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Taking a Look at the Early Commits in B1G's 2015 Recruiting Class

With the class of 2014 nearly wrapped up, Big Ten coaches are shifting their attention to reeling in high school juniors. Here's a look at the eight early commits for the B1G's class of 2015.

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Illinois

D.J. Williams- After failing to land Cliff Alexander, D.J. Williams will provide a pick-me-up for the Illini. The four-star small forward is extremely athletic and stronger than he appears. Williams possesses a good mid-range jump shot and likes to attack the basket off the dribble. He was given big shoes to fill this year as he took Jabari Parker's starting role at Simeon High School in Chicago, a team that happens to have won the last four state championships. Williams has been up to the task so far, leading Simeon to a 8-1 record. He is currently ranked 29th in ESPN's top 60 for the class of 2015.

Michigan State

Deyonta Davis- The rankings vary a bit on Davis, who 247 Sports and Yahoo Sports rank as a three-star recruit, while ESPN marks him as a four-star. The 6'9" forward still has some growing to do. He's long and thin, yet with a little added height he could potentially play center or power forward. Davis prefers to face-up defenders and can knock down mid-range jumpers. Ranked 162nd overall by 247 Sports, Davis is also an excellent rebounder and could become a lock-down defender.

Nebraska

Keanu Pinder- The Cornhuskers' first commit in the class of 2015 hails from Australia and plays high school hoops in Wichita, Kansas. Rivals.com ranks Pinder as a three-star, but ESPN and 247 Sports lack a ranking for the 6'8" small forward. Scouts say he's a great shooter and rebounder, but he needs to get much stronger around the rim. Pinder played on Australia's U19 team, and he selected Nebraska over offers from St. Mary's, Auburn, and New Mexico.

Ohio State

Mickey Mitchell- Ohio State continued where they left out with their strong 2014 class by signing Mickey Mitchell. 247 Sports gives hime five stars and ranks him 19th overall in class of 2015. Mitchell is always around the rim, whether it be on offense or defense. The 6'7" lefty is a great ball handler and has excellent court vision. Mitchell, the 5th best small forward in the class, is also a solid spot-up shooter.

A.J. Harris- Ranked 81st in the nation by 247 Sports, Harris proves height isn't everything in basketball. The 5'9" point guard has a very quick first step and blows by defenders on the drive to the hoop. When he's not finishing at the rim, Harris drops a nice floater over much taller defenders. The Dayton, Ohio native will certainly push the tempo for the Buckeyes and get everyone involved with his polished passing skills.

Penn State

Mike Watkins- The 6'8" Watkins was very quick to choose Penn State, committing this past June. Watkins already has a big frame, but he still has room to add muscle. His strength allows him to finish through contact and work in the post. The three-star recruit could play either power forward or center with some added height. Watkins is ranked 131st in the nation by 247 Sports.

Rutgers

Leroy Butts- A skilled scorer and strong rebounder, Butts will bring a lot to the Rutgers frontcourt. The three-star small forward can hit the mid-range jumper and finish at the rim. Butts runs the floor well and can take advantage of coach Eddie Jordan's up-tempo system. Butts is ranked 123rd overall by 247 Sports. He chose Rutgers over offers from Cincinnati, DePaul, Penn State, and Georgetown.

Austin Burnette- Rutgers is adding another versatile wing in Austin Burnette. The 6'6" small forward is only a one-star recruit, but he fits the Scarlet Knights' mold. Eddie Jordan says he's simply recruiting by the eye test, and he likes what he sees in the youngster. Burnette has plenty of athleticism, but he's rough around the edges and lacks solid fundamentals. Jordan will try to develop him into a Big Ten starter.