College Basketball Recruiting: New Power Ranking Top 20 Incoming 2011-12 Classes

Recruiting is essential to a team's success in college basketball—perhaps even more so than coaching. Talented, young teams have dominated college basketball in the last few years, including John Calipari's Kentucky team from a season ago that made it to the Final Four.

With the new one-and-done rule in place, recruiting has become even more important. Players who would go to the NBA right out of high school must now go to college for at least one season, and this makes it important for coaches to recruit these players.

Good recruiters—like John Calipari and North Carolina's Roy Williams—always coach good teams because of the talent they have. This is not to take away from the fact that they are good coaches, but coaching can only go so far in this era.

It should be noted that this is an updated power ranking from my original rankings done in mid-April.

Honorable Mentions

These teams just missed out on the top 20 for this list. While a few of them have classes considered better than others by ESPN, their classes will not be as good as the following 20 will.

Kansas Jayhawks

Oregon Ducks

West Virginia Mountaineers

Georgetown Hoyas

Alabama Crimson Tide

South Carolina Gamecocks

Florida Gators

20. Washington Huskies

Commits: 6

ESPN Top 100 recruits: 1

Top recruit: PG Tony Wroten, Jr.

PG Tony Wroten, Jr. is ranked No. 16 in the ESPN Top 100 recruits, and he is coming to Washington.

The Huskies won the Pac-10 (now Pac-12) Conference Tournament in the 2010-11 season, and they look to do the same in 2011-12 with Wroten, Jr. and four other good recruits, including SG Hikeem Stewart and PF Jernard Jarreau.

The Huskies will look to get back to their Sweet Sixteen form from the 2009-10 season, and these guys ought to help.

19. Mississippi State Bulldogs

Commits: 5

ESPN Top 100 recruits: 2

Top recruit: SG Rodney Hood

The Mississippi State Bulldogs have found some local talent in this year's recruiting class. The Bulldogs have a pair of ESPN Top 100 recruits joining them in SG Rodney Hood (No. 31) and SF D.J. Gardner (No. 98).  They also have two solid players in PG Deville Smith and PF Roquez Johnson.

18. Baylor Bears

Commits: 3

ESPN Top 100 recruits: 2

Top recruit: PF Quincy Miller

The Baylor Bears have ESPN Top 100 recruits PF Quincy Miller (No. 7) and SF Deuce Bello (No. 54) coming in for the 2011-12 season and beyond.  Miller is a tank, and he is going to make a big impact this season, but may be a one-and-done player.

The Bears haven't had as much success with their men's team as their women's team in recent years, but that may be about to change.

17. Rutgers Scarlet Knights

Commits: 7

ESPN Top 100 recruits: 1

Top recruit: PG Myles Mack

The Scarlet Knights only have one player in the Top 100 (Myles Mack No. 63), but they have six other commits who could’ve been.  The Scarlet Knights have two point guards, two power forwards, a center, a small forward and a shooting guard coming in, and they are looking like a young team.

While Mack is the only one in the Top 100, these other six are all solid players, and they look like they are going to be staying all four years, which means that this could be a good team in a few years.

16. Florida State Seminoles

Commits: 3

ESPN Top 100 recruits: 1

Top recruit: SF Antwan Space

The Florida State Seminoles have two ESPN Top 100 recruits coming in.  They have SF Antwan Space (No. 71) and SG Terry Whisnant who fell from the Top 100 this year.  While these two are their only impressive recruits, these two are underrated by ESPN and are going to surprise a lot of people this year.

Florida State made a great run in the NCAA tournament last season, and they are replacing their seniors well, but they probably won’t be able to do it again.

15. Michigan State Spartans

Commits: 3

ESPN Top 100 recruits: 1

Top recruit: SF Branden Dawson

The Spartans have SF Branden Dawson, SG Brandan Kearney and PG Travis Trice.  Dawson leads the recruiting class as the only one in the Top 100, but their other two commits are on the verge of cracking the Top 100.  The Spartans have some good talent coming in, even if only one player was honored in the Top 100.

The Spartans were bounced in the first round of the NCAA tournament by UCLA last season, and these three freshmen will help them try to improve.

14. Pittsburgh Panthers

Commits: 4

ESPN Top 100 recruits: 2

Top recruit: F/C Khem Birch

After making headlines by joining the ACC, the Panthers also have a great recruiting class.

The Panthers improved their frontcourt and made up for the loss of Gary McGhee by recruiting two centers in the ESPN Top 100—Khem Birch (No. 12) and Malcolm Gilbert (No. 58). They also got shooting guards Durand Johnson and John Johnson (no relation), who are just out the Top 100.  The Panthers still have good talent at every position, and they can play Birch and Gilbert together if they want, because Birch can also play power forward.

