NCAA Early Signings / Rankings

2009 Team Rankings

1. North Carolina
2009 commits (National rank)
PF John Henson (6)
PG Dexter Strickland (17)
SG Leslie McDonald (55)
PF David Wear (68)
PF Travis Wear (69) The Tar Heels have sprinted out of the blocks better than any program in the country. Roy Williams and staff have locked up five players all ranked inside the top 70 national rankings in the class of 2009. Henson, a 6-foot-10 versatile post, is the gem. Strickland and McDonald are the future of the backcourt. The Wear twins give UNC some size and depth in the rotation.

2. Texas
2009 commits (National rank)
SF Jordan Hamilton (5)
SG Avery Bradley (8)
SF Shawn Williams (64) The Longhorns locked up one of the best players in the country regardless of position in Bradley, a 6-foot-3 native of Tacoma, Wash. He should prove to be an immediate impact player for the Longhorns. Hamilton, one of the elite scorers in the nation, picked the Big 12 school at the start of October. He came through on his promise to play alongside Bradley. Williams, a 6-foot-7 forward from national powerhouse Duncanville (Texas) High School, is a deadly perimeter threat and a scary prospect if he takes full advantage of Texas' outstanding strength program.

3. Villanova
2009 commits (National rank)
PF Mouphtaou Yarou (14)
PG Maalik Wayns (25)
PF Isaiah Armwood (62) Who says the Wildcats are just a guard program? Villanova has a pair of impressive post players in Yarou and Armwood to complement Wayns, one of the best floor generals in the country. With three players all within the top 65. The future of Villanova hoops is in good hands.

4. Kansas
2009 commits (National rank)
PF Thomas Robinson (18)
PG Elijah Johnson (27) The Jayhawks continue to recruit well and recruit nationally. Robinson, a five-star prospect from Baltimore via Brewster Academy in New Hampshire, is one of the elite rebounders in the class. His presence should be felt the minute he arrives in Lawrence next fall. Johnson, a Las Vegas native, is one of the most athletic point guards in the country. When he's at the top of his game, he is one of the best at his position.

5. Florida
2009 commits (National rank)
SF Kenny Boynton (7)
C Deshawn Painter (85)
PF Erik Murphy (104) The Gators are no strangers to great recruiting classes. This year's class is highlighted by the addition of Boynton, the top player in Florida. He is one of the best scorers and defenders in the nation. He was a major coup for Billy Donovan and staff this fall. Painter is a high-level prospect that isn't expected to do big things right away. He and Murphy have the luxury of joining a strong frontline in Gainesville and playing for a coach that has developed pros at their respective positions.

6. Indiana
2009 commits (National rank)
SF Christian Watford (34)
SG Maurice Creek (59)
SF Derek Elston (98)
PG Jordan Hulls (106)
C Bawa Muniru (111)
PF Bobby Capobianco The Hoosiers added Watford at the beginning of September. He gives the program a big, versatile forward that should see major minutes as a freshman. Creek was high on Marquette when Tom Crean was at the helm and carried over his fondness when the Hoosiers hired the former Golden Eagle head man. Creek should help from Day One in the guard-oriented style that Crean employs. Indiana fans love the fact that Crean is recruiting the local kids. Hulls, a Bloomington native, embodies the Hoosier spirit with his play. So does Capobianco, an Ohio forward. Elston, a holdover from the Sampson regime, missed the summer due to injury. Muniru, a 6-foot-11 center, gives the team a physical presence inside the paint and will help on the defensive end of the floor.

7. Georgia Tech
2009 commits (National rank)
PG Mfon Udofia (36)
SG Glen Rice (48)
PF Kammeon Holsey (77)
SF Brian Oliver (129) The Yellow Jackets locked up the foundation of the class early. Each committed to the program over the summer. Oliver was the first to pick the ACC school and did so in mid-June. Keeping local players was a priority for Tech.

8. Illinois
2009 commits (National rank)
SG Brandon Paul (44)
SG D.J. Richardson (57)
SG Joseph Bertrand (116)
PF Tyler Griffey (127) If there was any question about the Illini's ability to lock up the in-state talent like year's past, the class of 2009 has proven that the program can still lock up the locals. The future looks bright, particularly in the backcourt. The trio of Paul, Richardson and Bertrand is a major upgrade at the guard positions. Griffey has the tools to be a grinder down low while being a great forward to run the pick and roll.

