College Basketball: The 30 Best Players in the 2012 Class and Where They Will Go

Recruiting is a big part of success in college basketball. Being able to land big recruits is key, and these 30 recruits are the biggest of the 2012 class.

These talented players will be put on display starting in the 2012-13 season.

Perhaps this is jumping the gun a bit, but these are the 30 best recruits in the 2012 class, with predictions about where they will be playing.

30. Yogi Ferrell (Indiana)

Yogi Ferrell is a 5'11" point guard who will be playing for the Indiana Hoosiers in the 2012-13 season. Ferrell has verbally committed to the Hoosiers, but he also considered the Florida Gators, Wake Forest Demon Deacons, Virginia Cavaliers and Butler Bulldogs.

Ferrell is true point guard who is most dangerous when he penetrates. Ferrell is very quick, allowing him to get past perimeter defenders. He is also a good ball-handler, which allows him to stay in the paint, avoiding defenders until he can drive.

When he drives he can score easily, or he can draw defenders and kick the ball out to a teammate. Ferrell also has a good mid-range game, and he can knock down shot after shot when he is doing well.

The main drawback for Ferrell is that he leaves his feet too often. When he drives he will leave his feet, and that makes him vulnerable to drawing a charge. If Ferrell can learn to stay on the ground when he passes, he will become a great player.

29. Gabe York (Arizona)

Gabe York is a 6'1" shooting guard who will be playing for the Arizona Wildcats in the 2012-13 season. He has verbally committed to Arizona, but he also considered the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, Louisville Cardinals, Washington Huskies and Marquette Golden Eagles.

York is an excellent shooter, hitting from up to 25 feet with ease. His shot is very sweet, and he is one of the best pure shooters in the class.

York is not a one-trick pony, however, as he is also a great athlete. He can finish in transition, and he has had made some incredible, high-flying dunks despite being only 6'1".

York's greatest fault is that he loves his shot. He will settle for a jumper when he could probably drive. If York can work on this, he can become a very good player.

28. Robert Upshaw (UCLA)

Robert Upshaw is a 6'11" center who has not committed to any college yet. Upshaw has considered the California Golden Bears, UCLA Bruins, LSU Tigers, Utah Utes and Virginia Cavaliers, but it seems that he will be playing for UCLA in the 2012-13 season.

Upshaw has a great body for a center, and he uses it well. His 250-pound frame and long arms allow him to be a very good shot-blocker, and he has improved his timing to become one. He can also fill up the lane on offense, and he likes to bully smaller centers around.

Upshaw has to improve his mobility if he wants to play well at the next level, however. He does not run the floor well, and he cannot help in transition.

27. J-Mychal Reese (Kansas)

J-Mychal Reese easily has the coolest name in the 2012 class. He is a 6'2" point guard who has not committed yet, but he is looking at the Memphis Tigers, Baylor Bears, Texas A&M Aggies, Texas Longhorns and Kansas Jayhawks. While he seems to be looking at a lot of schools in his home state of Texas, Kansas is not far away, and they have the better recruiters.

Reese is one of the best scoring threats in the class. He has a variety of good shots, including a nice runner. He can drive through the lane and finish, and he also has a nice step-back jumper. Reese can also find the open man well, which gives him the role of point guard.

Reese is not big enough to be considered a true shooting guard, so he might have to work on sharing the ball more if he wants to play point guard for a team in college.

26. Marcus Paige (North Carolina)

Marcus Paige is a 6'1" point guard who will be playing for the North Carolina Tar Heels in the 2012-13 season. He verbally committed to UNC, but he also considered the Minnesota Golden Gophers, Virginia Cavaliers, Illinois Fighting Illini and Iowa Hawkeyes.

Paige is the complete player at point guard. He can get teammates involved, he can score off the dribble, he can make clutch plays with time expiring, he can knock down free throws, he can catch and shoot, and he can lead his team to victory.

Paige can do it all, but he is not very strong. He needs to add strength if he wants to become more of a threat inside. Paige is solid in almost every aspect, but he does not excel in any.

