Just when it was conceded that 6-8 power forward Patrick Patterson would join his good friend Jai Lucas at Florida and give the Gators the nation's top recruiting class, Patterson shocked everyone by announcing on the final day of the spring signing period that he was going to Kentucky. What a great beginning for new Wildcats head coach Billy Gillispie.
UCLA was the top recruiting program with two or fewer signees. Coach Ben Howland's recruits included the nation's top high school player, 6-9 center/forward Kevin Love (Lake Oswego, Ore.) and top 50 rated wing forward 6-7 Chace Stanback (Los Angeles/Fairfax). In addition to being the best class with two recruits, UCLA would rank among the top 15 recruiting classes overall.
Here is a final ranking of the nation's top 25 recruiting classes with the team's ranking after the early signing period in parentheses.
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1. (2) USC: Signed five players
Headlined by highly acclaimed PG O.J. Mayo, significant spring additions of 5-11 PG Angelo Johnson and 6-11 C Mamadou Diarra pushed this class to the top. Johnson's recruitment heated up after Class of '08 PG Brandon Jennings (Los Angeles/Oak Hill) de-committed from the Trojans.
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2. (3) Syracuse: Signed six players
Head coach Jim Boeheim added spring signee 6-8 PF Kristof Ongenaet (Cuesta College, Calif.) to go with top-100 rated early signees, Donte Greene, Johnny Flynn, Rick Jackson and Antonio Jardine.
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3. (7) Florida: Signed five players
Even without landing Patterson, head coach Billy Donovan had a great class, including a McDonald's All-American backcourt of 5-11 PG Jai Lucas and 6-5 G Nick Calathes.
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4 (4). Indiana: Signed six players
Kelvin Sampson's class features All-American guard Eric Gordon. The Hoosiers' spring addition was 6-8 C/F DeAndre Thomas from Chipola Junior College (Fla.).
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5. (1) Kansas State: Signed five players
Despite losing head coach Bob Huggins, the Wildcats hired assistants Frank Martin as head coach and Dalonte Hill as assistant head coach and kept their outstanding recruiting class intact. The top recruits are All-American Michael Beasley, Dominique Sutton, and Jacob Pullen. Kansas State added 6-6 F Jamar Samuels this spring.
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6. (5) Duke: Signed three players
Although coach Krzyzewski and the Blue Devils had to be very disappointed to lose Patterson, whom they hoped would help fill the void left with the departure of Josh McRoberts, Duke did sign three McDonald's All-Americans in F Kyle Singler, F Taylor King, and G Nolan Smith.
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7. (-) Kentucky: Signed four players
The addition of Patterson elevates this class. It also landed a top-30 prospect in 6-5 G/F Alex Legion, who was granted a release by Michigan after Tommy Amaker was fired.
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8. (6) Arizona: Signed five players
The Wildcats did not add anyone to their previously No. 6 rated fall recruiting class, but 6-3 guard Jerryd Bayless proved he is one of the nation's elite shooters this spring.
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9. (8) Ohio State: Signed five players
Coach Thad Matta has another top-10 class but no one to replace Greg Oden. I am sure Matta hopes Mike Conley and Daequan Cook withdraw from the NBA draft.
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10. (10) UCLA: Signed two players
See above.
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10. (10) DePaul: Signed five players
Coach Jerry Wainwright added prep school standout 6-7 forward Mario Stula to his No. 10 rated fall recruiting class to remain in the national top 10.
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11. (9) Purdue: Signed five players
Coach Matt Painter added a productive scorer this spring by signing 6-3 guard Greg Hill.
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12. (-) UNLV: Signed five players
The Runnin' Rebels beat out Kentucky, Florida, New Mexico and others for 6-11 C Beas Hamga, who reclassified from the Class of '08. They also signed several highly-rated junior college players.
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13. (12) Texas A&M: Signed five players
Not only did new head coach Mark Turgeon keep All-American center 6-11 DeAndre Jordan, he landed a top big man who originally signed last fall with Wichita State, 6-9 C/F Denzel Bowles. The Aggies have reloaded.
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14. (-) Cincinnati: Signed six players
Coach Mick Cronin brings his Bearcats into the top 15 by adding spring signees 6-11 C Anthony McClain, 6-6 F Jason Henry and 6-5 G Alvin Mitchell.
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15. (24) Oklahoma: Signed five players
This spring the Sooners signed juco standout PG Omar Leary to go with McDonald's All-American, 6-9 PF Blake Griffin and others.
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16. (-) St. John's: Signed six players
Coach Norm Roberts has a superb class headed by prep school ace, 6-8 PF Justin Burrell, 6-5 G/F D.J. Kennedy and 5-9 PG Malik Boothe.
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17. (-) Gonzaga: Signed five players
Gonzaga has five recruits, including super prospect, 6-10 forward Austin Daye (Irvine, Calif./Woodbridge), the son of Darren Daye, and sharp shooter, 6-4 Steven Gray (Bainbridge Island, Wash).
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17. (14) Texas: Signed four players
Coach Rick Barnes did not add any newcomers this spring, but his solid fall class keeps the Longhorns in the top 20.
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18. (13) Michigan State: Signed three players
The Spartans had no spring additions, but got three outstanding guards in the fall, headed by prolific scorer Durrell Summers.
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19. (21) Texas Tech: Signed six players
Coach Bob Knight finished with a top-20 recruiting class by getting spring signee 6-8 F A.J. Hardeman.
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20. (16) Pittsburgh: Signed five players
Coach Jamie Dixon had no spring signees, but his deep fall recruiting class made the top 20.
21. (17) Nebraska, 22. (15) Villanova, 23. (-) Washington, 24. (-) Bradley and 25. (19) Oklahoma State round out the top 25.
Bob Gibbons is the editor and publisher of the All Star Sports report and is widely regarded as the recruiting guru of college basketball.