College Basketball: Top 15 Classes After Shabazz Muhammad, Nerlens Noel Decide

Nerlens Noel and Shabazz Muhammad have committed to Kentucky and UCLA, respectively, and the top college-basketball-recruiting classes have undergone some major changes.

The top-three classes have changed, but not as you might think. Arizona still trumps Kentucky for the No. 1 spot, and UCLA has jumped nine spots to No. 3 on the list.

The college-basketball world has been rocked since their decisions, and these are how the new class rankings look.

15. Pittsburgh Panthers

Recruits: 3

ESPNU Top 100 Recruits: 2

Best Recruit: C Steven Adams

Notable Recruits Still Considering: SF Savon Goodman (No. 100)



Jamie Dixon did a great job to secure his Pittsburgh Panthers some talent from overseas, as he landed C Steven Adams, who, at No. 6, is the best player from outside of the U.S. in this class, according to ESPNU.

Adams is one of the best big men in the Class of 2012, and he will be playing for the Panthers next year. Adams will play well inside, and PG James Robinson (ESPNU No. 43) will do a great job of feeding him the ball, as he is a top-five point guard in the class.

While these two make for a good combination, I am quickly losing faith in Adams. He may be ranked high and has the potential to be dominant, but the fact remains that most international players are unsuccessful in their first years in America.

Adams is going to be thrown into a whole new system in a different style of play, and I see him struggling at first.

While adding Savon Goodman would definitely help this class, right now, the Panthers are barely hanging on ahead of Xavier for the last spot on this list.

14. Purdue Boilermakers

Recruits: 4

ESPNU Top 100 Recruits: 3

Best Recruit: SG Rapheal Davis

Notable Recruits Still Considering: None

Robbie Hummel recently played his final game in a Purdue uniform, and the Boilmakers no longer have any members of the recruiting class that brought them to the top.

The 2012 class resembles that class which brought Hummel, JaJuan Johnson and E'Twaun Moore to Purdue, as it boasts  three players in the Top 100.

The Boilermakers are looking to get back on top again, with C A.J. Hammons (No. 81), SG Rapheal Davis (No. 87) and PG Ronnie Johnson (No. 92) leading the way.

A new backcourt and a talented big man help make this class a great one. Sheer numbers have Purdue on this list, but once the recruiting period is over, they could potentially fall off, as they don't have any more major recruits considering them.

13. Syracuse Orange

Recruits: 2

ESPNU Top 100 Recruits: 2

Best Recruit: C DaJuan Coleman

Notable Recruits Still Considering: None

Syracuse is the first school on this list that was directly impacted by Nerlens Noel and Shabazz Muhammad announcing their decisions earlier today. Noel considered the Orange, but he did not choose them in the end.

Jim Boeheim lost seven-footer Fab Melo to the NBA, but he is looking to replace him with C DaJuan Coleman (No. 14).

Boeheim has seen just how much he relies on his center to anchor his 2-3 zone, and he will need to train Coleman well, since the team lost the Noel sweepstakes.

However, Boeheim could not focus solely on his center, as he also had seniors Scoop Jardine and Kris Joseph leaving, so he brought in SF Jerami Grant (No. 37), who gives this class an athletic side.

These two players are both going to make a big impact, and even without Noel, the Orange will be good.

12. Kansas Jayhawks

Recruits: 5

ESPNU Top 100 Recruits: 2

Best Recruit: PF Perry Ellis

Notable Recruits Still Considering: C Tony Parker (No. 26), SF Savon Goodman (No. 100)

Bill Self just led this team to the national championship game, and that pitch is music to a recruit's ears...Unfortunately, it didn't mean anything to Shabazz Muhammad.

However, the Jayhawks already have five recruits, so that pitch will be more effective when recruiting the Class of 2013.

Bill Self's Kansas recruiting class epitomizes the struggle for recruiters—is it better to land a few great players or a lot of good ones?

