Deferred rush recs timeline

[sport]

I'm going to be matriculating at a school that holds formal rush in January when we get back from semester break.

Should I be lining up recs to have them sent now before the college breaks for the summer or wait to ask my contacts until the summer so they can arrive in the fall?

Also, how many recs per house should I get? 1,2,3? I don't want to overdo it but I don't want to fall short.

I'm not even at the school yet so there is no rush counselor to ask.

Thanks in advance!