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SIGNING WEEK: TOP 25-PLUS CLASSES

Updated 11/19, 7:23pm: Tennessee climbs into the top five after getting a huge decision from top-20 NY BF Tobias Harris.

Updated 11/17, 5:45pm: Memphis solidifies its spot atop the charts by getting top-75 BF Tarik Black. Meanwhile, Missouri storms into the top 10 thanks to the pledge offered by TX WF/BF Tony Mitchell.

Updated 11/15, 3:51pm: Memphis adds elite GA WG Jelan Kendrick and soars to the top of the rankings.

Updated 11/13, 7:29pm: North Carolina jumps to the head of the class on the strength of its three signees, the latest being No. 1 senior Harrison Barnes.

Updated 11/12, 6:13pm: The Memphis Tigers strengthened their position at No. 3, getting the nod from No. 120 senior Hippolyte Tsafack.

Updated 11/11, 6:00pm: Pittsburgh added at No. 24.

PrepStars.com staff
readermail@prepstars.com

Finally, after years of retrieving scholarship offers, taking and hosting visits, playing throughout the country on the travel circuit, on Wednesday the Class of 2010 began to make their college decisions binding.

While the results below will change as certain top recruits make their decisions, here’s a look at the top 25-plus recruiting classes to date, with Memphis now leading the charge at No. 1.

1. Memphis

7. Joe Jackson
8. Will Barton
19. Jelan Kendrick
65. Tarik Black
120. Hippolyte Tsafack
126. Chris Crawford
Top 250 MA WG Antonio Barton

Comment: First-year coach Josh Pastner’s class looks like the kind of group the Tigers used to sign when John Calipari manned the program. Now that big-time talent is secured for the future, all eyes will turn to Memphis to see how they develop on the court under their emerging coach. Nearing the end of signing period, Memphis added its third McDonald's All-American-caliber talent in the form of GA WG Jelan Kendrick as well as TN BF Tarik Black.

2. North Carolina

1. Harrison Barnes
14. Reggie Bullock
21. Kendall Marshall

Comment: The Tar Heels scored their pair of top-25 commitments very early, and both signees project to see significant playing time as freshmen. Then, they Heels won out for the nation's top prospect, Barnes, and his presence in the class lifts the Heels all the way up to No. 1, although certainly a case still could be made for Ohio State.

3. Ohio State

3. Jared Sullinger
10. DeShaun Thomas
76. Jordan Sibert
122. J.D. Weatherspoon
125. Lenzelle Smith
138. Aaron Craft

Comment: The Buckeyes continue to assemble elite classes under coach Thad Matta. OSU did its work early and reeled in the nation’s top big man in Sullinger. Thomas will add great versatility, while the remainder of the class offers a blend of defense (Craft), shot creation (Smith), wing shooting (Sibert, who is recovering from a broken leg) and springy athleticism (Weatherspoon).

4. Duke

4. Kyrie Irving
Top 25 Andre Dawkins
29. Josh Hairston
86. Tyler Thornton

NOTE: Dawkins originally was a Class of 2010 recruit, but he opted to finish school early and enroll at Duke this fall. But because he wasn’t listed as a member of Duke’s 2009 class, we’ve included him in these rankings.

Comment: The Devils finally landed the point guard they needed so badly in Irving. The New Jersey native is a terrific scorer who also can defend and handle at an elite level. His three-point stroke is dangerous, and it’s difficult to conceive of a national top five in the class without him.

5. Tennessee

16. Tobias Harris
46. Jordan McRae
75. Trae Golden

Comment: There was more ink devoted to what UT didn’t have on signing day – namely, de-commitments by Aaron Craft (Ohio State) and elite guard Josh Selby (undecided) – but all that changed when Harris announced for the Vols at the close of the signing period. Harris is a big-time scorer and handler for his size and should be a key weapon for the program for as long as he's in college.

