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PARADE OF PROGRAMS

Winter, 2011

At PrepStars.com, we track elite college programs on an ongoing basis. However, we also follow many more top teams in our print edition of the Recruiter's Handbook.

Here's a look at select teams' profiles from our Winter edition. Enjoy!

ACC; Big East; Big Ten; Big 12; Pac 10; SEC; Atlantic 10

----------- ACC -----------

BOSTON COLLEGE

2011-12 Signings: NH PG Olivier Hanlon, CA PG Joe Rahon.

As expected, this season began in rocky fashion for the Eagles. Steve Donahue's program is extremely young and suffering on the court as a result, but BC does have its pair of incoming backcourt signees for next year. Hanlon is a steady, intelligent floor general while Rahon is a very good jump shooter who teamed with national No. 1 senior Shabazz Muhammad on the travel circuit, so he's accustomed to playing with and against top talent. Given the team's difficulty shooting the ball, Rahon should receive an opportunity to contribute immediately.

VIRGINIA TECH

2011-12 Signings: VA BF Montrezl Harrell, VA WF Marshall Wood.

The Hokies weren't a model of offensive efficiency early in the season but did pick up some nice victories thanks to team speed and sheer effort. Tech's class is small but, as frequently happens in Blacksburg, features an emphasis on the forward positions. Looking ahead, fans hoped that the coaching staff could lock up big-time junior VA PG Anthony Barber.

------- Big East -------

SOUTH FLORIDA

2011-12 Signings: WV WF Javontae Hawkins, FL JC C Waverly Austin, GA JC WG Musa Abdul-Aleem.

Underclass Commitments (class): GA PG Drew Davis (2013), GA C John Egbunu (2013).

The Bulls worked feverishly in the late fall and early winter. They added a pair of juco signees to the class, and hopes are high that Austin - who had attracted attention from heavy hitter programs - will help ease the loss of outgoing senior Augustus Gilchrist. He'll be joined by wings Abdul-Aleem and Hawkins, who also should become contributors. Hawkins is ranked in the national top 100 by some scouts, and Abdul-Aleem is physically strong and a talented three-point shooter. In short, sources within the program considered the signing class the most gifted since Stan Heath arrived on campus. Additionally, the Bulls added pledges from juniors Davis and Egbunu.

-------- Big Ten --------

MINNESOTA

2011-12 Signings: VA BF Charles Buggs, WI WG Wally Ellenson.

The Gophers added Buggs to their 2012 class in the late fall. He's a good athlete who will help replace graduating big men Ralph Sampson III and Trevor Mbakwe, though he likely will need a full year of development first. He joined Ellenson, a nationally unheralded guard who has posted impressive scoring numbers in high school.

NEBRASKA

2011-12 Signings: KS PG Benny Parker, KS WF Shavon Shields, TX JC WF Jerran Young, IA JC C Keith Coleman, IA JC C Fahro Alihodzic.

Underclass Commitments (class): AR PG I.J. Ready (2013).

Since the fall Handbook, the Huskers picked up Alihodzic. Along with Coleman, Nebraska will field one of the largest center tandems in the entire Big Ten next season. The perimeter signees, Young, Parker and Shields, will be tasked with filling the prodigious shoes of graduating guard Bo Spencer.

NORTHWESTERN

2011-12 Signings: IA WF Kale Abrahamson, MN WG Sanjay Lumpkin, IN C Alex Olah.

Underclass Commitments (class): IN BF Milos Kostic (2013).

The Wildcats completed their work with the Class of 2012 relatively early and already hold a pledge from Kostic in the junior class, so they can afford to focus more intently on the 2011-12 season. Taken in sum, this is a program that's performing better on the court and now recruiting more successfully as well. Abrahamson, in particular, is a promising talent.

PENN STATE

2011-12 Signings: MA WG Akosa Maduegbunam, NJ BF Brandon Taylor, Southern Mississippi WG D.J. Newbill.

Underclass Commitments (class): PA WG Geno Thorpe (2013).

The entire PSU community endured a profound tragedy as the Jerry Sandusky allegations broke on the football side, and basketball got off to a rough start (as expected) as part of Pat Chambers' rebuilding process. The signing class includes solidly built Taylor and transfer Newbill, who's sitting out this season per NCAA rules and will eligible next year as a sophomore. Although he reportedly signed, the school did not release an announcement pertaining to Maduegbunam.

WISCONSIN

2011-12 Signings: WI WF Sam Dekker, PA WG Zak Showalter.

Underclass Commitments (class): WI WG/PG Bronson Koenig (2013).