25. Torian Graham (North Carolina State)

Torian Graham is a 6'4" shooting guard who will be playing for the NC State Wolfpack in the 2012-13 season. He verbally committed to NC State after also considering the Georgetown Hoyas, Kentucky Wildcats, Duke Blue Devils, North Carolina Tar Heels and Miami Hurricanes.

Graham is an athletic player who can get up and finished plays. He is hard to stop when he finds a path to the rim, and he can make defenders pay for forgetting about him for the slightest bit of time.

Graham has also developed into a very good shooter. He can hit deep shots or pull-up jumpers. His mid-range game has greatly improved, and he has bettered himself immensely.

Graham still needs to work on his control. He plays fast and needs to control the ball better, and he needs to learn how to control his emotions. When Graham has matured, he will be a great player.

24. Tony Parker (Duke)

No, not that Tony Parker. This Tony Parker is a 6'9" power forward. Parker has not committed anywhere yet, but he has narrowed down his choices to the Duke Blue Devils, Ohio St. Buckeyes and Memphis Tigers.

Parker is from Georgia, so he will probably want to stay in the South, and Duke is the best recruiter of the three, making them the obvious choice.

Parker has great skill inside, with a variety of moves, the best of which is his hook shot. Parker can dominate down low, but he can also hit mid-range jumpers as well.

Parker could be a great player, but he needs to work on his conditioning. He cannot run the floor as well as some of the other players in this class right now, and although he is improving, he needs to make a drastic change.

23. Devonta Pollard (Kentucky)

Devonta Pollard is a 6'7" small forward. Pollard is considering the Kentucky Wildcats, Ole Miss Rebels, Duke Blue Devils, North Carolina State Wolfpack and Mississippi State Bulldogs. Of those five schools, Kentucky is the best recruiting school, with Duke right behind them.

Pollard's biggest strengths come around the rim. He is smart enough to know what he has to do when he is in the paint, observant enough to know who has the best shot and athletic enough to get up and grab even the highest passes.

Pollard can play inside, but he is also fast enough to run the floor and help in transition, making him a small forward.

Pollard's biggest area for improvement is easily his jump shot. He isn't hitting mid-range shots, so it's not hard to defend him when he has the ball yet.

22. Daniel Ochefu (Villanova)

Daniel Ochefu is a 6'9" center who is verbally committed to the Villanova Wildcats. He also considered the Georgetown Hoyas, Temple Owls and Texas Longhorns.

Ochefu is dangerous offensively. He can play extremely well facing the basket, and he can also hit jumpers from about 15 feet away. He is a great ball-handler for his size, and a good shot-blocker on defense.

Ochefu faces up too much, and he needs to learn to play with his back to the basket if he wants to take his game to the next level.

21. Shaquille Cleare (Maryland)

Shaquille Cleare is a 6'9" center who will probably end up playing for the Maryland Terrapins. He is also considering the Arizona Wildcats, Baylor Bears, Texas A&M Aggies and Texas Longhorns.

At 270 lbs, Cleare has a big body and he uses it well in the paint. He can post-up well, and he finishes with his back to the basket. He makes up for his lack of height with his jump hook, and he finishes drop-off passes from penetrating guards as well.

Cleare is an excellent rebounder because he is so hard to box out. He can also get up to a pretty good height, and he can snag rebounds over other players.

Cleare needs to work on his conditioning because he has the potential to be one of the best players in college in the 2012-13 season.

20. Alex Poythress (Tennessee)

Alex Poythress is a 6'7" small forward. He decommitted from Oklahoma, and he is now considering the Florida Gators, Memphis Tigers, Vanderbilt Commodores, Miami (FL) Hurricanes and Tennessee Volunteers. Poythress lives in Tennessee, so it is likely that he will play for the Volunteers.

Poythress is an athlete, and he is a great small forward. He can run well and finish in transition. He can hit open threes with time, and he has a solid mid-range game. The kid has long arms that help him steal the ball easily on defense.

Poythress is solid in just about every aspect of the game, but he needs to learn how to excel.

19. Perry Ellis (Kansas State)

Perry Ellis is a power forward, and he will make a big impact in college. Ellis is considering the Kentucky Wildcats, Duke Blue Devils, Memphis Tigers, Kansas Jayhawks and Kansas State Wildcats, but living in Kansas, I see him playing for the Wildcats.