6. UCLA

11. Josh Smith
41. Tyler Lamb

Comment: Ben Howland was able to stay on the West Coast for his top-50 duo, and it’s possible that with grooming Smith could develop into a star. Can the Bruins add another blue-chipper from among Ray McCallum, Trey Zeigler or Terrence Jones?

7. N.C. State

17. Ryan Harrow
26. Lorenzo Brown
36. Luke Cothron

NOTE: We’ve listed Brown here but not factored him into the actual rankings, because he is a fifth-year prepster who was included in the Wolfpack’s class ranking for last year.

Comment: The Pack needed to replenish the roster’s talent level and did so in spades, added crucial backcourt scoring help from Harrow and Brown, and they also inked a big-timer in the frontcourt in Cothron.

8. Illinois

22. Jereme Richmond
52. Meyers Leonard
60. Crandall Head

Comment: The Illini handled business in their home state, and at Illinois that’s really all the club has to do on an ordinary basis. And this class is hardly ordinary, with Richmond, Leonard and Head all possessing the natural ability and potential to exceed even these lofty individual rankings.

9. Syracuse

15. Fab Melo
66. Dion Waiters
117. Baye Moussa Keita
123. C.J. Fair

Comment: Potentially elite Melo (some consider him the top NBA prospect in the class) was a rousing victory for the Cuse, and Waiters and the rest of the gang will provide outstanding depth. The Orange aren’t finished yet, either; they are hanging in there for elite guard Brandon Knight and are a strong contender for big-time forward Tobias Harris, who will announce on November 19.

10. Michigan State

34. Adreian Payne
35. Keith Appling
136. Russell Byrd
194. Alex Gauna

Comment: As usual, the Spartans signed a combination of skilled scorers and unsung forwards that have been a program fixture during the Tom Izzo era. Some had considered MSU an underdog for Payne, but he spurned heavy attention from other majors to play for the Spartans.

11. Missouri

28. Tony Mitchell
38. Phil Pressey
185. Ricky Kreklow
Top 300 NC BF Kadeem Green

Comment: The Tigers signed a pair of big-time players, and both Mitchell and Pressey should become terrific performers in Mizzou's system. Additionally, MU picked up the services of the versatile Green and Kreklow, one of the better three-point shooters in the class.

12. Florida

20. Patric Young
53. Casey Prather

Comment: Florida’s trademark fullcourt style will gain a boost of athleticism when Young and Prather arrive on campus. Both guys are among the most athletic players in the country at their position. Along with that, Florida continues to pursue Fort Lauderdale star Brandon Knight and other unsigned seniors who may not decide until spring.

13. Texas

5. Tristan Thompson

Comment: You won’t often find one-player classes this highly ranked, but in college hoops it’s all about the studs. Thus, any class – even a very small one – containing the multi-talented Thompson warrants a nod in this position. He’s likely to become the next star in Austin and quite possibly the next high lottery pick as well.

14. Baylor

6. Perry Jones
Top 300 TX WG Bakari Turner

Comment: Jones is another of those who has been deemed by some scouts as a great college prospect who actually projects even more highly for the pros. Whatever the case, there’s no question his number will be called early and often for the Bears.

15. Wake Forest

45. Travis McKie
58. J.T. Terrell
80. Melvin Tabb
104. Carson Desrosiers
107. Tony Chennault

Comment: The emphasis at Wake this year was on both quality and quantity, and the Deacs delivered. McKie, Terrell and Tabb all are impressive ACC-level athletes and scorers, while Desrosiers will anchor the middle and Chennault will steady the ship.

16. Florida State

32. Okaro White
51. Ian Miller
FL JC BF Bernard James

FSU has been a program dominated by defense under Leonard Hamilton’s reign, but this class represents a move toward greater fluidity and skill on offense. Both White and Miller are skilled, hard working scorers who need to get stronger but boast excellent potential for the Noles.

17. Maryland

47. Terrence Ross
50. Mychal Parker
105. Terrell Stoglin
161. Ashton Pankey

Comment: Wing scoring, length and athleticism are the hallmarks of the Terps’ class. Maryland hasn’t had above-average offensive firepower in several seasons, but that appears it will change over the next couple years.

