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Saturday, June 7, 2008

Top 15 Recruiting Classes

As taken from Rivals.com


1. UCLA Bruins


Jrue Holiday: No. 2 overall, No. 1 PG

J'Mison Morgan: No. 25 overall, No. 4 C

Jerime Anderson: No. 37 overall, No. 7 PG

Drew Gordon: No. 46 overall, No. 16 PF

Malcolm Lee: No. 48 overall, No. 5 SG


Class details


UCLA's backcourt is in good hands for the foreseeable future. Led by elite prospect Jrue Holiday, the Bruins' recruiting class also includes four-star guards Jerime Anderson and Malcolm Lee. All three of these guards hail from the Los Angeles area, and the Bruins also snagged energetic big man Drew Gordon out of Northern California. J'Mison Morgan's late switch from LSU boosted the Bruins into the No. 1 spot.

Previous rank: 2




2. Kansas Jayhawks


Marcus Morris: No. 29 overall, No. 10 PF

Markieff Morris: No. 50 overall, No. 18 PF


Travis Releford: No. 70 overall, No. 16 SG

Tyshawn Taylor: No. 77 overall, No. 11 PG

Tyrone Appleton: PG



Mario Little: SF

Quintrell Thomas: No. 150 overall, No. 38 PF


After winning the National Championship, the Jayhawks expected some roster changes. Leading the way are four-star twins Marcus and Markieff Morris. Bill Self and staff landed two of the top junior college prospects in the country in Tyrone Appleton and Mario Little. KU also scored late with former Marquette signee Tyshawn Taylor.
Previous rank: 8





3. Wake Forest Demon Deacons


Al-Farouq Aminu: No. 7 overall, No. 1 SF

Ty Walker: No. 17 overall, No. 2 C

Tony Woods: No. 20 overall, No. 3 C


Quality big men are hard to come by, but Wake Forest managed to land three five-star big men in its 2008 recruiting class. Al-Farouq Aminu has the versatility to do damage inside and outside. He has the polish to his game to make an instant impact. Tony Woods and Ty Walker still need some seasoning, but have very high ceilings.

Previous rank: 1





4. Louisville Cardinals


Samardo Samuels: No. 9 overall, No. 2 PF

Terrence Jennings: No. 18 overall, No. 5 PF

Jared Swopshire: No. 131 overall, No. 20 SF

Kyle Kuric: SG


Coach Rick Pitino has a post player in Samardo Samuels who has the physicality and skill level to anchor a team in the low post from Day One. His five-star counterpart, Terrence Jennings, has unique athleticism for a big man. Jared Swopshire is a versatile wing who should fit in well into Louisville's system. After originally thought to be a preferred walk-on, Kyle Kuric will have a scholarship to play for the Cardinals.

Previous rank: 4






5. Memphis Tigers



Tyreke Evans: No. 6 overall, No. 3 PG

Wesley Witherspoon: No. 34 overall, No. 5 SF

Angel Garcia: No. 47 overall, No. 17 PF

Matt Simpkins: No. 80 overall


The Tigers landed the jewel of its recruiting class with the spring signing of elite five-star prospect Tyreke Evans. The rangy combo guard is expected to step in for the departed Derrick Rose and run the show in Memphis. Joining Evans are athletic four-star forwards Wesley Witherspoon, Angel Garcia and Matt Simpkins.

Previous rank: NR





6. Ohio State Buckeyes


B.J. Mullens: No. 1 overall, No. 1 C

William Buford: No. 19 overall, No. 4 SG

Walter Offutt: No. 99 overall, No. 25 SG

Anthony Crater: PG

Nikola Kecman: PF

Jeremie Simmons: PG


Ohio State enjoyed the services of athletic 7-footer Greg Oden for a year, and now they will have the services of another athletic 7-footer. B.J. Mullens is on board for at least the 2008-2009 season. Joining the top-ranked prospect in the 2008 class is five-star shooting guard William Buford. The Buckeyes looked to add help at the point guard spot and with interior depth. The program found the answers in the junior college ranks. Point guard Jeremie Simmons could be a starter next season, while Nikola Kecman should see minutes because of the need at his position.
Previous rank: 6





7. Connecticut Huskies


Ater Majok: No. 13 overall, No. 3 PF

Kemba Walker: No. 14 overall, No. 5 PG

Nate Miles: No. 79 overall, No. 18 SG

Scottie Haralson: SG

Chukwuma Okwandu: C


Jim Calhoun took care of his needs at point guard in the fall with the signing of five-star prospect Kemba Walker. This spring he snagged the big man his program needed with five-star forward Ater Majok. The Huskies also have a shooter on the way in Scottie Haralson and are hoping that four-star Nate Miles can make the cut academically.

Previous rank: NR





8. Florida State Seminoles


Chris Singleton: No. 12 overall, No. 3 SF
Xavier Gibson: No. 56 overall, No. 19 PF
Deividas Dulkys: No. 69 overall, No. 15 SG

Luke Loucks: No. 86 overall, No. 13 PG


Coach Leonard Hamilton can celebrate his new contract extension with an impressive signing class. Top target Chris Singleton selected the Seminoles over the Kentucky Wildcats during the early signing period. Four-star big man Xavier Gibson has battled recent injuries, but he has amazing potential. On the perimeter, four-star prospects Deividas Dulkys and Luke Loucks are highly skilled players. Junior college standout Derwin Kitchen signed a Grant-In-Aid and joins the Seminoles' already strong class. His experience should be put to the test right out of the gate.

