College basketball's early signing period begins Nov. 10 and with 61 of MaxPreps.com's 2011 Top 100 already signaling their intentions, the nation's top recruiting classes are beginning to take shape.
Last May, John Calipari worked his magic to bring Kentucky the top class for the second consecutive year headlined by Brandon Knight, Enes Kanter, Doron Lamb and Terrence Jones. Barring some major surprises, the Wildcats look poised to three-peat with four of the top 20 prospects in the country expected to sign next month.
The usual suspects – Kentucky, Duke, Ohio State and North Carolina – are all in the mix. But programs like Arkansas and Virginia Tech are adding some new blood to the 2011 recruiting race.
Pre-early signing period Top 25
Indianapolis point guard Marquis Teague is part of a star-studded foursome headed to Lexington.
Photo by Nicholas Koza
Top 100 commitments: No. 1 Michael Gilchrist (6-7, 190, F), No. 6 Anthony Davis (6-9, 185, F), No. 9 Marquis Teague (6-1, 170, G), No. 19 Kyle Wiltjer (6-9, 225, F)
Other commitments: None
College basketball's unstoppable recruiting machine has done it again and didn't even have to wait until spring this time around.
2. Duke
Top 100 commitments: No. 2 Austin Rivers (6-3, 185, G), No. 41 Michael Gbinije (6-6, 190, G/F), No. 53 Tyler Adams (6-9, 255, F/C), No. 75 Marshall Plumlee (7-0, 220, F/C)
Other commitments: None
A year after getting spurned by top recruit Harrison Barnes (now at North Carolina), Mike Krzyzewski scored big by landing Rivers to put the cherry on top of another impressive talent haul for the Blue Devils.
3. Arkansas
Top 100 commitments: No. 43 Rashad Madden (6-4, 175, G), No. 49 B.J. Young (6-2, 160, G), No. 55 Hunter Mickelson (6-9, 205, F), No. 83 Devonta Abron (6-7, 215, F), No. 90 Aaron Ross (6-8, 220, F)
Other commitments: None
Coming off back-to-back losing seasons, this is a program-changing recruiting class for the Razorbacks and possibly a job-saver for head coach John Pelphrey.
4. Ohio State
Top 100 commitments: No. 7 LaQuinton Ross (6-8, 200, G/F), No. 23 Shannon Scott (6-2, 175, G), No. 87 Samuel Thompson (6-6, 190, F)
Other commitments: None
The Buckeyes think they have another Evan Turner-like talent in Ross. Scott runs the show at Milton (Alpharetta, Ga.), expected to contend for high school basketball's No. 1 national ranking this season.
5. North Carolina
Top 100 commitments: No. 8 James McAdoo (6-8, 215, F), No. 10 P.J. Hairston (6-6, 225, G/F)
Other commitments: Jackson Simmons (6-7, 190, F, expected to walk-on)
Hairston and McAdoo ended the drama surrounding their recruitment early, pledging to Roy Williams' program well over a year ago.
6. Texas
Top 100 commitments: No. 11 Myck Kabongo (6-2, 170, G), No. 29 Sheldon McClellan (6-5, 185, G), No. 62 Julien Lewis (6-3, 185, G)
Other commitments: Jonathan Holmes (6-8, 190, F)
The Longhorns' recruiting efforts took a hit when California wing De'Andre Daniels (6-8, 190) decommitted last month, but Kabongo and McClellan are still elite guards that will make an impact immediately.
7. Louisville
Top 100 commitments: No. 15 Wayne Blackshear (6-5, 215, G/F), No. 51 Chane Behanan (6-7, 235, F), No. 74 Zach Price (6-9, 230, F)
Other commitments: Angel Nunez (6-7, 190, G/F)
The Cardinals are looking to add to this group and could get help Thursday as Seattle star Tony Wroten decides between Louisville and Washington.
8. Arizona
Top 100 commitments: No. 18 Nick Johnson (6-3, 190, G), No. 30 Josiah Turner (6-3, 185, G), No. 85 Sidiki Johnson (6-8, 220, F)
Other commitments: None
Sean Miller has addressed the backcourt in a major way with Johnson and Turner on board, now must find some frontcourt difference-makers.
9. Syracuse
Top 100 commitments: No. 36 Rakeem Christmas (6-9, 225, F), No. 52 Michael Carter-Williams (6-5, 175, G), No. 88 Trevor Cooney (6-3, 190, G)
Other commitments: None
This group lacks a go-to star but all look capable of developing into valuable supporting pieces.
10. Virginia Tech
Top 100 commitments: No. 25 Dorian Finney-Smith (6-7, 190, F), No. 80 Marquis Rankin (5-11, 170, G), No. 92 C.J. Barksdale (6-7, 190, F)
Other commitments: Robert Brown (6-4, 185, G)
After being on the NCAA Tournament bubble for the past three years and missing out, this class should help Hokie head coach Seth Greenberg get over the top.
11. Illinois
Top 100 commitments: No. 40 Mycheal Henry (6-5, 220, G/F), No. 82 Tracy Abrams (6-2, 180, G)
Other commitments: Nnanna Egwu (6-9, 210, F/C)
Expect this bunch to rise as Bruce Weber is in the hunt for elite forward Michael Shaw (No. 34, 6-8, 225) and Abrams and Egwu are rebounding from injuries that have hurt their stock over the past year.