Ellis needs to play in a system that will get him the ball, and K-State can do that for him.

Ellis' skill set is best described by ESPN:

"

Strengths:

Ellis is a very strong power forward. He runs the floor very well and can catch and finish on the move in transition. Ellis is a good area rebounder as well. He scores in the low post by mostly facing up and attacking his defender with one or two strong dribbles toward the rim.

Ellis is more skilled than he gets credit for at times because he can step out and hit a 15 foot jumper with time and space. He can use his ball handling to bust out dribble after a defensive rebounder. Ellis' game will benefit mostly in a system with structure where he knows where he is going to get the ball.

 

Weaknesses:

Ellis can only play power forward and operate 15 feet and in because it is very difficult for him to score on the perimeter or in space. He must work on his back to the basket moves and continue to hone his skills.

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18. Rasheed Sulaimon (Duke)

Rasheed Sulaimon is a 6'3" shooting guard who will be playing for the Duke Blue Devils in the 2012-13 season. Sulaimon has verbally committed to Duke, but he also considered the Arizona Wildcats, North Carolina Tar Heels, Texas A&M Aggies and Texas Longhorns.

Sulaimon is a scoring machine. Sulaimon can score easily in transition, driving to the rim or hitting a pull-up jumper. He can also knock down threes, and when he's hot he can hit three or four in a row.

Sulaimon is a threat on the wing as he can shoot well, but he also knows how to drive and kick to a teammate. His quick first step allows him to get to the basket easily in a half-court set as well.

Sulaimon is a decent defender, but he tends to give up on plays, a habit that won't fly at Duke.

17. Jarnell Stokes (Memphis)

Jarnell Stokes is a 6'8" power forward who has yet to commit. Stokes is considering the Arkansas Razorbacks, Duke Blue Devils, Memphis Tigers, Kansas Jayhawks and Tennessee Volunteers. Stokes lives in Memphis, so it seems that they might have an edge when recruiting him.

Stokes uses his 250-pound body well, and he is surprisingly well conditioned. He can run the floor well, and he can finish in transition. He cuts through the lane well, and he is used to being hit on his way up.

Stokes is a strong player, but he is not very tall, making him vulnerable against long, athletic forwards.

16. Grant Jerrett (Arizona)

Grant Jerrett is a 6'8" power forward who has committed to the Arizona Wildcats. He also considered the Arizona State Sun Devils, UCLA Bruins, USC Trojans and UNLV Rebels, but he will be playing for the Wildcats in the 2012-13 season.

Jerrett is a fine physical specimen, possessing great length, broad shoulders with very long arms and soft hands. He can play inside well, but he can also hit mid-range jumpers very well. He seems to be transitioning to a small forward because he is learning to hit threes well too.

Jerrett needs to improve his strength. He does not finish through contact, but that should come when he bulks up a bit.

15. Gary Harris (Indiana)

Gary Harris is a 6'4" shooting guard from Indiana. He is currently considering the Indiana Hoosiers, Louisville Cardinals, Michigan State Spartans, Ohio State Buckeyes and Purdue Boilermakers, but I expect him to join the Hoosiers.

Harris aggressively attacks the rim on offense, but he can also hit jumpers. He uses his strong body well, not allowing opponents to penetrate into the lane. He is a good transition player, and he also knows how to jump into passing lanes well.

Harris is a good shooter when he is on a streak, but he needs to become more consistent.

14. Shaq Goodwin (Florida)

Shaq Goodwin is a power forward from Georgia. He is considering the UCLA Bruins, Florida Gators, Georgia Bulldogs, Memphis Tigers and Alabama Crimson Tide. While he lives in Georgia, the Gators have the better program, and the better coaching.

Goodwin has always had good attributes, but he never developed into a good player until last summer. He has put it all together, becoming one of the premier power forwards in the nation.

He is long and athletic, helping him grab balls in passing lanes and block shots. On offense he can drive through the lane, hit jumpers, play with his back to the basket and post up.

Goodwin needs to keep developing by adding another good move to his arsenal of attacks before he can truly become an elite player.