The Panthers are looking to avenge a loss in the Round of 32 to Butler, and they still look pretty good after making up for their losses.

13. Virginia Tech Hokies

Commits: 5

ESPN Top 100 recruits: 3

Top recruit: SF Dorian Finney-Smith

After recruiting heavily, the Hokies have landed a trio of ESPN Top 100 recruits in SF Dorian Finney-Smith (No. 18), SG Robert Brown (No. 81) and PF C.J. Barksdale (No. 100).  The have also signed PG Marquis Rankin and PF Johan Van Zegeren.

Arguably the NCAA tournament's snub for three straight years, the Hokies may have enough talent to finally make it into the Big Dance again.

12. Syracuse Orange

Commits: 3

ESPN Top 100 recruits: 3

Top recruit: C Rakeem Christmas

Also making headlines for joining the ACC, the Orange are ranked No. 4 in the NCAA partly because of their excellent recruiting class.  Syracuse only has one senior leaving them, and that’s Rick Jackson, who averaged 13 points and 10 rebounds.  The Orange have addressed two issues with their recruits—replacing Jackson, and gaining some athleticism.

The Orange only go after top-notch players, and all of their recruits are in the ESPN Top 100 this year, getting C Rakeem Christmas (No. 20), SG Michael Carter-Williams (No. 21) and SG Trevor Cooney (No. 65).

The Orange are trying to bounce back from an early exit in the 2011 NCAA tournament, and they are poised to do so being led by Scoop Jardine.

11. Illinois Fighting Illini

Commits: 6

ESPN Top 100 recruits: 4

Top recruit: C Nnanna Egwu

The Fighting Illini have locked up four ESPN Top 100 recruits: C Nnanna Egwu (No. 70), PG Tracy Adams (No. 87), PF Mike Shaw (No. 91) and SF Mycheal Henry (No. 97).  They have also snagged SF Devin Langford and C Ibrahima Djimde, who are on the outside looking in.

10. Arkansas Razorbacks

Commits: 5

ESPN Top 100 recruits: 3

Top recruit: PG B.J. Young

Arkansas has locked up three recruits this year in the Top 100: PG B.J. Young (No. 16), SG Ky Madden (No. 36) and PF Hunter Mickelson (No. 55).

The Razorbacks have lost seniors Delvon Johnson and Jemal Farmer, but they have replaced them.  Johnson made an impact with almost 10 points per game, but Farmer did little to nothing in the games.  Johnson has been replaced with Mickelson, and Farmer with Madden.  The Razorbacks decided they wanted a better point guard too, and got B.J. Young.

The Razorbacks had a disappointing 2010-11 season, but they are looking much better for the 2011-12 campaign.

9. Louisville Cardinals

Commits: 5

ESPN top 100 recruits: 3

Top recruit: SG Wayne Blackshear

The Cardinals have landed three ESPN Top 100 recruits: SG Wayne Blackshear (No. 27), PF Chane Behanan (No. 28) and C Zach Price (No. 57).  They also signed SF Angel Nunez and SG Kevin Ware.

The Cardinals are addressing the loss of their only senior, Preston Knowles, with Blackshear.  The Cardinals have addressed their needs and then some with their recruits, and they are looking good this season.

The Cardinals were bounced in their first game against Morehead State, and they are looking to do much better than that this season.

8. North Carolina Tar Heels

Commits: 5

ESPN Top 100 recruits: 2

Top recruit: PF James McAdoo

The Tar Heels have taken two Top 100 recruits in PF James McAdoo (No. 6) and SG P.J. Hairston (No. 13).  McAdoo is the best power forward in the class, and Hairston has the smoothest shot. The other notable recruits for UNC are PF Jackson Simmons, and C Desmond Hubert, whose sweepstakes they won.

The Tar Heels really dodged a bullet after the tournament, with Harrison Barnes, Tyler Zeller and John Henson all staying for at least one more year.  The departures of Justin Knox, Daniel Bolick and Van Hatchell were inevitable since they were seniors, but they will not be missed much.

The Tar Heels are looking very good for the 2011-12 season, and their No. 1 ranking is well deserved.

7. Arizona Wildcats

Commits: 4

ESPN Top 100 recruits: 4

Top recruit: PG Josiah Turner

The Arizona Wildcats have brought in four Top 100 players for next season: PG Josiah Turner (No. 15), SG Nick Johnson (No. 21), PF Angelo Chol (No. 61) and PF Sidiki Johnson (No. 94).  The Wildcats have brought in some major talent this season, helping to ease the loss of Derrick Williams.  The Wildcats have replaced him with Chol and Johnson, who are both very capable players.