While Kansas has had a lot of good recruits turn out to be great (Thomas Robinson, the Morris twins, etc.), we can't bank on the same thing happening again this year.

Kansas has five good players, but they only have two great ones in No. 35 Perry Ellis and No. 48 Andrew White. After these two, this class is not exactly going to blow anyone away.

This is still a good class because of its size and the fact that Ellis and White are both excellent players who will make an immediate impact for the Jayhawks. However, the team probably won't be landing any more recruits.

11. Providence Friars

Recruits: 4

ESPNU Top 100 Recruits: 2

Best Recruit: SG Ricardo Ledo

Notable Recruits Still Considering: C Christopher Obekpa (No. 77)

Providence may not be as prestigious as, say, Duke or Kentucky, but the Friars are bringing in a great class, thanks to coach Ed Cooley.

Cooley knows that Providence is arguably the least distinguished team in the Big East, and Rhode Island isn't exactly a great recruiting pipeline. However, when Cooley saw a few kids who were close to home start to shine, he jumped all over them, recruiting them hard and getting a couple of early commitments.

Providence has a great recruiting class with a brand new backcourt. PG Kris Dunn (Providence, R.I.) and SG Ricardo Ledo (New London, Conn.) are both in the top 25 in the country, and they will give Providence a foundation to build on.

Cooley is capitalizing on every opportunity he can, and that is what makes him a great recruiter.

The school landed another recruit in PG Ian Baker since my last update, but he is not a great player, and he will be behind Dunn his whole career.

10. Michigan Wolverines

Recruits: 4

ESPNU Top 100 Recruits: 3

Best Recruit: C Mitch McGary

Notable Recruits Still Considering: None

Michigan may not have as many recruits as some other schools, but all three of their recruits are great players, and this class will help Michigan be a Top 10 team next season.

C Mitch McGary is No. 27 in the country, and he could be ranked much higher. Entering the season, he was ranked No. 2 and still seems to be the same dominant center that broke a backboard over the summer.

The Wolverines are also bringing in No. 18 SF Glenn Robinson and No. 77 SF Nik Stauskas. Robinson is a dynamic player who is highly athletic, while Stauskas has the range to play shooting guard and possesses great size for the position at 6'6", 200 pounds.

Michigan's recruiting class is very talented, and they deserve their ranking in the Top 10 in the nation.

9. Indiana Hoosiers

Recruits: 5

ESPNU Top 100 Recruits: 3

Best Recruit: PG Yogi Ferrell

Notable Recruits Still Considering: None

Tom Crean's Indiana Hoosiers haven't had a 2012 recruit commit to them in well over a year, and they won't be getting any more. They had a very early start, however, landing five recruits—including three in the top 100. This class was once ranked No. 1 in the country, but it has slowly dropped.

The class is led by PG Yogi Ferrell, who is ranked No. 24 in the nation. It also includes SF Jeremy Hollowell (No. 42) and PF Hanner Mosquera-Perea (No. 71), not to mention SG Ron Patterson and C Peter Jurkin.

With Cody Zeller and Christian Watford both returning, Indiana will be one of the best teams in the country. All five starters return, and the Hoosiers bring in five more players to add to their depth.

Look out for Indiana next year.

8. North Carolina State Wolfpack

Recruits: 3

ESPNU Top 100 Recruits: 3

Best Recruit: SG Rodney Purvis

Notable Recruits Still Considering: PF Amile Jefferson (No. 25), SG Torian Graham (No. 90)

Mark Gottfried has been absolutely outstanding for North Carolina State. Apart from leading this team to the Sweet 16, he has put together a stellar recruiting class at NC State.

No. 20 Rodney Purvis is arguably the best shooting guard in the 2012 class, while No. 29 T.J. Warren is an elite small forward. No. 44 Tyler Lewis is a good point guard who will play for a few years, and these guys will be the foundation upon which Gottfried builds the Wolfpack back up.

