Top 25 college basketball recruiting classes

College basketball's spring signing period comes to a close Wednesday, closing the book on the Class of 2012 recruiting cycle – sort of.

There will still be unsigned stars and unresolved issues heading into the summer. Five-star prospect Devonta Pollard is still on the board and not offering a whole lot of clues about his destination or timeline.

Chris Obekpa, a 6-foot-8 shot blocker from Our Savior New American (Centereach, N.Y.), is also on the market, but signs point to him making a decision in the coming days.

Other prospects are still shuffling around – or attempting to – in the wake of the coaching carousel. Montrezl Harrell, a 6-7 forward who played last season at Hargrave Military Academy (Chatham, Va.), is the most notable example. Harrell signed with Virginia Tech but is attempting to move on after the firing of Seth Greenberg. The Hokies have not granted the North Carolina native his release.



What is certain at this point is Kentucky's recruiting dominance. The Wildcats will finish No. 1 in our final recruiting rankings for the fourth year in a row and John Calipari has signed the nation's top prospect in Nerlens Noel for the second year in a row.

Five star talents Archie Goodwin and Alex Poythress along with athletic 7-footer Willie Cauley join Noel in Big Blue's latest haul.

TOP 25 COLLEGE BASKETBALL RECRUITING CLASSES

1. Kentucky
Signees/Commitments: No. 1 Nerlens Noel (6-10, 215, C), No. 7 Archie Goodwin (6-5, 185, SG), No. 12 Alex Poythress (6-7, 220, PF/SF), No. 34 Willie Cauley (6-11, 225, C)
What to expect: Another special recruiting class for Calipari and Kentucky, but special enough to help challenge for a national title? Transfer guards Ryan Harrow and Julius Mayes along with holdover Kyle Wiltjer will ensure the Wildcats pile up a lot of wins but not sure it's enough to finish on top again.

2. UCLA
Signees/Commitments: No. 2 Shabazz Muhammad (6-6, 215, SG), No. 3 Kyle Anderson (6-7, 215, PG/SF), No. 21 Tony Parker (6-9, 265, C), No. 57 Jordan Adams (6-5, 230, SF)
What to expect: The Bruins get the nod over Arizona in terms of 2012-13 impact, but the Wildcats' class may have more long-term value. Muhammad will be the favorite to win Pac-12 Conference Player of the Year honors and give the Bruins a badly-needed shot in the arm as they move in to a renovated Pauley Pavilion.

3. Arizona
Signees/Commitments: No. 10 Kaleb Tarczewski (7-0, 235, C), No. 14 Grant Jerrett (6-10, 220, PF), No. 17 Brandon Ashley (6-8, 220, PF), No. 27 Gabe York (6-2, 180, PG/SG), JC Matt Korcheck (6-9, 240, PF)
What to expect: Along with Xavier transfer Mark Lyons, this quintet will give Arizona a completely new look next season. It will be fascinating to see if Tarczewski, Jerrett and Ashley can be effective on the floor together.

4. North Carolina
Signees/Commitments: No. 32 Marcus Paige (6-1, 160, PG), No. 35 Brice Johnson (6-8, 190, PF), No. 53 Joel James (6-10, 280, C), No. 58 Jean-Pierre Tokoto (6-6, 190, SF)
What to expect: Despite massive departures, Roy Williams should have the luxury of bringing this group along slowly.



5. Baylor
Signees/Commitments: No. 5 Isaiah Austin (7-0, 210, C/PF), No. 42 Ricardo Gathers (6-7, 240, PF), No. 70 L.J. Rose (6-3, 180, PG), Chad Rykhoek (6-10, 215, C)
What to expect: Austin is a tantalizing prospect, but don't be surprised if Gathers uses his bullish physique and hustle to be the more consistent contributor next season.

{PAGEBREAK} 6. Kansas
Signees/Commitments: No. 36 Perry Ellis (6-8, 225, PF), No. 47 Andrew White (6-6, 210, SG/SF), No. 85 Landen Lucas (6-10, 245, C), No. 93 Zach Peters (6-9, 235, PF/C), No. 96 Rio Adams (6-3, 185, SG)
What to expect: There isn't anything close to a one-and-done candidate in this group, and that's a good thing for the Jayhawks. Adams is a physically mature guard who put a bizarre transfer saga behind him with a state player of the year season as a senior at Rainier Beach. Chicago guard Milton Doyle is also still in play for Bill Self and Kansas.