13. Robert Carter (Georgia)

Robert Carter is a 6'7" power forward who is undeclared. He is considering the Florida State Seminoles, Florida Gators, Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, Georgia Bulldogs and Ohio State Buckeyes.

Goodwin lives in Georgia, and he will probably want to stay in the area. Since Georgia Tech has been underachieving recently, he will probably play for the Bulldogs.

His game is best described by his ESPN player profile:

"

Strengths:

Carter possesses the tremendous combination of size, strength, and agility. Many believe he has NFL-level potential on either the offensive or defensive line. His wide body and nimble feet remind me of Glen "Big Baby" Davis in a lot of ways. Carter knows how to create space and gain position in the post and has soft hands that are like catchers mitts when receiving the ball.

Once he gets the ball he becomes a scorer you can go through late in games to get you a basket or get to the free-throw line. Although he is a load in the paint, his true strength offensively is his ability to step away from the basket and consistently knock down jump shots out to the arc.

 

Weaknesses:

Although his ability to step away from the basket is one of Carter's strengths, at times it becomes his biggest weakness; too often he plays a more finesse-type game away from the basket instead of sitting down on the block where many struggle to handle his size. He needs utilize his size and agility to be more active on the glass; he goes through stretches of the game where he is a non-factor on the boards.

"

12. Cameron Ridley (Texas)

Cameron Ridley is a 6'10" center who has committed to the Texas Longhorns. He has verbally committed,  but he also considered the Arizona Wildcats, North Carolina Tar Heels, Oklahoma Sooners and Texas A&M Aggies.

Ridley is one of the best centers in the class. He rarely mishandles even the hardest of passes, and he can finish with a nice jump hook. He can also finish facing the rim, and he is a monster on the glass, grabbing a ton of rebounds.

Ridley needs to keep up his strength and conditioning, and perhaps add another post move, and he will become an elite player if he does.

11. Kyle Anderson (St. John)

Kyle Anderson is a 6'7" small forward from New Jersey. He is considering Georgetown Hoyas, Florida Gators, Villanova Wildcats, Seton Hall Pirates and St. John's Red Storm. Being from Jersey he had to consider the Seton Hall Pirates, but he probably won't go there.

The St. John's Red Storm have an excellent recruiting program, and they proved it during this season. Anderson will be their next big recruit.

Anderson can play any perimeter position because of his versatile skill set. He is an excellent passer who knows how to get others involved. He has a sweet shot up to almost 20 feet, but he is getting better at shooting from long range. He is also athletic enough to play small forward and drive through the lane to finish with big plays.

Anderson is very versatile, but he lacks on the defensive end. If he can pick up his defensive game and keep extending his range, he could become one of the best freshmen in the nation in the 2012-13 season.

10. Ricardo Ledo (Connecticut)

Ricardo Ledo is a 6'6" shooting guard from Rhode Island. He is considering Connecticut Huskies, Kentucky Wildcats, Syracuse Orange, Kansas Jayhawks and Providence Friars. Ledo seems to be leaning towards the Huskies.

Ledo is an incredible scorer, plain and simple. He has excellent range, and he is quick off the bounce. He can drive well, and he can score just about whenever he wants. He is solid on defense, but he is not exceptional. He is one of the best pure scorers in the class.

Ledo can score in bunches, but if he becomes more consistent, he will be even better.

9. Kaleb Tarczewski (Connecticut)

Kaleb Tarczewski is a 7'0" center. He is considering the Arizona Wildcats, Connecticut Huskies, Kentucky Wildcats, North Carolina Tar Heels and Kansas Jayhawks, but he has not declared yet. It appears that he will stay in the Northeast by committing to the Connecticut Huskies.

"

 

Strengths:

Tarczewski is a true center with great size and tremendous upside. He runs the floor extremely well and has good mobility for a 7 footer. He has excellent hands and finishes drop off passes and clear paths above the rim. He has become an explosive and powerful finisher with both hands around the basket and his good hands allow him to catch tough passes and turn them into baskets.