Gottfried is also still recruiting, and North Carolina State is the clear favorite for SG Torian Graham. If he can land Graham, they will be elite, but if he can also land PF Amile Jefferson, the class will become one of the best in the country. Jefferson recently cut his list to four schools, including North Carolina State.

7. Michigan State Spartans

Recruits: 4

ESPNU Top 100 Recruits: 4

Best Recruit: SG Gary Harris

Notable Recruits Still Considering: None

Tom Izzo is bringing in even more elite recruits than usual this year, and his Michigan State Spartans will have success for years to come with these guys on the team.

SG Gary Harris is the No. 11 player in the nation and the No. 1 shooting guard. Harris heads the class and will be an instant-impact player, as he will be a starter next season. Harris also has ice in his veins, and he will be the one taking shots at the end of games.

The class also features PF Kenny Kaminski, C Matt Costello and SF Denzel Valentine, all of whom are in the top 100 in the Class of 2012. It's a good thing that this class has big men, too, because losing senior power forward Draymond Green hurts, as does having center Derrick Nix suspended indefinitely after his arrest for drug possession.

With Keith Appling playing point guard and Branden Dawson playing small forward, this team is going to be elite again next year.

6. North Carolina Tar Heels

Recruits: 4

ESPNU Top 100 Recruits: 4

Best Recruit: PG Marcus Paige

Notable Recruits Still Considering: None

North Carolina got off to a slow recruiting start, but as the year progressed, it put together an incredible class. Coach Roy Williams is bringing in more than a few great recruits.

Williams lost four of his five starters from last year, with the only returning member being SG Dexter Strickland. Because of that, his 2012 recruiting class relies on four players (from every position except shooting guard, oddly enough) who will help this team maintain its national prestige.

No. 22 PG Marcus Paige, No. 34 PF Brice Johnson, No. 60 C Joel James and No. 70 SF J.P. Tokoto are all great players who will help replenish this team. They will have to make an immediate impact, with Harrison Barnes, Tyler Zeller, John Henson and Kendall Marshall all leaving next season.

Look for these guys to receive a good amount of playing time next year, alongside Dexter Strickland, P.J. Hairston and James Michael McAdoo. The Tar Heels are still going to be a dangerous team next year, even with four starters leaving.

5. Baylor Bears

Recruits: 4

ESPNU Top 100 Recruits: 3

Top Recruit: C Isaiah Austin

Notable Recruits Still Considering: SG Torian Graham (No. 90)

Scott Drew did a great job of replenishing his soon-to-be depleted frontline with this recruiting class.

With senior Quincy Acy graduating and Perry Jones III leaving for the NBA as well, this team will have only one returning starter on the frontline (Quincy Miller) coming back.

However, Baylor will still have one of the best frontlines in the country, thanks to Drew's 2012 recruiting class.

C Isaiah Austin is the other elite big. The seven-footer is ranked No. 3 in the country among all recruits and is the No. 2 center behind Nerlens Noel.

Ricardo Gathers is a powerful forward who has the body of a defensive lineman. He ranks No. 36 in the country and gives Baylor two elite big men in this class.

Baylor is going to have one of the best frontcourts in the nation again next year, but they will also have No. 63 PG L.J. Rose and C Chad Rykhoek joining them.

Look for the Bears to build on last year's success next season.

4. Texas Longhorns

Recruits: 6

ESPNU Top 100 Recruits: 4

Best Recruit: C Cameron Ridley

Notable Recruits Still Considering: SF Devonta Pollard (No. 28), SG Torian Graham (No. 90)

Rick Barnes is bringing in five new recruits this year, and what is more surprising is that all of them are from the United States.

Known for recruiting international players, he missed out on the best international recruit in C Steven Adams, who ranks No. 5 in the class and is headed to Pittsburgh. And he is not recruiting No. 7 Anthony Bennett, who is from Canada.