At one point in mid-December, the advanced, pace-adjusted statistical websites listed Wisconsin as America's best team despite early losses to UNC and Marquette. While the Badgers plow hopefully toward a Final Four berth, they found time to ink top-60 Dekker in November. Showalter is an invited walk-on who had attracted mid-major scholarship offers.

--------- Big 12 ---------

BAYLOR

2011-12 Signings: TX C Isaiah Austin, TX PG L.J. Rose, TX BF Chad Rykhoek.

Underclass Commitments (class): TX BF Kyle Wilson (2013).

Baylor leapt out to a top 10 ranking through the first six weeks of the season, the Bears appeared dominant at times and were thrilled by the play of their fantastic front line. They’re fired up by their incoming class, too, led by sensational and rapidly improving big man Austin. Rose is the solid playmaker and Rykhoek will provide four-year continuity. FL WG Torian Graham is a prospect to monitor for the spring.

KANSAS STATE

2011-12 Signings: CA C Robert Upshaw, Lithuania/CT C Laimonas Chatkevicius.

Frank Martin and his staff added a pair of commitments in the late fall. Upshaw was the big win, particularly after KS C Willie Cauley devastated KSU by choosing Kentucky. Upshaw isn’t as fleet as Cauley is a stronger and more polished interior scorer, and he isn’t far from having a college-appropriate body. The key for him will be catching up to the speed of the college game. Chatkevicius has been tabbed as a face-up center, though Martin credits the import’s ability to play with his back to the basket as well.

TEXAS A&M

2011-12 Signings: TX WG Alex Caruso, TX WG/PG J-Mychal Reese

Juniors Khris Middleton and Elston Turner led the Aggies to a top 25 ranking in December, and those top two scorers will take at least a little pressure off the incoming perimeter duo of Caruso and Reese. Each of the recruits will need to get stronger for Big 12 competition, but they’re good scorers and should enjoy solid careers.

TEXAS TECH

2011-12 Signings: AR WG Dusty Hannahs, MO JC PG Daylen Robinson, IL JC PG Jamal Williams, WY JC BF Rodrigo Silva.

Building the program in Lubbock will require time. The Red Raiders don’t have legitimate Big 12-level talent and won’t win consistently until they do. The recruiting class took a hit when nomadic BF Jordan Goodman backed off his pledge, and the emphasis was placed on adding junior college experience. Expect a more high school-heavy class in the 2013 cycle.

--------- Pac 10 ---------

ARIZONA STATE

2011-12 Signings: AZ BF/C Eric Jacobsen, AZ BF Kenny Martin, AZ PG Calaen Robinson.

Underclass Commitments (class): AZ WG/WF Kodi Justice (2014).

Herb Sendek likely expected his team struggle while he restocks the roster, but any chance of success was diminished significantly when the NCAA ruled stud freshman point guard Jahii Carson ineligible for the entire season due to academic reasons. In recruiting, ASU's class doesn't feature any top-100 signees, but the hope is that they'll be able to construct a solid foundation over four seasons.

COLORADO

2011-12 Signings: CA WF Xavier Johnson, CO C Josh Scott, CO BF Wesley Gordon, MI WF Chris Jenkins, CO PG Xavier Talton.

The Buffs became one of the conference's success stories, all the more noteworthy because they are a new addition. Landing a top-100 recruit hasn't been commonplace for Colorado in recent years, and during the 2012 cycle they landed two. Johnson and Scott both are battle-tested and mentally tough.

OREGON

2011-12 Signings: NV PG Dominic Artis, NV BF Ben Carter, TX WF Damyean Dotson.

Artis was the Ducks' prime signee, and he was joined by Carter and Dotson after the publication of the fall Handbook. Carter teams with No. 1 senior Shabazz Muhammad and others in high school, and his exposure to elite teammates and competition will help him make the adjustment to college. Dotson is more of an unknown but also hails from a successful high school program.

OREGON STATE

2011-12 Signings: CA WF Langston Morris-Walker, OR C Maika Ostling, GA WF Jarmal Reid.

Underclass Commitments (class): OR WG L.J. Westbrook (2013).

Craig Robinson's club outperformed expectations during the early season, and hopes were that Jared Cunningham could lead the club to a strong run through the Pac-12. Shifting to recruiting, none of the three signees is nationally celebrated. Still, Robinson's ability to seek out recruits nationally - because the state of Oregon has been down in recent years for talent - enabled him to lasso talented athlete Reid. Morris-Walker will join him on the wing, and Ostling is a developmental big man who already boasts a college-ready body.