12. Michigan State
Top 100 commitments: No. 16 Branden Dawson (6-6, 205, G/F)
Other commitments: Dwaun Anderson (6-3, 185, G), Brandan Kearney (6-5, 185, G/F), Travis Trice (5-11, 160)
It's not a coincidence that Dawson is one of the better rebounding perimeter players in the country and headed to play for Tom Izzo. Both Anderson and Kearney have been considered Top 100-caliber talents at one time or another during their respective high school careers.
13. Rutgers
Top 100 commitments: No. 60 Myles Mack (5-9, 160, G)
Other commitments: Kadeem Jack (6-8, 200, F), Malick Kone (6-6, 185, F), Derrick Randall (6-8, 200, F), Jerome Seagears (6-0, 175, G), Michael Taylor (6-3, 175, G)
New head coach Mike Rice has hit the ground running and created a major buzz with his early work on the recruiting trail.
14. St. John's
Top 100 commitments: No. 42 Maurice Harkless (6-7, 190, G/F), No. 57 Jakarr Sampson (6-7, 195, F)
Other commitments: None
New Red Storm head coach Steve Lavin is loading up on long wing-types with Harkless and Sampson to go along with 2010 signee Dwayne Polee.
15. Tennessee
Top 100 commitments: No. 37 Chris Jones (5-9, 165, G), No. 69 Kevin Ware (6-4, 180, G/F)
Other commitments: None
Not much positive news has come from Tennessee's basketball offices in recent months but Bruce Pearl will have something to celebrate if he can sign this pair next month.
16. West Virginia
Top 100 commitments: No. 44 Aaron Brown (6-5, 205, G/F), No. 64 Tommie McCune (6-7, 190, G/F)
Other commitments: None
Brown and McCune fit the Bob Huggins recruiting profile. Both are immensely talented but somewhat underrated and will head to Morgantown with something to prove.
17. Boston College
Top 100 commitments: No. 97 Kyle Caudill (7-0, 265, C)
Other commitments: Ryan Anderson (6-8, 215, F), Dennis Clifford (6-10, 215, F/C), Lonnie Jackson (6-3, 165, G), Eddie Odio (6-7, 185, F)
Caudill, Anderson and Jackson are all California products. Caudill and Jackson teamed to help Double Pump Elite capture the prestigious adidas Super 64 in Las Vegas over the summer.
18. Pittsburgh
Top 100 commitments: None
Other commitments: Jaylen Bond (6-7, 215, F), Malcolm Gilbert (6-11, 220), Durand Johnson (6-6, 190, G/F), John Johnson (6-1, 170, G)
Bond was a key contributor for one of the nation's top high school programs as a junior. Gilbert is the type of raw talent that could flourish under Jamie Dixon's tutelage.
19. Wisconsin
Top 100 commitments: No. 94 Jarrod Uthoff (6-8, 195, F)
Other commitments: Traevon Jackson (6-2, 200, G), Frank Kaminsky (6-10, 225, F/C), George Marshall (5-11, 170, G)
Uthoff has a chance to be special if he can beef up. Jackson is the son of former Ohio State standout and NBA journeyman Jimmy Jackson.
20. Villanova
Top 100 commitments: No. 46 Tyrone Johnson (6-2, 185, G)
Other commitments: Darrun Hilliard (6-5, 175, G/F), Achraf Yacoubou (6-3, 190, G)
More to come in this class for the Wildcats but off to a great start with a solid trio of backcourt players.
21. Virginia
Top 100 commitments: No. 66 Malcolm Brogdon (6-4, 195, G/F)
Other commitments: Darion Atkins (6-6, 185, G/F), Paul Jesperson (6-7, 180, G/F)
Combined with last year's highly-touted signees, Tony Bennett has plenty of help on the way in his attempt to make Virginia relevant once again in the ACC.
22. Vanderbilt
Top 100 commitments: No. 100 Shelby Moats (6-9, 225, F)
Other commitments: Kedren Johnson (6-3, 200, G)
Moats is a well-built power forward that can step out and hit the 3-pointer. Johnson picked the Commodores over offers from Alabama, Florida and Louisville among others.
23. Gonzaga
Top 100 commitments: None
Other commitments: Gary Bell (6-1, 180, F), Kyle Dranginis (6-4, 170, G), Kevin Pangos (6-1, 170, G), Ryan Spangler (6-8, 225, F)
The Zags would have loved to land Kentucky commitment Wiltjer, but should continue their backcourt tradition with Bell and Pangos, who starred for Canada at the FIBA U17 World Championship in July.
24. Cincinnati
Top 100 commitments: None
Other commitments: Octavious Ellis (6-8, 195, F), Jermaine Sanders (6-4, 195, G/F), Shaquille Thomas (6-6, 180, G/F)
Ellis could be a steal if he can overcome a troubled past. Sanders and Thomas bring help to the wings.
25. Florida
Top 100 commitments: No. 5 Bradley Beal (6-4, 190, G)
Other commitments: None
Yes, the Gators have just one commitment but Beal is that good.