7. North Carolina State
Signees/Commitments: No. 23 Rodney Purvis (6-3, 185, PG), No. 29 T.J. Warren (6-8, 215, PF/SF), No. 67 Tyler Lewis (5-11, 165, PG)
What to expect: Mark Gottfried was looking to add to this haul with Amile Jefferson (who announced he was headed to Duke on Tuesday), but three Top 100 signees has helped the buzz around Wolfpack basketball return.

8. Indiana
Signees/Commitments: No. 33 Kevin "Yogi" Ferrell (5-11, 165, PG), No. 48 Jeremy Hollowell (6-7, 195, SF), No. 52 Hanner Perea (6-8, 220, PF), Peter Jurkin (7-0, 225, C), Ron Patterson (6-3, 190, SG)
What to expect: Ferrell will compete for a starting spot immediately for the Hoosiers, who are being touted as a potential preseason No. 1. Outside of Hollowell, don't expect to hear much from the rest of the group for a couple of years.

9. Michigan State
Signees/Commitments: No. 13 Gary Harris (6-5, 195, SG), No. 60 Matt Costello (6-9, 225, PF), No. 79 Denzel Valentine (6-5, 205, SG), No. 82 Kenny Kaminski (6-7, 230, SF/PF)
What to expect: Harris and Valentine together in the backcourt could be a thing of beauty for the Spartans. Both are big, strong, smart and unselfish guards who will help Tom Izzo win a lot of games.

10. Michigan
Signees/Commitments: No. 15 Mitch McGary (6-10, 250, C), No. 39 Glenn Robinson III (6-6, 190, SG/SF), No. 99 Nik Stauskas (6-6, 200, SG/SF), Spike Albrecht (6-1, 180, PG), Caris Levert (6-4, 175, SG)
What to expect: There will be massive expectations in Ann Arbor next season. In order for the Wolverines to deliver, McGary and Robinson will be need to live up to the hype right away.



{PAGEBREAK} 11. Texas
Signees/Commitments: No. 9 Cameron Ridley (6-10, 250, C), No. 84 Prince Ibeh (6-11, 230, C), No. 88 Javan Felix (5-11, 190, PG), DeMarcus Holland (6-4, 185, SG), Connor Lammert (6-9, 210, PF/C), Ioannis Papapetrou (6-7, 190, SF/PF)
What to expect: Rick Barnes is bringing some serious size and length to Austin along with a heady floor general in Felix.

12. Nevada-Las Vegas
Signees/Commitments: No. 11 Anthony Bennett (6-7, 235, PF), No. 31 Katin Reinhardt (6-4, 195, SG), DaQuan Cook (6-1, 160, PG), Demetris Morant (6-9, 205, PF/C)
What to expect: Dave Rice is flat out getting it done in his first 12 months at UNLV. Bennett will join Mike Moser and transfer Khem Birch to give the Rebels a dynamic frontcourt. Reinhardt's swagger and ability to spread defenses will make teammates better.

13. Providence
Signees/Commitments: No. 18 Ricardo Ledo (6-6, 190, SG), No. 28 Kris Dunn (6-2, 175, PG), Ian Baker (6-1, 185, PG), Joshua Fortune (6-5, 180, SF)
What to expect: If Ledo is locked in, he has a chance to be a program-changer for Ed Cooley and the Friars.

14. Duke
Signees/Commitment: No. 16 Amile Jefferson (6-7, 195, PF/SF), No. 20 Rasheed Sulaimon (6-3, 185, SG)
What to expect: Jefferson fits the mold of recent Blue Devil fours. Sulaimon will likely have the bigger impact early on as Duke needs him to add some firepower from the perimeter.

15. Texas A&M
Signees/Commitments: No. 51 J-Mychal Reese (6-1, 170, PG), No. 69 Alex Caruso (6-4, 180, SG), Shawn Smith (6-3, 180, SG), JC Fabyon Harris (5-10, 165, PG), JC Andrew Young (6-9, 235, PF/C)
What to expect: Harris and Young were two of the better junior college players in the western United States last season. Reese was considered a huge get for Billy Kennedy but suffered an injury that forced him out of action as a senior.

{PAGEBREAK} 16. Colorado
Signees/Commitments: No. 41 Josh Scott (6-10, 220, C/PF), No. 43 Xavier Johnson (6-7, 210, SF), Wesley Gordon (6-7, 200, PF), Chris Jenkins (6-7, 190, SF), Eli Stalzer (6-3, 200, PG), Xavier Talton (6-0, 170, PG)
What to expect: Tad Boyle is laying the groundwork to make the Buffaloes a perennial contender in the Pac-12. Boyle capitalized on a great year for talent in his home state and will leave fans of programs like UCLA and USC wondering how Johnson escaped SoCal a couple of years down the line.

