Who's in the hunt for college basketball's top remaining prospects?

College basketball recruiting is finally back in its usual rhythm. Coaches were on the road for most of July, hitting big shoe company-sponsored tournaments and watching recruits in the next few classes. Prospects took multiple visits in June, which has lessened the need for busy official visit weekends in the fall, but programs are still playing host to recruits every weekend. Two of the biggest names who were once members of the 2022 class -- Emoni Bates and Jalen Duren -- have reclassified and will play for Penny Hardaway and the suddenly loaded Memphis Tigers in 2021, but the focus on the trail has officially switched to the 2022 cycle.

And beginning today, Sept. 9, coaches can once again hit the road and watch players at their high schools and conduct in-home visits -- for the first time in 18 months.

So it's business as usual on the recruiting front. After No. 1 overall prospect Shaedon Sharpe committed to Kentucky on Tuesday night, four of the top five prospects in 2022 are already off the board, yet a dozen of the top 20 prospects remain uncommitted. No. 2-ranked prospect Dereck Lively is now the uncommitted headliner in the class, but who are the other priority names to know in 2022 -- and which programs are chasing them?

2. Dereck Lively, 7-foot-1, 215 lbs., C, Westtown School (Pennsylvania)

In the mix: Duke, Florida State, Kentucky, Michigan, North Carolina, Penn State, USC

Lively doesn't seem as eager to end his recruitment as the other top-five prospects. He took visits to Duke, North Carolina, Kentucky and Penn State in June, while also trimming his list to the above seven schools. This could shape up as a Duke vs. Kentucky battle, and could ultimately determine which school has the No. 1 recruiting class in the country. Penn State, where Lively's mother works, remains a factor, while Michigan is also still heavily in the mix.

6. Nick Smith, 6-4, 170 lbs., SG, North Little Rock High School (Arkansas)

In the mix: Alabama, Auburn, Arkansas, Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Memphis, Kansas, Oklahoma

Smith took official visits in June to Kansas, Alabama and Auburn, went on a trip to Arkansas-Pine Bluff in August and has official visits scheduled to Arkansas and Oklahoma over the next two weekends. One of the breakout stars of the summer, Smith was also being recruited by Kentucky -- but his scheduled visit to Lexington last weekend was canceled and the two sides have gone their separate ways. (More on that later.) We should know more following the upcoming visits.

7. Jordan Walsh, 6-7, 195 lbs., SF, Link Year Prep (Missouri)

In the mix: Arizona State, Texas, Kansas, Arkansas, Oregon, TCU, Oklahoma

Walsh's recruitment has intensified, with Kansas and Texas making strong inroads over the last several weeks. He's expected to take visits to both Big 12 schools in the coming weeks, while Arizona State is scheduled to host him this weekend. Oregon is also pushing for a visit. Prior to July, Walsh had been to Arkansas, Oklahoma and TCU. The Razorbacks were considered the leader coming out of July, but Kansas and Texas have closed the gap. Walsh and his family will meet with Chris Beard on Thursday and Bill Self on Monday.

8. Jaden Bradley, 6-2, 190 lbs., PG, IMG Academy (Florida)

In the mix: Alabama, Arizona, Florida State, Gonzaga, Kentucky

Bradley was busy back in June, taking trips to Alabama, Arizona, Michigan and North Carolina. The Wolverines and Tar Heels have since been cut from his list, with the Crimson Tide, Wildcats, Florida State, Gonzaga and Kentucky remaining. Alabama was rumored to be pushing hard toward the end of July. With Kentucky already having two five-star guards -- and prioritizing Cason Wallace -- it's unlikely he ends up in Lexington. Bradley was on Florida State's campus last weekend and is set to go to Gonzaga this weekend.

9. Cason Wallace, 6-3, 180 lbs., PG, Richardson High School (Texas)

In the mix: Kentucky, Texas, Tennessee

Wallace's recruitment will end before the college season begins, with an announcement set for Nov. 7. The perceived leader in his recruitment has changed over the past couple months, with Texas, Tennessee and Kentucky all looking like they were in the driver's seat at one point or another. The Longhorns, who hosted Wallace last weekend, are looking to pair him with fellow in-state guard Arterio Morris, while Tennessee, which will welcome him on campus next weekend, has the benefit of a strong relationship with Wallace and assistant coach Rod Clark. But it's Kentucky that looks like the favorite heading down the stretch. The Wildcats have made Wallace their priority on the perimeter, and Nick Smith's canceled visit to Lexington last weekend cemented Kentucky's status as the frontrunner.

11. Vincent Iwuchukwu, 7-0, 215 lbs., C, Montverde Academy (Florida)

In the mix: Baylor, Kansas, UCLA, USC, Texas

Baylor has long been viewed as the favorite for Iwuchukwu. He took an official visit to Waco back in June, and the Bears have built a strong relationship. He also took a trip to Kansas in June, and included UCLA, USC and Texas on his final list of five. Iwuchukwu currently doesn't have any visits set up.

12. Chris Livingston, 6-6, 190 lbs., SF, Oak Hill Academy (Virginia)

In the mix: Kentucky, Tennessee State, Memphis, Georgetown

Livingston is expected to announce his decision on Oct. 15, and only four schools remain in contention. He's taken visits to Kentucky, Tennessee State and Georgetown, while he's expected to take a trip to Memphis next weekend. Memphis had most of the buzz coming out of July, and there were even some rumors of a possible Livingston reclassification. But right now, Kentucky is garnering most of the buzz. The Wildcats could host him for another visit before he makes his decision, but regardless, John Calipari's program is in pole position.

