SBC Basketball Is Loading Up for 2024-25

For years, the Sun Belt has been content to be a one-bid basketball conference; a weigh-station for overlooked and undercooked players, retired and unreformed coaches, and heroically underfunded programs. With college football collapsing beneath its own weight, now has never been a better time for the Sun Belt to shoulder its way into an elevated basketball niche.

The recent success of James Madison and Appalachian State conjured a whiff of glory that has nearly everyone in the SBC licking their chops. After all, while college football seems determined to cater to the mad whims of just two conferences, opportunity to excel on a national scale is still possible on the hard court.

Evidence of this emerging urgency is seen through recruiting. As of this writing, the Sun Belt boasts three programs – Arkansas State, ODU and Georgia State – in the top 100 for high school recruiting classes. (Arkansas State, is a Top 50, ranked 44th.) For reference, CUSA has one team in the Top 100. The MAC has zero. For all of its success, the Mountain West has just four.

The Sun Belt has eight 3-star talents signing with the conference, plus a four star (Josh Hill to Arkansas State). Last year, the number of three-star signings was three (no four stars). In 2022, the number was two. In 2021, the Sun Belt signed seven, though it’s unclear how many remains with those teams today.

For transfer recruiting, Georgia State and Arkansas State rank in the Top 100. While the SBC has undoubtedly lost good talent in the transfer portal, it appears to be acquiring sufficient talent in its place.

Is There Blood In the Water?

Who are the traditional Sun Belt powerhouses for basketball? We’ve seen bursts of excellence from Troy, Louisiana and Georgia State. As of late, we’ve seen Appalachian State led by Dustin Kerns and James Madison under departed Mark Byington represent the upper echelon of the conference.

However, both of the latter programs have experienced the attrition of success. After defeating Wisconsin in the NCAA Tournament, Byington was scooped by Vanderbilt, taking forward Jaylen Carey with him. SBC Player of the Year Terrence Edwards jumped to Louisville, and second-teamer TJ Bickerstaff has declared his intentions to go pro.

Meanwhile, the Mountaineers have taken even deeper hits, losing the Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year Justin Abson to Georgia, and saw Sun Belt First Team selection Tre’Von Spillers saunter over to Wake Forest. For added torment, SBC Third Teamer Terence Harcum bailed for Murray State.

While both the Mountaineers and particularly the Dukes have been busy plugging holes with portal talent, it appears that the window has opened for additional Sun Belt programs to make their presence known. Arkansas State and head coach Bryan Hodgson, Sun Belt Tournament runner up, grew stronger through high school and portal recruiting, while Georgia State has made aggressive moves as well under head coach Jonas Hayes.

Who else is entering the Sun Belt’s Tri-Wizard Tournament? Old Dominion has landed a pair of three-star recruits, and four star transfer Christian Watson (formerly of Miami) has made Southern Miss his new home. A surprise rumble – Coastal Carolina’s new head hoops coach Justin Gray inking seven-footer Mabor Majak out of Missouri and enticing former four-star recruit Marcus Watson from Townson. Few Sun Belt coaches are declining to roll the dice and bet big on the 2024-25 season.

MAIN IMAGE: Sun Belt Media