Mark Story: Ahead of Gonzaga and Arizona. How Eastern Kentucky signed a historic basketball recruiting class.

LEXINGTON, Ky. — To put into perspective the excitement over the class of 2022 men’s basketball recruiting class that A.W. Hamilton has signed for Eastern Kentucky, let’s turn to some of the programs that 247Sports ranks below the Colonels.

EKU’s class, rated No. 65 in the country, stands above the recruiting hauls of 20 “big-time” programs. Included are:

— A four-time NCAA champion — Connecticut (No. 73);