17. Maryland
Signees/Commitments: No. 22 Shaquille Cleare (6-9, 280, C), No. 61 Jake Layman (6-8, 190, PF/SF), Seth Allen (6-2, 190, SG), Sam Cassell Jr. (6-3, 170, PG), Damonte Dodd (6-9, 230, C), Charles Mitchell (6-6, 250, PF)
What to expect: Terrapin head coach Mark Turgeon made a big splash early by landing Cleare and Layman, then went quiet late with sleepers like Dodd and Mitchell.



18. Syracuse
Signees/Commitments: No. 8 DaJuan Coleman (6-9, 285, C), No. 38 Jerami Grant (6-8, 210, SF)
What to expect: If Coleman can round into shape by next season, the Orange won't miss Fab Melo much. He has a chance to be a dominating big man at the college level, but has looked a bit bored with the game for the past couple of years.

19. Pittsburgh
Signees/Commitments: No. 4 Steven Adams (6-11, 240, C), No. 56 James Robinson (6-2, 200, PG), Chris Jones (6-4, 190, SG)
What to expect: Adams is fairly new to high-level basketball and despite his standing as an elite prospect, he can't be counted on to take the Panthers to the next level in 2012-13.

20. Wake Forest
Signees/Commitments: No. 65 Arnaud Adala Moto (6-6, 210, SF), No. 100 Codi Miller-McIntyre (6-2, 170, PG), Tyler Cavanaugh (6-8, 225, PF), Madison Jones (6-1, 160, PG), Aaron Rountree (6-8, 190, PF/SF), Devin Thomas (6-9, 230, PF), Andre Washington (6-11, 200, C)
What to expect: The Demon Deacons are coming off a couple of rough seasons, but if Jeff Bzdelik can develop this group and keep them on campus, the once-proud program will be on solid footing soon enough.

{PAGEBREAK} 21. Houston
Signees/Commitments: No. 37 Danuel House (6-6, 190, SF), No. 62 Danrad Knowles (6-10, 190, PF), Valentine Izundu (6-10, 190, C), JC Brandon Morris (6-0, 185, PG/SG), JC Tione Womack (6-0, 165, PG)
What to expect: The Houston area might be the deepest talent pool in the country right now. This class represents a significant step forward for the Cougars in terms of landing some of the top talent from their own backyard.

22. Virginia
Signees/Commitments: No. 46 Justin Anderson (6-6, 225, SF), No. 55 Evan Nolte (6-7, 200, SF), Taylor Barnette (6-3, 175, SG), Mike Tobey (6-10, 210, C)
What to expect: Quietly, Tony Bennett continues to assemble Top 25 recruiting classes. Virginia's 2012 NCAA Tournament appearance was a disappointment, but talents like Anderson and Nolte should help push the Cavs further in coming years.

23. Georgia Tech
Signees/Commitments: No. 25 Robert Carter (6-8, 245, PF), No. 80 Marcus Hunt (6-6, 215, SF), Chris Bolden (6-2, 185, SG), Corey Heyward (6-0, 205, PG)
What to expect: Brian Gregory clearly realizes what a gold mine Georgia is in terms of high school basketball talent. All four signees in his first full recruiting effort are Peach State products.



24. Memphis
Signees/Commitments: No. 24 Shaq Goodwin (6-8, 240, PF), Damien Wilson (6-6, 190, SF), JC Geron Johnson (6-3, 190, SG)
What to expect: The Tigers are included based on Johnson, a pro talent who hasn't been able to stay out of trouble going back to his junior year in high school.

25. Florida
Signees/Commitments: No. 45 Braxton Ogbueze (6-1, 185, PG), No. 76 Michael Frazier (6-3, 190, SG), Dillon Graham (6-4, 175, SG), DeVon Walker (6-6, 190, PG/SG)
What to expect: Even with the departures of Bradley Beal and Erving Walker, there probably won't be a ton of minutes to go around for this group right away.

Just missed the cut: California, Connecticut, Florida State, Fresno State, Georgetown, Iowa, Iowa State, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Oregon, Purdue, Villanova, San Diego State, Stanford, Texas Tech, Wisconsin, Xavier