18. Stanford

48. Anthony Brown
49. Dwight Powell
102. MT WF/BF Josh Huestis
Top 300 WA PG Aaron Bright
Top 300 WA BF John Gage

Comment: It isn’t every day that the Cardinal can find enough academically-oriented prospects to comprise a top-15 class, but Brown and Powell were attracted to both the baskeball and academic aspects the school had to offer. Clearly, coach Johnny Dawkins has made a strong early impact in Palo Alto.

19. California

40. Gary Franklin
62. Richard Solomon
146. IL WG Alex Rossi
188. Allen Crabbe

Among our top 25 classes, Cal’s is a bit more physically anemic and one that will require more strength training than some others to get into the game. Nevertheless, Franklin is an outstanding shooter who grew up leading loaded Mater Dei last season at point guard, and physically he’ll be more ready to go out of the box.

20. Virginia

56. James Johnson
73. AL WG K.T. Harrell
92. Will Regan
137. WA WG Joe Harris
177. NC BF Akil Mitchell

Comment: Tony Bennett’s first effort at UVa places the Wahoos near the top of the list when you look at surprises classes this year. The Cavaliers all of a sudden will have a lineup that’s balanced and evenly distributed with speed, skills, size, shooting and fundamentals.

21. Texas A&M

54. Keith Davis
84. Tobi Oyedeji
Top 100 Kourtney Roberson
144. Daniel Alexander

NOTE: Roberson is listed here but is a fifth-year prep who was included in last year’s rankings, so he doesn’t actually factor in the 2010 rankings.

Comment: The Aggies aren’t a regular to these top-25 class rankings, but the ability to load up in the frontcout is extremely impressive. No, this isn’t the most balanced group in terms of size or skills, but as a category killer up front, this group is a head-turner.

22. Florida International

24. Dominique Ferguson
Top 250 Phil Taylor
Top 400 MI WG/WF Richaud Pack
WY JC WG DeJuan Wright

Comment: Now, this is the surprise class for the 2010 group. Isiah Thomas’ club is struggling this year, but help is on the way. Getting Ferguson was the single biggest coup in the Class of 2010, but don’t overlook the other guys, either.

23. South Carolina

71. Damontre Harris
78. Bruce Ellington
No. 154 SC BF R.J. Slawson
Top 300 Brian Richardson
Top 300 Eric Smith

Comment: The Gamecocks focused on South and North Carolina for their signing class, and they outfought numerous ACC and SEC schools to reel in this commendable effort. Harris is a year or two away in terms of strength, but he could develop into one of the top big men in the conference by the time he’s a junior.

24. Iowa

85. Cody Larson
89. Ben Brust
131. Roy Marble Jr.
192. IA WF Zach McCabe

Comment: Quietly, Iowa signed a class that is the envy of many other programs. This group is a testament to skilled talent evaluation, because the Hawkeyes simply beat many of their peers to the punch on some of these guys.

25. Pittsburgh

69. J.J. Moore
109. Isaiah Epps
165. Cameron Wright

Comment: A late addition to this list after Moore announced on signing day, the Panthers don't have any superstars in their class but once again landed the style of players they prefer: talented, understated, and tough. Moore and Wright, in particular, enjoyed fantastic summers and appear to be on the incline. Epps, meanwhile, remains very steady.

26. Alabama

74. Trevor Releford
79. Charles Hankerson

Comment: First-year coach Anthony Grant has drawn a lot of publicity due to his pedigree gained at Florida and during an impressive year at Virginia Commonwealth, and he carried that momentum into signing day with a pair of top-75 pledges. Whatever he decides to build in terms of style for the SEC, his backcourt appears set for the next four years.

27. Xavier

98. Jordan Latham
103. Griffin McKenzie
116. Justin Martin
159. Jay Canty

Comment: There’s no one player who carries the torch for the Musketeers’ class, but all four guys have clear high-major ability in some fashion or another. For that reason, this what you might term a high-level depth class, and it’s a darned good one at that.