He has a good left shoulder hook with a high release and is gradually developing his right shoulder as well. He is a excellent area rebounder especially on the offensive end and is also a decent on ball shot blocker. Physically he is becoming more and more immovable in the paint as his frame continues to fill out. Tarczewski is also a big man who takes to coaching and has shown great improvement over the course of his career as a result.

 

Weaknesses:

While Tarczewski has gradually developed the jump hook into his go-to move, he needs to add dependable counters. His low post productivity is dependent on how deep he catches the ball so he needs both become more consistent carving out deep real estate and also become more effective from the mid-post area as a passer. Defensively, a player of his size and mobility should be able to improve his shot-blocking presence. Tarczewski also has a bit of a temper that can be both a blessing and a curse. When he harnesses it he is dominant, but when it gets the better of him he can get taken out of the game mentally.

"

8. DaJuan Coleman (Syracuse)

DaJuan Coleman is a 6'10" center from New York. He is considering the Connecticut Huskies, Kentucky Wildcats, Louisville Cardinals, North Carolina Tar Heels and Syracuse Orange.

If Coleman wants to stay close to home like so many other college players, he will choose the Orange. The Orange have good recruiting and coaching, and they seem like a good fit for him.

"

 

Strengths:

Coleman has visibly improved his physical conditioning and percentage of body fat which has help him get up and down the floor and enhanced his overall performances. He standouts when he gets close to the rim as he carves out big time space on his post up and gives an excellent target to the passer.

His displays massive size and strength for his age along with possessing excellent hands that can score in the lane with power drop steps, baseline spins while finishing drop off passes created by dribble penetration through contact with ease.

Coleman has also recently displayed the ability to drive to the rim along the baseline or from the high post with either hand and gets fouled or scores. He starting to make short jumpers off the catch with time and space. He is an outstanding area rebounder on both ends as well. Defensively just his mere presence is a deterrent to the opposition as he can control the lane when motivated.

 

Weaknesses:

Although he has changed his conditioning in order to control his weight which could get out of control if he does not work to stay in shape year around. On his drives to the basket he must learn how to not fade away or avoid contact but go strong and control his body. He must also work to improve his defensive positioning especially in the low post in order to prevent foul trouble and stay on the floor.

Coleman has the talent, size and improving skill to dominate games but at times still cruises. The next phase of his development is in his ability to learn how to play from low to high in the post.The great ones have this concept mastered.

"

7. Archie Goodwin (Kansas)

Archie Goodwin is a 6'5" shooting guard from Arkansas. He is considering Arkansas Razorbacks, Kentucky Wildcats, Louisville Cardinals, Missouri Tigers and Kansas Jayhawks.

Goodwin may live in Arkansas, but Kansas is the better program, and they could help him achieve his dream of playing in the NBA.

Goodwin is a very athletic small forward, but he can also hit jumpers. He can drive through the lane and finish spectacularly. He can also hit threes very well.

Goodwin is a very big scoring threat, but he also uses his length to play good defense. He can steal the ball, and it is very hard to get past him.

Goodwin needs to keep improving as he has over the last year, but he is already an elite player.

6. Rodney Purvis (Duke)

Rodney Purvis is a 6'4" guard from North Carolina. He has not committed, but of his three options (Missouri Tigers, Duke Blue Devils, North Carolina State Wolfpack), Duke seems to be the best.

Purvis is a great ball-handler, and he can play either point or shooting guard. He can slash through the lane very effectively, and that helps him score and pass efficiently. He can pass extremely well, and he is quite versatile.

Purvis still needs to work on extending his range, but if he can do so he will become one of the premier guards in the country.

5. Mitch McGary (Indiana)

Mitch McGary is a 6'10" power forward from Indiana. He is considering the Connecticut Huskies, Florida Gators, Indiana Hoosiers, Texas Longhorns and West Virginia Mountaineers, but seems to be leaning towards Indiana.

McGary has soft hands but slams dunks home. He uses his big body effectively in the paint. He is a true threat offensively, and he is athletic and versatile on the defensive end. McGary plays tight defense up to about 20 feet out, and he is a shutdown defender.

McGary still needs to work on his post game, but he still is an effective screener who rolls well.

