Penn State not getting Bassett, Dreshaun and seemingly Jax is refreshing for the sport.

[Masonbuckeye]

It's felt like for a couple years now, all of the tippy top prospects have committed to Penn State even up until very very recently. The wrestling community should be more appreciative of kids choosing schools without the chatter of "Oh BuT tHaT WoN't StOp PeNn StAtE."

[PortaJohn]

I understand the sentiment but PSU isn't getting the best class every year.  They're really good at going on 2 year recruiting benders and picking up a guy here or there (like Levi in '22) in those in between years

Edited 20 hours ago by PortaJohn

[Pinnacle]

PortaJohn is correct, Penn State never got all the top kids all the time. If you look at the top ten recruits for the last ten years using flo big board, or a total of 100 recruits, PSU landed 18 of them.

Two left, three were injured and barely scored any NCAA team points. Several are unproven at the NCAA Ch. level. 

More than anyone else, but not everyone.

 

 

Edited 18 hours ago by Pinnacle

[1032004]

23 minutes ago, Pinnacle said:

PortaJohn is correct, Penn State never got all the top kids all the time. If you look at the top ten recruits for the last ten years using flo big board, or a total of 100 recruits, PSU landed 18 of them.

Two left, three were injured and barely scored any NCAA team points. Several are unproven at the NCAA Ch. level. 

More than anyone else, but not everyone.

 

 

Recency bias maybe?  Looks like in the 2024 class they had 4 of the top 10 (including #1) and in 2025 they have 2 of the top 10 (1 & 2).  So Bo is the first Flo #1 that they haven’t gotten in 3 years.

Edited 18 hours ago by 1032004

[Mr. PeanutButter]

"well, ACHTUALLY  Penn state doesn't get all the top recruits they only get 20% of them!!!!1! You ignorant fo0l!!" 

[Pinnacle]

20 minutes ago, Mr. PeanutButter said:

"well, ACHTUALLY  Penn state doesn't get all the top recruits they only get 20% of them!!!!1! You ignorant fo0l!!" 

You fail to properly acknowledge that 82 percent of top recruits were available to your school!

[Mr. PeanutButter]

6 minutes ago, Pinnacle said:

You fail to properly acknowledge that 82 percent of top recruits were available to your school!

You're right. We've been slippin'. But we're getting back on track 

[PortaJohn]

30 minutes ago, 1032004 said:

Recency bias maybe?  Looks like in the 2024 class they had 4 of the top 10 (including #1) and in 2025 they have 2 of the top 10 (1 & 2).  So Bo is the first Flo #1 that they haven’t gotten in 3 years.

I prefer Willie on high school rankings but cant find his.  Here is from previous years based on Flo rankings

2025 Recruiting Class Rankings - Penn State projected #1?  Oklahoma St (3 top 10 recruits)

2024 Recruiting Class Rankings - #1 Penn State

2023 Recruiting Class Rankings - #1 Oklahoma State - PSU #5

2022 Recruiting Class Rankings - #1 Ohio State - (PSU one recruit Levi Haines) ***People claimed tOSU had the greatest recruiting class ever this year

2021 Recruiting Class Rankings - #1 Penn State 

2020 Recruiting Class Rankings - #1 Oklahoma State - PSU #4

2019 Recruiting Class Rankings - #1 Ohio State - PSU not ranked

2018 Recruiting Class Rankings - #1 Penn State

 

 

Edited 17 hours ago by PortaJohn

[Wrestleknownothing]

From 2023, so missing 2024 rankings:

 

[Mr. PeanutButter]

15 minutes ago, PortaJohn said:

I prefer Willie on high school rankings but cant find his.  Here is from previous years based on Flo rankings

2025 Recruiting Class Rankings - Penn State projected #1?  Oklahoma St (3 top 10 recruits)

2024 Recruiting Class Rankings - #1 Penn State

2023 Recruiting Class Rankings - #1 Oklahoma State - PSU #5

2022 Recruiting Class Rankings - #1 Ohio State - (PSU one recruit Levi Haines) ***People claimed tOSU had the greatest recruiting class ever this year

2021 Recruiting Class Rankings - #1 Penn State 

2020 Recruiting Class Rankings - #1 Oklahoma State - PSU #4

2019 Recruiting Class Rankings - #1 Ohio State - PSU not ranked

2018 Recruiting Class Rankings - #1 Penn State

 

 

Penn state shows up 4 times as #1 (tentatively), effectively doubling up the other 2 teams. What is your point? That the recruiting gap is merely broad, not vast? 

[PortaJohn]

2 minutes ago, Mr. PeanutButter said:

Penn state shows up 4 times as #1 (tentatively), effectively doubling up the other 2 teams. What is your point? That the recruiting gap is merely broad, not vast? 

You can read my first comment on this thread.  It's pretty clear what I said. 

[HarryConnickJr]

38 minutes ago, Pinnacle said:

You fail to properly acknowledge that 82 percent of top recruits were available to your school!

