Recruiting Picks: 2015 point guard Isaiah Briscoe

Class of 2015 point guard Isaiah Briscoe -- the top point guard in his class -- and a native of Newark, New Jersey is set to announce his commitment on Thursday as part of a one-hour ESPNU special. The schools in the mix for the highly touted floor general are the St. John's Red Storm of the Big East Conference, and the blue blooded Kentucky Wildcats of the Southeastern Conference. Kentucky has never shied away from nabbing in big-time recruits, but it appears that the tide may be shifting towards Queens, New York, as St. John's is reportedly leading the race to bring Briscoe into the program. Here now are managing editor Christopher Novak, Butler and DePaul writer Robert O'Neill, and recruiting analysts Harrison Malkin and Devonte Brooks to make their picks on where Briscoe will be going.

Christopher Novak - It's certainly true that the Kentucky Wildcats have a better program right now than the St. John's Red Storm, and that they have a much better coach and recruiter in the great John Calipari. HOWEVER, The Crystal Ball Don't Lie^TM, so I think that the Newark, New Jersey native is headed to St. John's. I get the sense that the Johnnies look more attractive in his eyes, thanks in part to an obvious amount of playing time he will get compared to fighting amongst a bevy of McDonald's All-Americans in Lexington. The Red Storm -- and the Big East Conference -- certainly will reap the rewards of Briscoe staying in the NJ-NY metropolitan area.

Robert O'Neill - I have to go with St. John's. I've heard UConn is out of the running entirely, and I get the feeling Briscoe wants to stay close to home, not to mention the discrepancy of playing time he could get right away at St. John's over Kentucky. It would certainly be huge for the Red Storm, and the conference in general. Briscoe would mean the Big East has three of 247Sports' Top 20 in the Class of 2015 (Marquette's Henry Ellenson and Villanova's Jalen Brunson being the other two), which would be the best out of any conference.

Harrison Malkin - Isaiah Briscoe, a five-star prospect, will make his college decision on Thursday. The guard's top schools are UConn, Kentucky and St. John's. UConn seems to be out of the mix though, despite being in his top three schools. While 247Sports' Crystal Ball gives St. John's the greatest chance at landing Briscoe, I still believe as I have for the whole sweepstakes that he will choose to attend Kentucky. Isaiah Briscoe has spoken highly of Kentucky through the recruiting process, and enjoyed his official visit to the school very much.

Devonte Brooks - UConn is out of the running, so it is between staying home or going to Kentucky. Briscoe has an immense amount of pressure to stay home, but he will set up for what could be a great recruiting class. Briscoe went up to St John's to watch their exhibition and called it "great." This visit was not reported, so that he would go watch them play. Steve Lavin has been recruiting Briscoe for two years and Kentucky has not been recruiting him for that long. This is just like the Perry Dozier situation because he has pressure to stay home and follow his dad legacy. I am taking the Red Storm here to haul in Mr. Briscoe.