4. Brandon Ashley UCLA)

Brandon Ashley is a 6'8" power forward who still has yet to commit. He is considering the Arizona Wildcats, UCLA Bruins, Kentucky Wildcats, Kansas Jayhawks and Oregon Ducks. He seems to be leaning towards UCLA at the moment.

Ashley is best described by ESPN:

"

Strengths:

Ashley has an impressive frame with great length and he has broad shoulders too boot. Athletically, he has good quickness, bounce, and excellent timing around the basket. He has very good feet and utilizes the spin move in the post to free him from defenders. His ball skills have improved as has his touch out to 17-feet.

Due to his length and blossoming skills, his potential at the 4/3 is terrific. Defensively, he uses his savvy and very long arms to block shots at a consistent rate.

 

Weaknesses:

Although Ashley has improved there are still areas of his development that need attention. In terms of fundamentals, he still brings the ball far too often prior to finishing and his footwork is unpolished (gets off balance or travels). In addition, he has a tendency to play in spurts and needs to learn how to play tougher and with more physicality at both ends of the floor.

"

3. Shabazz Muhammad (North Carolina)

Shabazz Muhammad is a 6'6" small forward from Nevada. Muhammad is looking at the UCLA Bruins, Kentucky Wildcats, Duke Blue Devils, North Carolina Tar Heels and Texas Longhorns.

They are all good schools, but North Carolina will come out on top. With most of their players going to the NBA after this season they will be looking to restock, and they will go all out for Muhammad.

Muhammad is a southpaw, and he is very talented. He has a good shot, hitting jumpers and threes when needed, but it's his driving ability that makes him special. He is unstoppable from 15 feet away because he drives through the lane so ferociously.

Muhammad still needs to improve his consistency from behind the arc, but he is still an elite player.

2. Isaiah Austin (Baylor)

Isaiah Austin is a 7'0" center who has verbally committed to the Baylor Bears. He considered the Georgetown Hoyas, Kentucky Wildcats, Houston Cougars and Texas Longhorns as well, but he has chosen the Bears.

Austin has superior size and skill to everyone who has previously been on this list. He can play down low, but that is not all. He is a matchup nightmare because he is a surprisingly good ball-handler for his size, and he can drive through the lanes like a small forward.

Austin has extended his already impressive range, and that has helped his offensive game, but he is also very skilled on defense. He has good timing and is an excellent shot-blocker.

Austin could use some more muscle, but he is pretty well set. If he learns how to shoot jumpers well, he could become the best player we've seen in a long time.

1. Andre Drummond (Connecticut)

Andre Drummond is a 6'10" center from Connecticut. The consensus No. 1 from the 2012 class has yet to declare, but we think he has it down to two schools.

Drummond started with a list of the Connecticut Huskies, Georgetown Hoyas, Kentucky Wildcats, Duke Blue Devils, Pittsburgh Panthers and North Carolina Tar Heels. The Tar Heels, Hoyas, Panthers and Wildcats have seemed to drop from the race, leaving only the Huskies and the Blue Devils.

Given these two schools, both have excellent coaching and recruiting, but Connecticut is much closer to home. It's tight, but it seems that my Blue Devils are going to miss out on Drummond.

Drummond's strengths have been captured by ESPN, saying:

"

Where to start? Few players in America (pro or college) have combination of size, athletic ability and skill that he possesses. Anthing around the rim he catches and dunks, often times while getting fouled by two or more people. He has a hook and is comfortable near the basket with either hand. He can face and is not only a threat to shoot but he can drive with authority.

Anywhere on the floor he's an adept passer which speaks to his basketball IQ. His reflexes around the ball and the rim are awesome. He's a super offensive rebounder and will get after it on the other side.

Defensively, he's an intimidator. He blocks more shots by hanging around the paint and just being himself. He won't chase shots, but rather waits and gets them on the release, often times with the ability to swat a shot at its apex. He's an excellent leaper for his size and weight. He's one of the best in the country at keeping balls alive, tipping to himself and finishing the play.

"

Drummond does not have any glaring weaknesses. The only bad thing about him is that he is too good. Teams will expect dominant play from him for 40 minutes per game. Expectations could not be higher for Drummond, and he could be considered a letdown in college.