Barnes' top recruit in 2012 is No. 8 C Cameron Ridley, who I've compared to Tristan Thompson. He is an elite big man who will be an instant star in Texas. While he isn't as dominant inside, he is much better facing the basket than Thompson.

C Prince Ibeh, PF Connor Lammert, PG Javan Felix and SF Ioannis Papapetrou round out the class, with Papapetrou being the only one who is not a top-100 recruit.

Barnes was certainly busy, and his hard work paid off, as his class is now No. 3 in the country.

3. UCLA Bruins

Recruits: 3

ESPNU Top 100 Recruits: 3

Best Recruit: SF Shabazz Muhammad

Notable Recruits Still Considering: C Tony Parker (No. 26), C Christopher Obekpa (No. 77), SF Savon Goodman (No. 100)

As we expected, Shabazz Muhammad chose UCLA, becoming a Bruin. This kid is so important that he brought UCLA from No. 12 to No. 3 on my list.

Muhammad just made this class so much better, giving the team two players in the top five in the country. I still consider Muhammad the best player in the country because of his ability to score, while Anderson is just a freak, playing point guard at 6'9".

With Muhammad coming, he and SF Jordan Adams (No. 41) can still play at the same time, as one can line up at shooting guard.

UCLA's biggest needs were in the backcourt, as the team returns quite a few big men, and now that the team has the firepower to run the floor and get buckets in transition, the Bruins are going to be deadly next year.

I also have UCLA landing two more recruits before the process is over in my predictions for the eight biggest players left.

2. Kentucky Wildcats

Recruits: 4

ESPNU Top 100 Recruits: 4

Best Recruit: C Nerlens Noel

Notable Recruits Still Considering: PF Anthony Bennett (No. 7), PF Amile Jefferson (No. 25), SF Devonta Pollard (No. 28)

I know what you're thinking: "What!? John Calipari is only No. 2!?"

Yes, the best recruiter in the history of the game does not have the No. 1-ranked class in the nation for the first time since he came to Lexington, despite landing No. 1 recruit Nerlens Noel. However, he still has a few more elite prospects considering UK.

Calipari was at it again this year, bringing in four recruits in the top 40. No. 13 Alex Poythress is very athletic, while No. 15 Archie Goodwin is a prolific scorer and may be just as good. No. 40 Willie Cauley brings height to this team as a 6'10" center, and he always seems to be overlooked, but he, too, will have a huge impact on the team.

Calipari is nowhere near done recruiting, and he is still trying to land a power forward to replace Terrence Jones. If he can secure any of the three power forwards that are still considering Kentucky and have four players in the top 40 in the class, he could take No. 1 on this list.

This next school needs to watch out, as he is half a step behind them for the lead.

1. Arizona Wildcats

Recruits: 5

ESPNU Top 100 Recruits: 4

Best Recruit: C Kaleb Tarczewski

Notable Recruits Still Considering: PF Anthony Bennett (No. 7), SG Torian Graham (No. 90)

Despite No. 2 Kentucky adding the best player in the country, Arizona is still ahead of them because of its underrated stars.

Sean Miller's 2012 recruiting class is one of the best in history. He recently added a fifth recruit in Matt Korcheck, who will sit out a year before coming into the system and playing well.

Led by three players ranked in the top 10 in the class, Miller's class is the best in the nation.

No. 4 C Kaleb Tarczewski is the best player in the class, but not by much. No. 8 Grant Jerrett and No. 9 Brandon Ashley are right behind Tarc, and No. 66 Gabe York, a highly skilled point guard, is probably the most underrated player in the class.

To give you an idea of just how good this class is, the highlight reel above is that of York. He is considered the worst member of the class by far (which is completely unjust), but he is an amazing player. Listed at 6'0" by ESPN, York exhibits incredible hops to throw it down, and he has Jimmer-range shooting ability.

York's prowess, along with three players in the top 10, makes this class better than that of Kentucky, although not by much.

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