A&M's recruiting classes over the years (I may have missed a few folks):
2004
> Morenike Atunrase (#111, 3-star)
> A'Quonesia Franklin (3-star)
> LaToya Gulley (3-star)
> Patrice Reado (3-star)
> Katy Pounds (3-star)
> Ashley Bolden (3-star)
2005
> La Toya Micheaux (Top 100, 4-star)
> Takia Starks (Top 100, 4-star)
> Danielle Gant (Top 100, 4-star)
> Lenka Zimova (JC transfer)
> Brittany Toran (unknown) - left program
2006
> Adrian McGowen (Top 100, 4-star) - left program
> Katrina Limbaha (3-star)
> Damitria Buchanan (3-star)
2007
> Tyra White (#17, 5-star)
> Sydney Colson (#29, 4-star)
> Maryann Baker (3-star)
2008
> Tanisha Smith (JC #5)
> Skylar Collins (#44, 4-star)
> Adaora Elonu (#49, 4-star)
> Kelsey Assarian (#54, 4-star)
> Sydney Carter (#63, 4-star)
> Taniqua Hollis (2-star) - left program
2009
> Danielle Adams (JC #1)
> Kristi Bellock (#29, 4-star)
> Diamond Ashmore (#48, 4-star) - left program
> Adrienne Pratcher (#60, 4-star)
> Cierra Windham (#98, 4-star)
2010
> Kelsey Bone (#2, 5-star, transfer)
> Karla Gilbert (#9, 5-star)
> Kristen Grant (#72, 4-star)
2011
> Tori Scott (#23, 4-star)
> Alexia Standish (#30, 4-star) - left program
> Rachel Mitchell (#41, 4-star)
2012
> Courtney Williams (#10, 5-star)
> Jordan Jones (#15, 5-star)
> Peyton Little (#30, 4-star) - left program
> Courtney Walker (#32, 4-star)
> Chelsea Jennings (#45, 4-star)
> Curtyce Knox (#73, 4-star)
2013
> Jada Terry (#56, 4-star) - left program
> Achiri Ade (#92, 4-star, JC transfer)
> Tavarsha Scott-Williams (3-star, JC transfer)
> Taylor Cooper (3-star, transfer)
2014
> Khaalia Hillsman (#47, 4-star)
> Shlonte Allen (JC #2)
2015
> Danni Williams (#35, 4-star)
> Jasmine Lumpkin (#53, 4-star, transfer)
> Anriel Howard (3-star)
2016
> ArLeighshya McElroy (#63, 4-star)
> Aahliyah Jackson (3-star)
> Rakell Spencer (3-star)
> Jasmine Williams (3-star)
After this season, A&M's oldest signees still on campus for next season will be Curtyce Knox (2012), a backup PG, and Taylor Cooper (2013), a little used transfer off the bench. It's scary to think about how bad things could get next year with little experience and unknown recruits coming in to fill out the roster. The good news is that the 2017 class is absolutely loaded in the state of Texas yet again (we whiffed on everyone in 2016) with no fewer than 7 Top 25 elite prospects nationally. Blair absolutely must sign at least 2 of those prospects if A&M is going to remain in the top half of the SEC in the future.
Here's a look at A&M's recruiting classes over the years (I may have missed a few folks):
2004
> Morenike Atunrase (#111, 3-star)
> A'Quonesia Franklin (3-star)
> LaToya Gulley (3-star)
> Patrice Reado (3-star)
> Katy Pounds (3-star)
> Ashley Bolden (3-star)
2005
> La Toya Micheaux (Top 100, 4-star)
> Takia Starks (Top 100, 4-star)
> Danielle Gant (Top 100, 4-star)
> Lenka Zimova (JC transfer)
> Brittany Toran (unknown) - left program
2006
> Adrian McGowen (Top 100, 4-star) - left program
> Katrina Limbaha (3-star)
> Damitria Buchanan (3-star)
2007
> Tyra White (#17, 5-star)
> Sydney Colson (#29, 4-star)
> Maryann Baker (3-star)
2008
> Tanisha Smith (JC #5)
> Skylar Collins (#44, 4-star)
> Adaora Elonu (#49, 4-star)
> Kelsey Assarian (#54, 4-star)
> Sydney Carter (#63, 4-star)
> Taniqua Hollis (2-star) - left program
2009
> Danielle Adams (JC #1)
> Kristi Bellock (#29, 4-star)
> Diamond Ashmore (#48, 4-star) - left program
> Adrienne Pratcher (#60, 4-star)
> Cierra Windham (#98, 4-star)
2010
> Kelsey Bone (#2, 5-star, transfer)
> Karla Gilbert (#9, 5-star)
> Kristen Grant (#72, 4-star)
2011
> Tori Scott (#23, 4-star)
> Alexia Standish (#30, 4-star) - left program
> Rachel Mitchell (#41, 4-star)
2012
> Courtney Williams (#10, 5-star)
> Jordan Jones (#15, 5-star)
> Peyton Little (#30, 4-star) - left program
> Courtney Walker (#32, 4-star)
> Chelsea Jennings (#45, 4-star)
> Curtyce Knox (#73, 4-star)
2013
> Jada Terry (#56, 4-star) - left program
> Achiri Ade (#92, 4-star, JC transfer)
> Tavarsha Scott-Williams (3-star, JC transfer)
> Taylor Cooper (3-star, transfer)
2014
> Khaalia Hillsman (#47, 4-star)
> Shlonte Allen (JC #2)
2015
> Danni Williams (#35, 4-star)
> Jasmine Lumpkin (#53, 4-star, transfer)
> Anriel Howard (3-star)
2016
> ArLeighshya McElroy (#63, 4-star)
> Aahliyah Jackson (3-star)
> Rakell Spencer (3-star)
> Jasmine Williams (3-star)