Oklahoma State tops team rankings
With the late signing period beginning on April 13th and lasting through May 19th, the top 25 recruiting classes are cementing into place for the final team recruiting rankings with college coaches getting one last shot to land impact players for next season.
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Gerald Green, the No. 1 rated player in the class of 2005, has signed with Oklahoma State and his signature has pushed the Big 12 school to the top for the class of 2005.
The usual suspects - Duke, Kansas and North Carolina - are amongst the best of the best again while Washington is bringing in a group that should help the Huskies contend for a national title once again.
In just their first year as head coaches at their respective schools, Lon Kruger, Jeff Lebo and Frank Haith have recruited their own crop of big timers to their respective schools as they join this year's crop of top 25 recruiting classes.
It should be noted that there are likely to be changes when the dust settles and the late signing period draws to a conclusion.
Here is a look at the Rivals.com top 25 recruiting classes in 2005:
1. Oklahoma State - Future Cowboy head coach Sean Sutton did his father proud this year by landing the nation's No. 1 player Gerald Green to go along with fellow five-star point guard Byron Eaton and Roderick Fleming. Continuing their raid into Texas the Oklahoma State staff also snagged commitments from four-star prospects Terrell Harris and big man Kenneth Cooper, giving the Cowboys five of the countries top 100 players.
2. Duke – The Blue Devil recruiting machine continues to roll this year highlighted by the 2rd best player in the country power forward Josh McRoberts and perhaps the top floor general Greg Paulus both five-star prospects. To go along with their inside-outside duo, Duke also signed 4-star center Eric Boateng and small forward Jamal Boykin. The wildcard could be Martynas Pocius who was one of the fastest risers in the last few months.
3. Washington - Lorenzo Romar and his staff landed two of the biggest prizes of the recruiting season when the convinced 5-star shooting guard Martell Webster and four-star power forward's Jon Brockman and Artem Wallace to stay at home and play for the Huskies. In addition that added point guard Justin Dentmon, combo guard Harvey Perry, Roburt Sallie and Joe Wolfingerto give them some depth.
4. Kansas - Bill Self continues to pull in nationally ranked players during his short stint in Lawrence, this year the Jayhawk head skipper proved that Kansas is a force from coast-to-coast by reaching into Alaska for the Nation's No. 11 player in point guard Mario Chalmers, Washington for No. 28 Micah Downs and Chicago for No. 6 Julian Wright. USC transfer Roderick Stewart will be an impact player after sitting a year.
5. Louisville – Four-star power forward Amir Johnson highlights the Cardinal class that could consist of as many as eight signees but foundation of the future will come from the four-star players Bryan Harvey and Clarence Holloway with fellow Rivals150 members Chad Millard, Terrence Williams and Andre McGee giving Louisville six of the nation's top 150 prospects. The versatile group which also includes Jonathan Huffman and JaJuan Spillman give Louisville a little bit of everything. North Carolina transfer David Padgett makes this the biggest class in the country.
6. Mississippi State – The Bulldogs focused on guards in the early period and succeeded with smashing success. The list of guards is led by Magnolia All-American candidate Monta Ellis the No. 3 prospect in the nation. Mississippi State then dipped in Tennessee to sign twin guards Richard Delk and Reginald Delk who are both four-star prospects and can play either guard position and added post player Vernon Goodridge on the eve of the early signing period. Small forward Bernard Rimmer is expected to sign in the late period. Landing 5-star guard Jamont Gordon vaulted the Bulldogs among the nation's elite classes.
7. Memphis – Former NBA coach John Calipari continues to bring talented prospects to Memphis, his only problem to date has been getting them on campus. Resigning with the Tigers from last years class are Robert Dozierand Shawne Williams who highlight the 2005 group. IMG Academy small forward Ricky Sanchez has NBA size but needs to get stronger. Joining Sanchez as four-star Memphis commitments are shooting guards Chris Douglas-Roberts from Michigan and Antonio Anderson. With big man Kareem Cooper giving the Tigers plenty of fire power for the future.
8. Alabama - The Tide managed to land one of the most important recruits in their history when they kept the nation's No. 9 prospect, Richard Hendrix home after a hard fought battle with North Carolina. In addition Alabama signed Florida native Alonzo Gee and JUCO All-American Ray George both four-star guards. Center Yamene Coleman is a developing big man with a good upside.
9. North Carolina – The signing of combo guard Bobby Frasor and five-star power forward Tyler Hansbrough have many making comparison to a the former inside-outside duo of Kirk Hinrich and Nick Collison both who are currently in the NBA. Four-star guards Danny Green and Marcus Ginyard give the Tar Heels plenty of depth in the backcourt.
10. Connecticut - The Huskies rode the success of last year's National Championship by getting two players to help the frontcourt, center Andrew Bynum No. 7 in the nation, and power forward Jeff Adrien. Athletic California wing Marcus Johnson gives Connecticut three four-star commitments who are expected to be early impact players next season. Shooting guard Craig Austrie rounds out the class.
11. UNLV – Former NBA coach Lon Kruger reputation has helped the UNLV bring in their top recruiting class since the days of Larry Johnson and company. The gem of the class is Texas five-star point guard Jovan Adams and California small forward Davon Jefferson the nation's No. 39 prospect. Shooting guard Joe Darger, and power forwards Gaston Essenque and Jerome Johnson give the Runnin Rebels plenty of scoring options. Small forward Maurice Thomas is expected to sign late.