Previous rank: 10




9. Florida Gators


Eloy Vargas: No. 26 overall, No. 9 PF

Kenny Kadji: No. 27 overall, No. 5 C

Ray Shipman: No. 91 overall, No. 14 SF

Allan Chaney: No. 96 overall, No. 28 PF

Erving Walker: No. 102 overall, No. 19 PG


Coach Billy Donovan isn't letting up after back-to-back national championships and the No. 1 class of 2007 recruiting haul. The Gators have the No. 9-ranked 2008 recruiting class, largely because of four-star post players Eloy Vargas and Kenny Kadji. Florida's other three recruits are also ranked in the Rivals150.

Previous rank: 5






10. Tennessee Volunteers


Scotty Hopson: No. 5 overall, No. 2 SG

Renaldo Woolridge: No. 53, No. 11 SF

Philip Jurick: No. 68 overall, No. 12 C

Bobby Maze: PG

Daniel West: PG



The SEC school landed a premier prospect in Scotty Hopson, a five-star standout and national top-10 player, in the late signing period. His addition was a major coup for Bruce Pearl's program. Junior college guard Bobby Maze and Michigan native Daniel West will challenge for time at the point guard position. The Vols looked long and hard for a big forward that could stretch the defense but also crash the boards when needed. They found their man in California top-60 prospect Renaldo Woolridge. Coach Bruce Pearl and his staff locked up in-state big man Phillip Jurick early in the spring.

Previous rank: 24





11. North Carolina Tar Heels


Ed Davis: No. 15 overall, No. 4 PF

Tyler Zeller: No. 33 overall, No. 7 C

Larry Drew: No. 71 overall, No. 110 PG

Justin Watts: SG



After securing five-star forward Ed Davis late in the summer, North Carolina went into Big Ten country and landed another five-star big man. Tyler Zeller, whose brother Luke Zeller is on the Notre Dame roster, will help carry on the tradition in Chapel Hill. Davis and Tyler Zeller are skilled, finesse-type players who should thrive in the up-tempo Tar Heel system. Four-star guard Larry Drew and late addition Justin Watts round out the class for coach Roy Williams.

Previous rank: 9





12. Georgetown Hoyas


Greg Monroe: No. 8 overall, No. 1 PF

Henry Sims: No. 49 overall, No. 10 C

Jason Clark: No. 64 overall, No. 12 SG


The Georgetown basketball program continues its rise back to national prominence with a stellar 2008 recruiting class. The crown jewel in the class is five-star big man Greg Monroe, who chose the Hoyas over almost every other program in the country. The Hoyas didn't add anyone in the late period. In fact, the program lost four-star big man Chris Braswell. The 6-foot-8 forward has yet to qualify academically and will spend another year trying to take care of business in the classroom.

Previous rank: 3





13. Alabama Crimson Tide


Jamychal Green: No. 21 overall, No. 6 PF

Tony Mitchell: No. 38 overall, No. 7 SF

Andrew Steele: No. 89 overall, No. 22 SG

Anthony Brock: PG



Coach Mark Gottfried is bringing a strong 2008 recruiting class to Tuscaloosa. Five-star power forward Jamychel Green leads the class, and his blue-collar approach should translate into a number of double-doubles in the SEC. Andrew Steele, the brother of current Tide star Ron Steele, is a physical combo guard. Wing scorer Tony Mitchell has the athleticism to thrive at the next level. The Tide wanted experience at point guard and found that in junior college veteran Anthony Brock.


Previous rank: 11





14. Arizona Wildcats


Brandon Jennings: No. 4 overall, No. 2 PG

Jeff Withey: No. 36 overall, No. 8 C

Brendon Lavender: SG

Kyle Fogg: SG


The drama continues. Emmanuel Negedu, one of the gems of the class, asked for a release from his National Letter of Intent and will not play in Tucson next season. Losing the four-star forward hurts. The Wildcats added Kyle Fogg, a late-rising sleeper, in the final hour. The Wildcats continue tradition of Point Guard U with top-10 prospect Brandon Jennings.

Previous rank: 7






15. Vanderbilt Commodores


Jeff Taylor: No. 52, No. 10 SF

Lance Goulbourne: No. 72 overall, No. 12 SF

Steve Tchiengang: No. 87 overall, No. 27 PF

Brad Tinsley: No. 94 overall, No. 16 PG


Class details


With four four-star recruits in the fold, Kevin Stallings is bringing in one of the top recruiting classes in school history. Brad Tinsley will fill a major void in the backcourt while Jeff Taylor, Lance Goulbourne and Steve Tchiengang will vie for major minutes in the frontcourt.
Previous rank: NR

2008 Commitments

Top Point Guards:
http://basketballrecruiting.rivals.com/viewrank.asp?ra_key=1619

Top Shooting Guards:
http://basketballrecruiting.rivals.com/viewrank.asp?ra_key=1620

Top Small Forwards:
http://basketballrecruiting.rivals.com/viewrank.asp?ra_key=1621

Top Power Forwards:
http://rivalshoops.rivals.com/viewrank.asp?ra_key=1622

Top Centers:
http://basketballrecruiting.rivals.com/viewrank.asp?ra_key=1623