9. Oklahoma State
2009 commits (National rank)
PF Karron Johnson (45)
PG Raymond Penn (54)
SF Roger Franklin (90)
PG Reger Dowell (144)
PG Fred Gulley
PF Torin Walker First-year coach Travis Ford has reeled in a talented six-man class for the Cowboys. Johnson is a big-time athlete at the power forward position, and he should shine in the fast-paced, up-tempo attack that Ford employs. Penn is an electric, undersized scoring point guard who set Vegas on fire in July. He will be accompanied by the high-energy and productive wing Roger Franklin. Dowell, like Franklin, will fine tune his craft at national powerhouse Duncanville (Texas) High School before making his way to Stillwater. Three-star prospects Fred Gully and Torin Walker will provide depth for Ford's up-tempo attack.

10. Kentucky
2009 commits (National rank)
C Daniel Orton (22)
SG Jon Hood (32)
PG GJ Vilarino The Wildcats won the race for Orton, a five-star center and one of the most physically intimidating prospects in the class of 2009. Kentucky fought long and hard for Orton's commitment for a reason. He has star potential. Hood, a local star, is a versatile and crafty player that could potentially play three positions for the Wildcats during his college career. Vilarino, a steady point guard, committed to Billy Gillispie last spring.

11. Duke
2009 commits (National rank)
PF Ryan Kelly (20)
PF Mason Plumlee (42) One of the best match-ups of the spring grassroots period was Kelly versus Plumlee, ironically, at North Carolina during the Bob Gibbons Tournament of Champions. The two traded buckets in the match-up. Now, the two will get a chance to help the other improve their talented skill sets. Kelly is more talented in the post, while Plumlee is a big option in the high post.

12. Louisville
2009 commits (National rank)
PF Rakeem Buckles (40)
PG Peyton Siva (49)
SG Mike Marra
PF Stephan Van Treese
Rick Pitino and his staff filled several needs. Buckles is one of the most intriguing players in the class because of his size, raw ability and versatility at the power forward position. Siva is a scoring point guard, similar to players the Cardinals have relied on in the past. Marra is an athletic wing with great range on his jumper. Van Treese is a bouncy forward that can run the floor.

13. N.C. State
2009 commits (National rank)
PG Lorenzo Brown (43)
PF Richard Howell (51)
SG Scott Wood (126) The Wolfpack love the I-85 pipeline down to Atlanta. After securing J.J. Hickson two years ago, Sidney Lowe and staff have mined Georgia hard for talent. The results have been positive in 2009 with Brown and Howell. Both should help from Day One. A mini Indiana connection is also growing. Last year, the team landed Julius Mays. This year, Wood is the latest Hoosier State player to head south to Raleigh.

14. UCLA
2009 commits (National rank)
SF Tyler Honeycutt (29)
PF Reeves Nelson (79)
PF Brendan Lane (103)
C Anthony Stover (134) Honeycutt shot up the rankings over the summer with his savvy and skilled play. He headlines UCLA's four-man recruiting class. Nelson has battled injuries over the past year, but when healthy, he brings a rugged physicality to the court. Lane, on the other hand, is a skilled, face-up four-man who will stretch the defense for the Bruins. Stover gives the team a long defender that can man the post.

15. Connecticut
2009 commits (National rank)
C Alex Oriakhi (21)
SF Jamal Coombs (65) It seems like Oriahki and Coombs have been committed to the Huskies for a decade. Both pledged to Jim Calhoun very early in the recruiting process, and over time they have improved tremendously. Oriahki could be a McDonald's All-American while Coombs has developed into one of the top wings in the nation. Look for both to make early contributions in Storrs.

16. Marquette
2009 commits (National rank)
SF Jeronne Maymon (46)
PG Junior Cadougan (60)
SF Erik Williams (99)
SG Dwight Buycks
PF Brett Roseboro First-year coach Buzz Williams immediately showed his recruiting prowess, securing a strong four-man class. Maymon is a versatile, multi-skilled forward ranked in the top 50. Out of Canada comes a savvy point guard in Cadougan, who can both distribute the ball and score it. Williams, a four-star forward, was sidelined with an injury during the travel circuit, but he is loaded with potential.

17. Memphis
2009 commits (National rank)
SG Nolan Dennis (47)
PF Will Coleman
SF Darnell Dodson The Tigers aimed for versatility and experience in 2009 and got it. Dennis, a top-50 prospect from Dallas, will likely play a role similar to Chris Douglas-Roberts. Coleman, a 6-foot-9 post, is one of the most explosive power forwards in the junior college ranks. Dodson, a former Pittsburgh signee, has great size for a wing prospect and is one of the most intriguing players at the junior college level.