12. Georgia – The Bulldogs signed the nation's top high school backcourt when they convinced five-star guards Louis Williams and Mike Mercer to stay home and play for Georgia. Florida native Rashaad Singleton is a developing center with a nice upside and Terrance Woodberry is a versatile player capable of playing multiple positions. Georgia is also expected to sign Billy Humphrey in the late period.
13. Texas Tech - Bobby Knight advanced to the Sweet 16 with a host of unranked prep stars but with the class of 2005, the Hall of Fame coach could really do some damage in March. The Red Raiders have a gem in Terry Martin, Jr. who is expected to be one of the top newcomers in the Big 12 next year. Four-star big man Jeremy Barr committed late but brings a strong inside presence to Lubbock. California forward Dior Lowhorn is a bit undersized but empties the tank. Late commitments John Plefka and Allan Voskuil join Justin Wilkerson, Michael Prince and Dazzmond Thornton to form a very deep class.
14. Arizona – The Wildcats pulled off one of the biggest catches when the reached across the country and landed small forward J.P. Prince from Memphis who is rated the nation's No. 21 prospects. As usually Arizona did well in the Lone Star state where they inked four-star Texas native Fendi Obobun and four-star small forward Marcus Williams which gives the Wildcats an athletic, long team, perfect for the Pac-10.
15. LSU– For the third straight year John Brady has managed to keep the top in-state player at home and like his predecessors, Glen Davis and Brandon Bass, Tasmin Mitchell is consider to be one of the top 15 prospects. The Bengal Tigers also got a major steal when 5- star power forward Magnum Rolle committed to play in Baton Rouge. 3-star prospects Kentrell Gransberry, Chris Johnson and Ben Voogd round out the class.
16. Baylor – Four-star point guard Curtis Jerrells got the Bears off to a good start with an early commitment and when fellow four-star and combo guard Henry Dugat chose the Bears over Texas in a heated battle it gave Scott Drew his backcourt of the future. With the backcourt set the Bears coaching staff stayed in-state and snagged a commitment from four-star power forward Kevin Rogers while beating out some of the nation's top programs to do so. JUCO standouts Tony Jones and Mohamed Kone, one of the nation's top JUCO big men, are also expected to be part of the class.
17. N.C. State – Herb Sendek and company put together another solid class when the Wolfpack inked three four-star prospects led by small forward Brandon Costner who is the nation's No. 30 overall prospect. Mississippi shooting guard Courtney Fells is one of the top outside threats in the 2005 class and Pennsylvania big men Ben McCauley is a rugged low post threat.
18. UCLA - The addition of power forward Alfred Aboya to a nice class that includes four-star forward Ryan Wright, small forward Darren Collison, and guards Luc Mbaha Moute and Michael Roll moves the Bruins back-to-back ranked classes.
19. Notre Dame - Mike Brey continues his strong recruiting for the Irish and this year landed two four-star players in face up forwardLuke Zeller and shooting guard/ small forwardRyan Ayers. Crafty New York point guard Kyle McAlarney and Ohio power forward Zach Hillesland give Notre Dame four players to build their program around.
20. Georgia Tech - Two four-star guard signees highlight the Yellow Jackets 2005 recruiting efforts led by the nation's No. 32 prospectLewis Clinch who burst on the summer basketball scene this year. Joining Clinch in the Georgia Tech backcourt is four-star point guard Austin Jackson. Three-star big man Alade Aminu is a developing power forward with a lot of potential and California small forward D'Andre Bell round out the class.
21. Auburn - In his first year Tiger head coach Jeff Lebo was looking to fill as many scholarships as possible with talented players and he did so with smashing success. The late decision by Georgia forward Korvotney Barber, the nation's No. 41 prospect, was the gem of a class which also included three-star players Joey Cameron, Josh Dollard and Rasheem Barrett.
22. DePaul – Small forward Rashad Woods the nation's No. 44 prospect was a hidden gem throughout much of the recruiting season and DePaul pulled off a major steal when they inked the Texas native. The Blue Demons then dipped into Michigan and pulled out two of the state's best players in Jabari Currie and Wilson Chandler. All three signees have the chance to be early impact players.
23. Marquette – The Golden Eagles set out to land some backcourt help and rose to the task with impressive success. Two four-star guards, lightning fast Indiana point guard Dominic James and Wisconsin sharpshooter Wes Matthews Jr. highlight the list but Chicago native Jerel McNeal and Matt Mortensen will both push for early playing time as well.
24. Miami – The Hurricanes didn't have to go far for their 2005 recruits all three signees coming from the state of Florid and two living in Miami. Four-star prospect Brian Asbury, an athletic small forward, and point man Denis Clemente both hail from the Miami area while small forward Adrian Thomas comes from Pembroke. Originally part of the 2006 class Jimmy Graham re-classified and will come in with the 2005 group.
25. Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh started the class of 2005 strong with Tyrell Biggs, a strong four-star power forward from N.J. Then Jamie Dixon and staff landed Sam Young, a gritty blue collar big man from Hargrave Military Academy. Young is a perfect fit for the Pitt system. He's the gem of the class. New York point guard Levance Fields continues the Xavierian High School pipeline to Pitt. Guard Trevor Ferguson and JUCO forward Doyle Hudson add depth to this group.