Up and Down the Recruiting Trail

While watching Memphis blow out Tennessee-Martin last night I was amazed in watching Derrick Rose. Rose is the highly touted Freshman from Chicago that I talked about in an earlier post. He had good stats (17pts, 6ast, 4reb), not eye-popping, but solid. What amazed me was how in control of the game he seemed to be. He played like he was a Senior, granted it was Tennessee-Martin, but who cares. It seems to me that Freshmen are getting better and better every year. It started in 2003 with Carmelo Anthony, and has continued with players like Kevin Durant and Greg Oden. These guys are just far and above anyone else in their class, or in college basketball for that matter. The one year requirement in college basketball has been a great addition that has allowed the collegiate ranks to see some of the greats before they begin making their millions in the NBA. This years class is no different. I think you will see Derrick Rose, Michael Beasley, and possibly Eric Gordon rise to that elite status. It's to bad that this is the only year we will see them in a college uniform, but it will definitely be worth it. So what happens when these guys are gone. Who are the next guys in line to take over the college game. Truth is, I don't believe that there is someone like that in the 2008 class. What the 2008 class does have though is a bunch of talent that will probably stay 3 to 4 years. With that being said, I thought it would be good to talk about the nation's best recruiting classes for the 2008 season. Since there really isn't a Durant or Oden in this class, I think it's better to look at them collectively from a team prospective. Here are the top 10 classes in my opinion for 2008. (The rankings are from rivals.com)

1) Louisville- F- Samardo Samuels (7), F- Terrance Jennings (15), 3 other three-star recruits. If they land Tyreke Evans (5), this class will be a monster!!

2) Wake Forest- F- Al Farouq-Aminu (11), C- Tony Woods (18), C- Ty Walker (24).
Wake will turn the corner with this class.

3) Arizona- G- Brandon Jennings (8), F- Emmanuel Negedu (31), C- Jeff Witney (39).
Brandon Jennings might be the best guard in this class.

4) UCLA- G- Jrue Holiday (4), G- Jeremie Anderson (48), F- Drew Gordon (49), G- Malcolm Lee (51). If Jennings isn't the best guard in America, then Jrue Holiday is!!

5) Georgetown- C- Greg Monroe (1), F- Chris Braswell (63), C- Henry Sims (64), G- Jason Clark (89). Monroe will be the next in line for great Hoya big men.

6) Alabama- F-Jamychal Green (25), F- Tony Mitchell (38), G- Andrew Steele (50).
The SEC has another Steele to deal with for 4 years.

7) Florida- F- Eloy Vargas (10), C- Kenny Kadji (17), F- Allan Chaney (96), G- Erving Walker (131), F- Ray Shipman (141). The rebuilding continues in Gainseville.

8) UNC- C- Tyler Zeller (20), F- Ed Davis (22), G- Larry Drew (78).
Zeller is the next great Indiana born center for the Heels (Montross & May)

9) Ohio St.- C- B.J Mullins (4), G- William Buford (19), G- Walter Offuet (101)
Just like Florida, they just keep rebuilding.

10) Oregon- C- Michael Dunigan (32), G- matthew Humphrey (71), G- Teonde Williams (98),
F- Drew Wiley (134). The Ducks are becoming a huge player nationally.

Other great recruiting classes; Kentucky, Mississippi St., Michigan St., Kansas, and Florida St.