UTAH

2011-12 Signings: UT WF Jordan Loveridge, CA WF Josh Hearlihy, GA BF/C Jeremy Olsen, GA WG Justin Seymour, UT JC C Dallin Bachynski.

Utah's class is pretty good, and that's fortunate: Not to put too fine a point on it, but the Utes arguably were the nation's worst major-conference team during the opening two months of the season. They lack talent all over the floor and next year's freshmen will have an opportunity to compete for immediate minutes. Top-100 Loveridge, in particular, should feature heavily in the offense.

WASHINGTON STATE

2011-12 Signings: WA WF Brett Boese, AZ WF DeMarquise Johnson, CA BF Richard Longrus, AZ BF/C Richard Peters.

The Cougars continue to improve under Ken Bone. The 2012 class represents another step in a positive direction, as some scouts view Johnson as a top-75 national prospect. Meanwhile, Longrus and Peters will add size up front, and Boese likely will begin his career playing alongside and backing up Johnson.

----------- SEC -----------

LOUISIANA STATE

2011-12 Signings: LA WG Malik Morgan.

LSU is fielding a very young team this season, and fans understandably are being reasonable about what this club likely will accomplish. One key will be getting the most from freshman big man Johnny O’Bryant, a key to Trent Johnson’s mission to challenge the conference elite. The signing class included Morgan, a prolific scorer who has earned top-100 plaudits from regional scouts.

MISSISSIPPI

Mississippi

2011-12 Signings: TN WG Martavious Newby, Venezuala/FL BF Anthony Cortesia.

When assessing the Rebels’ signing class, the big question is whether Newby will upgrade the club’s ability – suspect this season – to strike from deep. He’s known as a tough competitor and good athlete, but can he help improve Ole Miss from the perimeter? At the minimum, however, his ample experience on the national circuit has exposed him to top-flight competition. The other signee, Cortesia, boasts international experience and reputedly possesses good face-up skills.

MISSISSIPPI STATE

2011-12 Signings: MS C Gavin Ware, TX PG Josh Gray, TX PG P.J. Hardwick, AL WG Craig Sword, MS WG Fred Thomas.

Through the early season, MSU’s promise delivered by strong recruiting the past three years paid off. The Bulldogs won key non-conference games and were led by senior guard Dee Bost along with surprise freshman Rodney Hood. Even after the current Bulldogs exit the program, Rick Stansbury’s squads still will possess talent.

The signing class contains four perimeter prospects, but the most heralded of the quintet is big man Ware. Though not a great athlete, he’s a pretty good face-up scorer and big body who’s willing to rebound and defend. There likely will be fierce competition among the other signees for playing time, but clearly Bost’s departure will open up significant opportunity. Looking to spring, elite MS BF/WF Devonta Pollard remains the top target.

VANDERBILT

2011-12 Signings: FL WG/WF A.J. Astroth, Germany WG Kevin Bright, Nigeria/NC C Arnold Okechukwu.

The Commodores didn’t play their best ball during November and December, but they boast a talented and experienced team that has a chance to make noise in the NCAA tournament. In recruiting, and as is frequently the case, Vandy signed an unsung class with an international flavor that should be able to make an increasing impact over the course of four seasons. Clearly, missing on long-time top target Alex Poythress to Kentucky hurt – but the ‘Dores aren’t accustomed to beating UK for many recruits. Kevin Stallings understands what his program is and needs to be, and the total is greater than the sum of its parts.

-------- Atlantic 10 --------

XAVIER

2011-12 Signings: MA WG/PG Myles Davis, NH PG Semaj Christon, ME BF James Farr, NH BF Jaylen Reynolds.

What’s shaping up to be a dynamic season for XU ran aground, at least briefly, in December. The Musketeers became engaged in a brawl with Cincinnati that spoke to the rivalry between the teams as well as the players, some who already were plenty familiar with each other. The bench-clearing fight resulted in multiple suspensions, and undefeated Xavier lost its very next game to Oral Roberts.

Otherwise, life is good. Xavier features an elite backcourt with both Tu Holloway and Mark Lyons, and teams with excellent guard play are difficult to knock out of the NCAA tournament. In recruiting, Davis will help continue the tradition. He’s a sensational three-point shooter who’s small for the wing but plenty able to hold his own physically. Like Holloway and Lyons, he’s an East Coast kid moving west to Cincinnati. Not only that, Christon was so good at an early season prep school school event that some scouts now regard him as a potential top-40 national prospect! Farr and Reynolds don’t possess the abundant accolades as the guards do, but they’ll provide depth and continuity.