Syracuse wins Big East recruiting battle
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The Big East placed four teams in the national rankings. The top team in the conference, Syracuse, sits at No. 7 nationally with a four-man class led by the impressive inside/outside duo of Fabricio de Melo and Dion Waiters. Marquette, which is No. 2 in the conference and No. 14 nationally, brings in a strong perimeter class highlighted by five-star prospect Vander Blue.
Connecticut shot up to No. 15 nationally when the Huskies landed four-star prospect Roscoe Smith in the spring and when four-star prospect Shabazz Napier became a member of the 2010 class. At No. 17 nationally sits Georgetown, which has a four-man class with three four-star recruits.
Best recruiting battle
As with most five-star prospects, the recruitment of the two Big East five-star recruits, Fabricio de Melo and Vander Blue, had intensity attached. Syracuse and Louisville were the first schools to recruit de Melo after he arrived in the United States from Brazil. Many thought Louisville was in the driver's seat to land him. Other schools jumped in, including the Florida schools (he went to high school in the Fort Lauderdale area), but in the end, the skilled big man opted for the colder climate of Syracuse.
Blue is from Madison, Wis., and he originally was committed to the hometown Badgers. But there was a falling out, and other schools got in the mix for the talented combo guard. Blue looked around, but he didn't look too far, as he eventually picked Marquette.
Guard power
Of the 25 ranked prospects headed to the Big East, 19 are perimeter players. Of those 19, eight are point guards. No other conference in the country is loading up with as many ranked point guards as the Big East.
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