August 27, 2008

Justin Young
Rivals.com Basketball Recruiting Senior Writer

With the all-important visit period beginning in full force this weekend, Rivals.com is getting an early jump on the 2009 team recruiting rankings.

With five commitments, North Carolina debuts at the top of the team rankings. Villanova is second, thanks to the addition of five-star forward Mouphtaou Yarou this week. Georgia Tech is third, and Illinois and North Carolina State round out the top five.

The initial rankings have just 15 teams. The visit period generally yields several commitments over the weekend, and the rankings will be adjusted to reflect the pledges. Each Wednesday this fall, we will update the team rankings and eventually expand the list.

2009 Team Rankings
1. North Carolina
2009 commits (National rank) PF John Henson (6) PG Dexter Strickland (17) SG Leslie McDonald (55) PF David Wear (68) PF Travis Wear (69)	The Tar Heels have sprinted out of the blocks better than any program in the country. Roy Williams and staff have locked up five players ranked in the top 70 nationally. Henson is the gem, while Strickland and McDonald are the backcourt of future of the backcourt. The Wear twins give UNC some size inside as well as provide long-term help for the rotation.
2. Villanova
2009 commits (National rank) PF Mouphtaou Yarou (14) PG Maalik Wayns (25) PF Isaiah Armwood (62)	Who says the Wildcats are just a guard-oriented program? Villanova has two impressive post players in Yarou and Armwood to complement Wayns, one of the best floor generals in the country. With three players ranked in the top 65, the future of Villanova hoops is in good hands.
3. Georgia Tech
2009 commits (National rank) PG Mfon Udofia (36) SG Glen Rice (48) PF Kammeon Holsey (77) SF Brian Oliver (129)	The Yellow Jackets wanted to lock up the foundation of the class early and did so with a quick run of pledges in June and July. Oliver was the first to pick the school and did so in mid-June. Holsey announced at the Nike Peach Jam, and a week later Udofia announced in Las Vegas and Rice in Orlando. Staying in-state was a priority.
4. Illinois
2009 commits (National rank) SG Brandon Paul (44) SG D.J. Richardson (57) SG Joseph Bertrand (116) PF Tyler Griffey (127)	If there was any question about the Illini's ability to recruit in-state talent, the class of 2009 has proven that the program still can lock up the locals. The future looks bright, particularly in the backcourt. The trio of Paul, Richardson and Bertrand is a major upgrade at guard, while Griffey has the tools to be a grinder down low.
5. N.C. State
2009 commits (National rank) PG Lorenzo Brown (43) PF Richard Howell (51) SG Scott Wood (126)	The Wolfpack love the Interstate-85 pipeline to Atlanta. After securing J.J. Hickson two years ago, Sidney Lowe and his staff have mined Georgia hard for talent. The results have been positive in 2009 with Brown and Howell. Both should help from Day One. A mini-Indiana connection also is growing. Last year the team landed Julius Mays. This year, Wood is the latest Hoosier to head south to Raleigh.
6. Louisville
2009 commits (National rank) PF Rakeem Buckles (40) PG Peyton Siva (49) SG Mike Marra	Rick Pitino and staff have already filled several needs in the 2010 class with these commitments. Buckles is one of the most intriguing players in the class because of his size, raw ability and versatility at power forward. Siva is similar to the scoring point guards the Cardinals have relied on in the past. Marra is an athletic wing with great range on his jumper.
7. Connecticut
2009 commits (National rank) C Alex Oriakhi (21) SF Jamal Coombs (65)	It seems as if Oriahki and Coombs have been committed to the Huskies for a decade. Both pledged to Jim Calhoun early in the recruiting process, and over time they have improved tremendously. Oriahki could be a McDonald's All-America, while Coombs has developed into one of the top wings in the nation. Look for both to make contributions in Storrs.
8. Marquette
2009 commits (National rank) SF Jeronne Maymon (46) PG Junior Cadougan (60) SF Erik Williams (99) SG Dwight Buycks	New coach Buzz Williams wasted little time making his mark. The Golden Eagles locked up local stars in Maymon and Buycks, and went to Texas and took advantage of Williams' roots for Williams and Cadougan.
9. Indiana
2009 commits (National rank) SG Maurice Creek (59) SF Derek Elston (98) PG Jordan Hulls (106) PF Bobby Capobianco	Creek is the major score in the class. He was high on Marquette when Tom Crean was at the helm and carried over his fondness when the Hoosiers hired the former Golden Eagles' head man. Creek should help from Day One in the guard-oriented style that Crean employs. Indiana fans love that Crean is recruiting the local kids. Hulls, a Bloomington native, embodies the Hoosier spirit with his play. So does Capobianco, an Ohio forward. Elston, a holdover from the Sampson regime, missed the summer because of injury.
10. UAB
2009 commits (National rank) PF DeMarcus Cousins (2) SG Casey Mitchell SG David Murray	The Blazers have an answer for Memphis in Cousins. In fact, they may have an answer for just about every program in the nation. Cousins, a Birmingham native who is playing in Mobile now, is one of the true elite talents in the class. His addition alone gives UAB a major shot in the arm. Adding Mitchell, a big time junior college scorer, and Murray is key in the backcourt.
UP NEXT:
11. CLEMSON: PF Milton Jennings (12), PF Devin Booker (137), SG Donte Hill 12. ARIZONA: SF Solomon Hill (28), SF Mike Moser (83), PG Reger Dowell (135) 13. KANSAS STATE: PF Wally Judge (23), SG Rodney McGruder (91), Jordan Henriquez 14. PITTSBURGH: PF Dante Taylor (24), SF Lamar Patterson (109), SF Darnell Dodson 15. BAYLOR: PF Cory Jefferson (33), PG A.J. Walton (132)