13. Brandon Miller, 6-7, 190 lbs., SF, Cane Ridge High School (Tennessee)

In the mix: Alabama, Tennessee State, G League, NBL

Only two colleges remain for Miller, one of the more intriguing talents in the 2022 class. Going the pro route is also very much on the table. He took official visits to Alabama and Tennessee State in June, but cut the other schools (Auburn, Tennessee, Kentucky) he visited before July. If he does go to college, Alabama would likely be considered the favorite -- although Tennessee State is a legitimate option. Miller has a strong relationship with Tigers head coach Penny Collins. Big-money offers from professional leagues could be hard to turn down, too.

14. Julian Phillips, 6-7, 210 lbs., SF, Link Year Prep (Missouri)

In the mix: Alabama, Kansas, LSU, Florida State, Tennessee, UCLA, Clemson, Florida, Virginia, USC

Phillips' recruitment has been fairly quiet since he cut his list to 10 shortly after the July live period. He took multiple visits in June, and Florida State appeared to have momentum coming out of June. Now, it's harder to get a clear read. Clemson and LSU also hosted him on a visit, and USC has received some buzz. The Trojans will host him for a visit this weekend. Phillips was one of the bigger stock-risers of the summer, and he also recently transferred high schools, leaving South Carolina to go to Link Year Prep in Missouri.

17. Adem Bona, 6-9, 225 lbs., C, Prolific Prep (California)

In the mix: Arizona State, Baylor, Kansas, Kentucky, NBL, Miami, UCLA, USC

Bona will be one of the busier five-star prospects over the next few months, with five visits on his calendar. He was originally expected to visit USC this weekend on an unofficial visit, but that trip is being rescheduled. He has official visits to Kansas (9/17), Baylor (9/24), Kentucky (10/1) and UCLA (10/22) on the docket for the next couple months. Kentucky has long been perceived as the favorite for Bona, but the Wildcats' priority at the center spot is Dereck Lively. Bona could end up making a decision before Lively, however.

18. Dillon Mitchell, 6-7, 195 lbs., SF, Montverde Academy (Florida)

In the mix: Auburn, Ohio State, Florida State, Tennessee, Overtime Elite

There was strong buzz coming out of July that a commitment could be coming soon from Mitchell. That hasn't transpired -- yet. Mitchell took visits to Auburn, Tennessee, Ohio State and Florida State before the July live period, and then went back to Tallahassee this past weekend for an unofficial visit. Coaches involved in his recruitment don't think there's a clear favorite, although a second trip to Florida State can't hurt the Seminoles. Going the professional route is also in play.

19. Jarace Walker, 6-7, 220 lbs., PF, IMG Academy (Florida)

In the mix: Alabama, Texas, Auburn, Houston, Maryland, LSU, G League

Walker recently cut his list to seven options: Alabama, Texas, Auburn, Houston, Maryland, LSU, as well as the G League. He has been on trips to three of those schools -- Auburn, Houston and Alabama -- and it's worth noting he was arguably the biggest priority for Nate Oats and the Crimson Tide in July, with Oats consistently front and center at his games. That said, Houston and Auburn are the two schools garnering the most buzz from industry sources, with the Cougars the perceived favorite entering his fall visits.

Race for the No. 1 class

Each year from 2014 to 2018 and again in 2020, Kentucky and Duke, in either order, had the No. 1 and No. 2 recruiting classes. Memphis' loaded classes in 2019 and 2021, as well as Michigan and Gonzaga in 2021, have slowed some of the Wildcats' and Blue Devils' momentum on the recruiting trail.

But it seems like order will be restored in the 2022 cycle.

Of the seven five-star prospects already committed in 2022, Duke has two and Kentucky has two. The Blue Devils have the No. 1-ranked class and the Wildcats No. 3. Kansas, with two top-25 pledges and a third in the ESPN 100, sit at No. 2.

But Duke and Kentucky seem poised to battle for the top spot, with Calipari's program likely having a leg up moving forward.

The two five-star prospects seemingly closest to a decision, point guard Cason Wallace and forward Chris Livingston, have been garnering more and more Kentucky buzz in recent weeks. Five-star center Adem Bona is also viewed as a Kentucky lean ... unless the Wildcats land No. 2 prospect Dereck Lively. Keep in mind Kentucky already has overall No. 1 prospect Shaedon Sharpe and five-star guard Skyy Clark.

Duke has two top-10 commitments already in the fold in Dariq Whitehead (No. 5) and Kyle Filipowski (No. 10), as well as top-50 guard Jaden Schutt. The Blue Devils are also viewed by some as the leader for Lively. A pledge from Lively would likely give Duke a lead it couldn't lose. Top-30 prospects J.J. Starling and Mark Mitchell are also on new head coach Jon Scheyer's 2022 recruiting board.

Other schools could find themselves in the hunt for a top-tier recruiting class -- especially if Baylor, Texas or UCLA add another five-star prospect -- but this one is shaping up to be Duke vs. Kentucky at the top of the rankings.