I believe it would be 83 percent, actually

[okokzach]

1 hour ago, Pinnacle said:

If you look at the top ten recruits for the last ten years PSU landed More than anyone else, but not everyone.

That and they've also had a number of high level Xfers 

[Mr. PeanutButter]

58 minutes ago, PortaJohn said:

You can read my first comment on this thread.  It's pretty clear what I said. 

OP didn't claim that PSU was getting the top class every year (if they did, they'd score <200 points) but rather it has felt like they get the very top of the topmost talent more than anybody else. I agree with that sentiment and your's and 103's numbers I believe support it.

I'm not arguing that the recruiting advantage isn't earned but that the advantage is significant and that, like OP said, it's refreshing to see the topmost talent spread around somewhat. How much of a difference it makes and whether this "trend" lasts or not remains to be seen.

[CHROMEBIRD]

Agree with the general direction of what the OP is saying, but I don't really see how committing to Iowa is "refreshing" for the sport. Iowa would be fine with or without him; so would Oklahoma State and a bunch of other schools. It's unfair to expect Bo to go to a struggling program that could really use him, just saying that this commit to Iowa is like calling a player signing with the Yankees instead of the Dodgers "refreshing" for baseball.

[1032004]

12 minutes ago, CHROMEBIRD said:

Agree with the general direction of what the OP is saying, but I don't really see how committing to Iowa is "refreshing" for the sport. Iowa would be fine with or without him; so would Oklahoma State and a bunch of other schools. It's unfair to expect Bo to go to a struggling program that could really use him, just saying that this commit to Iowa is like calling a player signing with the Yankees instead of the Dodgers "refreshing" for baseball.

They’d be “fine,” I think what’s “refreshing” is that Bassett gives them some hope of maybe actually winning a title, particularly if other guys follow him.

[Pinnacle]

There is a lot more to this thing than just simply landing top recruits. If you land the right recruits among the top recruits, that obviously makes a difference. Having them stay healthy makes a difference. And then there is the portal where Penn State has done well but where Iowa has objectively done the best over the past 7 years. Then there is coaching,

Penn State has won so many titles because the sum of these ingredients has added up to the most points. 

[Tyler]

I have read that BB going to Iowa is going to start an avalanche of high level recruits coming in (Raney brothers, Jax and Mocco) this class. National titles on their way in two years 

[BarSeries]

14 minutes ago, Tyler said:

I have read that BB going to Iowa is going to start an avalanche of high level recruits coming in (Raney brothers, Jax and Mocco) this class. National titles on their way in two years 

Would love to see it, but I really don't think Jax is going to Iowa. Raney brothers would be a huge get for the Hawkeyes. 

[1032004]

34 minutes ago, Pinnacle said:

There is a lot more to this thing than just simply landing top recruits. If you land the right recruits among the top recruits, that obviously makes a difference. Having them stay healthy makes a difference. And then there is the portal where Penn State has done well but where Iowa has objectively done the best over the past 7 years.

Have they?  They’ve gotten some great wrestlers thru the portal many of which have improved on past performances, but none have won a title (compared to PSU and Michigan that have).  And their team finish the past 6 tournaments has been 5-2-3-1-4-3.  Impressive, but probably below normal Iowa standards.  And the year they won they “only” had 2 transfers in the lineup, one of whom transferred before the portal existed and had been kicked off his previous team

[GimJustafan]

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/other/penn-state-wrestling-head-coach-says-they-won-t-use-nil-money-to-buy-elite-prospects/ar-AA1yuoWb?ocid=msedgntp&pc=U531&cvid=6acaa1668dce48f5c38c98da59bd2247&ei=11

[Pinnacle]

24 minutes ago, 1032004 said:

Have they?  They’ve gotten some great wrestlers thru the portal many of which have improved on past performances, but none have won a title (compared to PSU and Michigan that have).  And their team finish the past 6 tournaments has been 5-2-3-1-4-3.  Impressive, but probably below normal Iowa standards.  And the year they won they “only” had 2 transfers in the lineup, one of whom transferred before the portal existed and had been kicked off his previous team

I am rebutting the idea that has prevailed in the past and which I see emerging again that it is all about simply landing the best prospects. That Penn State won, of course, simply because they had the best recruits. Iowa has also landed many, many elite recruits. 

If this idea were true then simply landing the best transfers would also be enough. After that, easy peasy lemon squeezie as my kids would say.

Just off the top of my head, and I am no expert on their line up over the years but I think they landed transfers from Austin DeSanto, Pat Lugo, Gavin Teesdale, Real Woods, Jaydin Eierman, Brody Teske, Steven Buchanon, Mikey Caliendo, Kyle Parco, and Jacori Teemer. All elite transfers, many of whom were expected or at least predicted by Iowa fans to produce very high finishes and even titles. 

PSU seems to win by the sum of all that is required to produce great wrestling. Just as if you remove one small part from a machine it may seize up, it seems to me the same can happen in any great athletic program. Landing recruits is very important, but its just a start. 

[1032004]

30 minutes ago, Pinnacle said:

I am rebutting the idea that has prevailed in the past and which I see emerging again that it is all about simply landing the best prospects. That Penn State won, of course, simply because they had the best recruits. Iowa has also landed many, many elite recruits. 

