Gators sit atop 2013 team rankings
MORE: Past Team Rankings | 2013 Rivals150
We are used to seeing a program from the state of Kentucky make strong moves in the team recruiting rankings. However, this time around it is Rick Pitino's Louisville Cardinals who are making major noise in the team rankings, while perennial power Duke makes its first appearance. Florida holds onto the top spot in the ranking of the top 20 class of 2013 recruiting classes.
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Billy Donovan and the Gators did lose non-ranked three-star Schuyler Rimmer to a de-commitment, but for now the fact that they have two five-star prospects -- point guard Kasey Hill and power forward Chris Walker -- that rank within the national top seven keeps the Gators in the top five.
Making a huge move, though, are the previously mentioned Louisville Cardinals who move all the way up to No. 2 from No. 8.
Rick Pitino and his staff aren't playing around on the recruiting trail this year and an already solid class was made very good during the last week.
It started when junior college point guard Chris Jones gave a verbal nod. A Sherron Collins play-a-like, Jones is a compact, powerful and tenacious competitor who can score the basketball.
He's a high-end, four-star prospect who will receive strong consideration for five-star status.
He should be able to step in and play like a Final Four-caliber point guard. Already in the fold were slashing four-star wing Anton Gill and class of 2012's No. 80 player Terry Rozier. Inside strength was added on Wednesday night when four-star power forward Akoy Agau joined the fold.
By adding the nation's No. 30 player Semi Ojeleye to the No. 32 player Matt Jones, Coach K and the Blue Devils make a strong debut in the team rankings at No. 4.
Another big mover inside the top 20 is Illinois. The Illini already had a solid top 20 class, but the addition of top 50 shooting guard Kendrick Nunn allows John Groce's first real class in Champaign to move all the way up to No. 9 at this juncture.
Other teams making their debut in the rankings include Arizona (No. 11), UCLA (No. 12), California (No. 13) and Ohio State, which comes in at No. 16.
With the recent addition of five-star shooting guard Robert Hubbs, the Tennessee Volunteers lead a group of teams that are knocking on the door of the top 20.
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