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The Big Ten has three teams in the top 10 nationally and another one in the bottom half of the top 25. Outside those four teams, however, there are only two four-star recruits coming to the conference. Ohio State boasts an impressive six-man class with every recruit ranked in the Rivals150. Only Memphis has a better recruiting class nationally. Five-star prospects Jared Sullinger and Deshaun Thomas are Ohio State's top recruits. Michigan State landed five-star big man Adreian Payne and takes the No. 2 spot in the conference and a No. 6 ranking nationally. Illinois, which is ranked in the top 10 nationally, is third in the Big Ten with a solid class of three four-star prospects. Purdue is the fourth Big Ten team ranked nationally (No. 19) with four-star guard Terone Johnson as its top recruit.

Other than five-star big man Adreian Payne, almost all of the top Big Ten recruits had committed to schools well in advance of the early signing period. Payne, however, waited until a week before the early signing period before committing to Michigan State. Coach Tom Izzo beat out some stiff competition to land this high-potential post player. Payne also closely considered and officially visited Arizona, Kentucky and West Virginia.

The Big Ten has an impressive trio of five-star big men coming to the league. The top player coming to the conference next year, Jared Sullinger could have a Kevin Love/Tyler Hansbrough impact for Ohio State as a freshman. Skilled, intelligent and powerful, Sullinger has an advanced and mature game that closely resembles that of Love.

Joining Sullinger at Ohio State is high-scoring forward Deshaun Thomas. Physically mature like Sullinger, Thomas will be ready to produce immediately. He and Sullinger will give Ohio State a lethal high/low combination.

Michigan State signee Adreian Payne is the type of player who can be the best player on the court in stretches. However, he can also fade away and not be a factor for stretches. An athlete who plays with as much length as any prospect in the 2010 class, Payne should steadily improve early in his career under the tutelage of Izzo.

There might not be a five-star guard headed to the Big Ten, but there are six four-star guards and five ranked three-star guards coming to the conference next season. Michigan State will add a heavy dose of perimeter scoring with Keith Appling, the highest ranked of the four-star guards.

Ohio State has wing scorer Jordan Sibert in addition to its five-star inside duo. Purdue landed a talented pair of guards in Terone Johnson and Anthony Johnson. Illinois' Crandall Head and Northwestern's Jershon Cobb are the other two four-star guards.

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