If this idea were true then simply landing the best transfers would also be enough. After that, easy peasy lemon squeezie as my kids would say.

Just off the top of my head, and I am no expert on their line up over the years but I think they landed transfers from Austin DeSanto, Pat Lugo, Gavin Teesdale, Real Woods, Jaydin Eierman, Brody Teske, Steven Buchanon, Mikey Caliendo, Kyle Parco, and Jacori Teemer. All elite transfers, many of whom were expected or at least predicted by Iowa fans to produce very high finishes and even titles. 

PSU seems to win by the sum of all that is required to produce great wrestling. Just as if you remove one small part from a machine it may seize up, it seems to me the same can happen in any great athletic program. Landing recruits is very important, but its just a start. 

Lol at including Teasdale.  Even Teske only scored a few total points in his 2 trips to the NCAA tournament for Iowa.

DeSanto was who I was referencing as being kicked off his prior team and before the portal existed.

Lugo was also before the portal existed, and along with DeSanto were the only 2 transfers in the starting lineup in 2020 when they likely would have won the title.

Woods and Eierman did well (well Eierman really only his first year at Iowa), but they did not accomplish their goal of winning an individual NCAA title. Even Woods did better in his first year too.

TBD of course on Buchanan, Teemer and Parco.  Caliendo may end up being their best transfer factoring in years on the team and NCAA placements.

 

[fishbane]

15 hours ago, PortaJohn said:

2023 Recruiting Class Rankings - #1 Oklahoma State - PSU #5

2022 Recruiting Class Rankings - #1 Ohio State - (PSU one recruit Levi Haines) ***People claimed tOSU had the greatest recruiting class ever this year

It's crazy how even when PSU doesn't have the best class they still get the best results. As you point out 2021-2025 they had the number 1 ranked class 3x and they might have the best recruits from the other two years too.

Ohio State's amazing 2022 class has so far produced 1 national title and 3 AA finishes ( 1st and 6th by Mendez and 5th by Feldman).  The entirety of this recruiting class (8 wrestlers, 4 top 25, 3 top 5) have scored 51.5 team points at NCAAs.  PSU's class of Levi Haines 1 national title, 2 AA finishes (2nd-1st), and scored 44 team points at NCAAs.  Getting that out of 1 wrestler vs 3 to 8 and not using a redshirt year is big less resources being used for nearly the same results.

OSU's top class in 2023 is kind of a bust so far with none of them currently starting.  That will probably change as most are still there with 3 years of eligibility left, but they are unlikely to match PSU's output.  Looking at the top teams, which is likely to score more points from their 2023 recruits this year at NCAAs?

OSU #4 Brayden Thompson, #8 Christian Carroll, #9 Cael Hughes
Michigan #14 Beau Mantanona, #16 Sergio Lemley, #23 Dylan Gilcher
Iowa #2 Ben Kueter, #5 Gabe Arnold, #22 Ryder Block
Cornell #1 Meyer Shapiro, #27 Simon Ruiz, #54 Marcello Milani, #63 Michael Dellagatta    
PSU #7 Josh Barr, #10 Tyler Kasak, #42 Braeden Davis

[PortaJohn]

23 minutes ago, fishbane said:

It's crazy how even when PSU doesn't have the best class they still get the best results. As you point out 2021-2025 they had the number 1 ranked class 3x and they might have the best recruits from the other two years too.

Ohio State's amazing 2022 class has so far produced 1 national title and 3 AA finishes ( 1st and 6th by Mendez and 5th by Feldman).  The entirety of this recruiting class (8 wrestlers, 4 top 25, 3 top 5) have scored 51.5 team points at NCAAs.  PSU's class of Levi Haines 1 national title, 2 AA finishes (2nd-1st), and scored 44 team points at NCAAs.  Getting that out of 1 wrestler vs 3 to 8 and not using a redshirt year is big less resources being used for nearly the same results.

OSU's top class in 2023 is kind of a bust so far with none of them currently starting.  That will probably change as most are still there with 3 years of eligibility left, but they are unlikely to match PSU's output.  Looking at the top teams, which is likely to score more points from their 2023 recruits this year at NCAAs?

OSU #4 Brayden Thompson, #8 Christian Carroll, #9 Cael Hughes
Michigan #14 Beau Mantanona, #16 Sergio Lemley, #23 Dylan Gilcher
Iowa #2 Ben Kueter, #5 Gabe Arnold, #22 Ryder Block
Cornell #1 Meyer Shapiro, #27 Simon Ruiz, #54 Marcello Milani, #63 Michael Dellagatta    
PSU #7 Josh Barr, #10 Tyler Kasak, #42 Braeden Davis

I'll never argue that Penn State isn't getting the cream of the crop.  I just push back on the narrative they get all of them.  Their success is a combo of talent of course and more importantly development.  I always like to reference that Ohio State class because it was talked about ad nauseam how it was the greatest ever.

Edited 49 minutes ago by PortaJohn