How nation's top recruiting classes will impact 2012 March Madness

It didn't take long for the NCAA Tournament to captivate the country with Thursday's series of thrilling finishes and buzzer-beaters. But MaxPreps is already looking ahead with a breakdown of how the nation's top 10 recruiting classes will impact the Madness in 2012.

The countdown begins with No. 10 Illinois, who meets Nevada-Las Vegas in second-round action Friday.

10. Illinois
Signees/Commitments: Tracy Abrams, Nnanna Egwu, Mycheal Henry, Devin Langford, Michael Shaw
NCAA Tournament impact: The Fighting Illini's top three scorers are seniors, so minutes and opportunities will be available. However, it's tough to envision one of the incoming five developing into a difference-maker before March, 2012. Shaw, an athletic 6-foot-8 paint presence, will be a welcome addition with bigs Mike Davis, Mike Tisdale and Bill Cole moving on.

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9. Louisville
Signees/Commitments: Chane Behanan, Wayne Blackshear, Angel Nunez, Zach Price
NCAA Tournament impact: Even with most of Louisville's regulars expected to return in 2011-12, Blackshear and Behanan will find their way into Rick Pitino's rotation. Blackshear has been one of high school basketball's most productive players the past two seasons, posting 32 points and 15 rebounds per game as a senior.

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8. North Carolina
Signees/Commitments: James McAdoo, P.J. Hairston
NCAA Tournament impact: The Tar Heels are likely to lose at least one early entry to the NBA Draft. McAdoo is talented and polished enough to fill the void at a couple of different positions. McAdoo put up 23 points and nearly nine rebounds per game as a senior at Norfolk Christian. Expect the Virginia star to be an integral part of UNC's tournament run in 2012.

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7. Arkansas
Signees/Commitments: Devonta Abron, Rashad Madden, Hunter Mickelson, Aaron Ross, B.J. Young
NCAA Tournament impact: The next Arkansas head coach will be challenged to get this group to Fayetteville intact after the firing of John Pelphrey. Given the transition, getting to the Big Dance in 2012 is a longshot even if all five signees are on campus in the fall.

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6. Texas
Signees/Commitments: Jonathan Holmes, Myck Kabongo, Julien Lewis, Sheldon McClellan, Kevin Thomas
NCAA Tournament impact: Texas will say so-long to three key senior contributors and could lose a couple of talented underclassmen to the NBA Draft. Kabongo, Lewis and McClellan will be counted on in the backcourt immediately. Lewis proved clutch in the postseason at La Marque, leading the Cougars to the Texas 4A state title game while pouring in 25.3 points per game.

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5. Arizona
Signees/Commitments: Angelo Chol, Nick Johnson, Sidiki Johnson, Josiah Turner
NCAA Tournament impact: Sean Miller has worked wonders with an overachieving Wildcat roster this season. Assuming Pac-10 Player of the Year Derrick Williams moves on, this foursome will have to contribute heavily for 'Zona to return to the Big Dance in 2012. Chol and Johnson will be part of the replacement plan for Williams. Johnson and Turner bring an element of athleticism that UA currently lacks on the roster.

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4. Ohio State
Signees/Commitments: Trey McDonald, LaQuinton Ross, Shannon Scott, Samuel Thompson, Amir Williams
NCAA Tournament impact: The Buckeyes don't go particularly deep on the bench and history suggests that fabulous freshman post player Jared Sullinger won't be back. Players like Ross, Scott and Williams should become regular contributors and help lead Ohio State back to the tourney, but expectations will have to be adjusted following this season's special run.

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3. St. John's
Signees/Commitments: Phillip Greene, Amir Garrett, Dwight Meikle, Norvel Pelle, Nurideen Lindsey, Sir'Dominic Pointer, D'Angelo Harrison, Jakarr Sampson, Maurice Harkless
NCAA Tournament impact: College basketball is back in the Big Apple, but with nine new players set to join the Red Storm next season, they may need a year of seasoning in the Big East before entertaining serious NCAA Tournament hopes. Four Top 100 seniors are included in the massive recruiting class, but it lacks a dominant singular star.

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2. Duke
Signees/Commitments: Quinn Cook, Michael Gbinije, Marshall Plumlee, Austin Rivers
NCAA Tournament impact: Cook, Gbinije and Plumlee will all show their value long-term, but the buzz on this class is all about Rivers. With Nolan Smith and possibly Kyrie Irving moving on, the Naismith and Morgan Wootten high school player of the year winner will be counted on to score more than any Blue Devil freshman since J.J. Redick in 2003.

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1. Kentucky
Signees/Commitments: Anthony Davis, Michael Gilchrist, Marquis Teague, Kyle Wiltjer
NCAA Tournament impact: The nation's top recruiting class will also have the biggest impact on next year's NCAA Tournament. Calipari has his next great point guard in Teague and a high school national player of the year candidate in Gilchrist. His versatility will be a huge bonus for the continually-reloading Wildcats. Davis may have as much upside as any player in the 2011 class and Wiltjer follows current Kentucky frosh Terrence Jones from the state of Oregon. It wouldn't be a surprise to see any of the four – or all four – in the starting lineup next season in Lexington.