18. Oklahoma
2009 commits (National rank)
PG Tommy Mason-Griffin (66)
C Andrew Fitzgerald (100)
SG Steven Pledger (136)
PF Kyle Hardrick (145) The Sooners won a major recruiting battle to land Mason-Griffin, one of the best point guards in the country. He is the best point guard Jeff Capel has lured to Norman since taking over the program. Pledger, a Virginia native, gives the team a legitimate threat on the perimeter. In-state commitment Hardrick has been committed to the school since 2006. Fitzgerald, a Baltimore native, is a big body that will have no trouble making the transition to Big 12 competition.

19. UAB
2009 commits (National rank)
PF DeMarcus Cousins (2)
SG Dexter Fields
SG Adrian Coleman The Blazers have an answer for Memphis in Cousins. In fact, they may have an answer for just about every program in the nation. Cousins, a Birmingham native who is playing in Mobile now, is one of the true elite talents in the class. His addition alone gives UAB a major shot in the arm Coleman and Fields are both wired to score and will shine in the up-tempo game.

20. Washington
2009 commits (National rank)
PG Abdul Gaddy (13)
SG C.J. Wilcox (123)
PF Clarence Trent (143)
PF Charles Garcia Landing the No. 2-ranked point guard in the country, Abdul Gaddy, pushes the Huskies 2009 recruiting class into the top 20. Gaddy is the type of dynamic young talent who excels at making the players around him better. Three-star prospects Clarence Trent and C.J. Wilco will run alongside Gaddy, and three-star junior college big man Charles Garcia rounds out the class.

21. Kansas State
2009 commits (National rank)
PF Wally Judge (23)
SG Rodney McGruder (91)
PG Nick Russell (114)
C Jordan Henriquez The Wildcats continue to mine the Washington, D.C. area, the same place the produced Michael Beasley and a host of other KSU players. Judge and McGruder are both attend Arlington Country Day school in Jacksonville, Fla., and both should help Frank Martin's program immediately. Judge, a versatile 6-foot-9 forward, plays a style patterned after Beasley. Henriquez signed in 2008 but is spending a year in prep school to tidy up his academics. Russell, a Rivals150 prospect from the Dallas-Forth Worth area, could develop into a very solid guard for the Wildcats.

22. Minnesota
2009 commits (National rank)
SF Royce White (19)
SF Rodney Williams (95)
PG Justin Cobbs
PF Trevor Mbakwe When Tubby Smith landed the Minnesota job, he immediately targeted White and Williams, two of the top players in the state. The work paid off, and the two local products are staying home to play for Smith. The future Gophers will be asked to contribute immediately. White is the second rated small forward in the 2009 class. Cobbs gives the program a heady point guard that knows how to put the ball in the basket. Mbakwe, a local star, signed with Marquette out of high school and is now at Miami Dade Community College in Florida.

23. Texas A&M
2009 commits (National rank)
SG Naji Hibbert (88)
PF Kourtney Roberson (122)
PF Ray Turner
SF Khris Middleton The Aggies have four players coming to College Station. Each of the players bring good size, good upside and good raw ability to the program. Hibbert, a powerful scoring guard, is the prize of the class so far. Roberson, Middleton and Turner could all be starters down the road.

24. Alabama
2009 commits (National rank)
SF Tony Mitchell (38 in 2008)
C Shawn Kemp (96)
SG Charvez Davis
SF Chris Hines
PG Cully Payne Alabama pulled in five players in its 2009 recruiting class. Mitchell, a four-star recruit in 2008, is taking a prep year at Central Park in Birmingham before making it to Tuscaloosa. He's the gem of the class. Kemp, a four-star center, and Payne, a three-star guard, will be joined by junior college sleepers Davis and Hines. The junior college transfers are off to big seasons this year and give the Tide great size and athleticism at their respective positions.

25. Baylor
2009 commits (National rank)
SG Cory Jefferson (33)
PF A.J. Walton (132)
PF Givon Crump (142) The Bears have a good-looking three-man class coming to Waco. All three should see significant time as freshmen. Jefferson gives the team a long and athletic post defender with substantial upside. Walton is a strong-bodied, heady point guard that also could develop into a major defender. Crump, a 6-foot-7 wing, can really stretch the defense because of his long-range ability.