Kentucky class on top in strong SEC
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The SEC is the top 2011 recruiting conference with seven teams in the top 30 national team rankings. Kentucky once again has the top recruiting class in the country with four five-star prospects: Marquis Teague, Mike Gilchrist, Anthony Davis and Kyle Wiltjer. The top prospect coming into the conference and not going to Kentucky is shooting guard Brad Beal, who is headed to Florida. Alabama has the second highest ranked class at No. 5. A trio of in-state perimeter scorers - Trevor Lacey, Levi Randolph and Rodney Cooper - highlight the class. Arkansas has an impressive class, which ranks No. 7 nationally. B.J. Young and Ky Madden headline the Razorbacks' class. Five-star prospect Rodney Hood is the jewel of Mississippi State's nationally ranked class, while Vanderbilt has a nationally ranked class behind the strength of the four-star guard combo of Dai-jon Parker and Kedren Johnson. And Georgia is also nationally ranked on the talent of five-star shooting guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.
Best recruiting battle
Top 10 prospect Anthony Davis exploded onto the national scene during the spring of his junior year. Ohio State and Syracuse immediately made strong recruiting in-roads in their pursuit of the talented forward out of Chicago. But when the summer evaluation period came around in July, Kentucky coach John Calipari with his assistants in tow were at practically every game Davis played. The sudden and intense recruiting effort paid off in August when Davis committed to Kentucky. Insinuations and rumors of recruiting violations were reported by the Chicago press, but nothing was proven and Davis stuck with the Wildcats.
Top 10 classes
The string of No. 1-ranked recruiting classes at Kentucky under John Calipari continued in 2011. All four of Kentucky's recruits are five-star prospects, and three of those prospects rank in the top 10 in the country.
At No. 5 in the nation, Alabama's five-man class has the Tide rolling the right direction under Anthony Grant.
Arkansas secured a dynamic backcourt combination in five-star prospect B.J. Young and four-star prospect Ky Madden. Three other ranked prospects make it a five-man class that is ranked No. 7 nationally.
Perimeter talent
Of the 26 ranked prospects headed to the SEC, 17 are backcourt prospects. Four of the top 10 point guards in the country will play in the SEC next year. Three of the top 10 shooting guards in the country will join them in the SEC. And two of the top 10 small forwards signed with schools in the SEC.
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