The Wildcats were a great story in the 2010-11 season, and it would be sad to see them drop too far.

6. St. John's Red Storm

Commits: 6

ESPN Top 100 recruits: 3

Top recruit: SF Dom Pointer

The Johnnies has an astounding number of recruits coming in to replace their nine leaving seniors.  They had six Top 100 players, and nine total who were all very good.  Instead, three of their freshmen were not academically eligible, and were not cleared to play by the NCAA. One of them (JaKarr Sampson) has recently decommitted.

While they have lost three ESPN Top 100 recruits, this is still a good class led by Dom Pointer. Look for St. John's to try to prove that they are still a good school despite losing nine seniors and three of their recruits.

5. Texas Longhorns

Commits: 6

ESPN Top 100 recruits: 4

Top recruit: PG Myck Kabongo

The Longhorns have snagged four Top 100 recruits in PG Myck Kabongo (No. 11), SG Sheldon McClellan (No. 47), PF Jonathan Holmes (No. 62) and SG Julien Lewis (No. 76).  They have also signed PF Jaylen Bond and PG Sterling Gibb.

The Longhorns have lost only seniors, and they were Matt Hill, Clint Chapman, Jai Lucas, Douglas Balbay and Gary Johnson.  The Longhorns have easily made up for these guys with their recruiting class.  The best player they lost was Johnson, and they have replaced him with McClellan.

The Longhorns have addressed their needs and then some, and are looking good this season. Look for them to improve to a No. 3 seed in the NCAA tournament this season.

4. Ohio State Buckeyes

Commits: 5

ESPN Top 100 recruits: 4

Top recruit: PG Shannon Scott

The Buckeyes have a great class, gaining four ESPN Top 100 recruits in PG Shannon Scott (No. 34), C Amir Williams (No. 43), SF Sam Thompson (No. 45) and SF LaQuinton Ross (No. 53).  These four will be joined by C Trey McDonald .

The Buckeyes have lost seniors Eddie Days, David Lighty, Jon Diebler and Dallas Lauderdale.  Luckily for them, however, Jared Sullinger stayed.  The Buckeyes have gotten some good talent to replace some of those whom they have lost, but we cannot expect them to go 32-2 again with the team they have.

The Buckeyes were the number one overall seed in the NCAA tournament, but were bounced by Kentucky, and they tried to keep their prowess, but lost some when recruiting. However, they are still ranked No. 3 in the nation.

3. Connecticut Huskies

Recruits: 3

ESPN Top 100 Recruits: 3

Top Recruit: C Andre Drummond

The reigning champs, the Connecticut Huskies have quite the recruiting class coming in.  Led by C Andre Drummond (No. 2), SF DeAndre Daniels and PG Ryan Boatright (No. 74). Daniels is a top 10 recruit to some, and he and Drummond joining in the last few months has pushed this class over the edge.

While the Huskies have lost their leader in Kemba Walker, this is still a good team, and it will be interesting to watch Drummond and Daniels step in this season.

2. Duke Blue Devils

Commits: 5

ESPN Top 100 recruits: 5

Top recruit: SG Austin Rivers

The Blue Devils have another awesome class coming in, led by ESPN Top 100 recruits Austin Rivers (No. 3), SF Micheal Gbinije (No. 29), C Marshall Plumlee (No. 35), PG Quinn Cook (No. 38) and SF Alex Murphy (No. 41).

The Blue Devils’ losses are big, with Kyrie Irving leaving early, Kyle Singler and Nolan Smith being seniors along with Casey Peters. The Blue Devils have great recruits, however, with Cook replacing Irving, Rivers replacing Smith, Gbinije and Murphy replacing Singler, and Plumlee replacing Peters.

The Blue Devils were No. 3 on my previous rankings, but the addition of Alex Murphy who left high school a year early pushes them ahead of St. John's.

1. Kentucky Wildcats

Commits: 4

ESPN Top 100 recruits: 4

Top recruit: PF Anthony Davis

The Kentucky Wildcats have an amazing recruiting class in terms of talent.  They have already signed ESPN Top 100 recruits PF Anthony Davis (No. 1), SF Michael Gilchrist (No. 4), PG Marquis Teague (No. 8) and PF Kyle Wiltjer (No. 19).

The Wildcats have lost Josh Harrellson, DeAndre Liggins and Brandon Knight. They technically lost Enes Kanter too, but since he never played for the Wildcats, he isn't much of a loss.

Kentucky looks amazing this season, and they deserve their No. 2 ranking in the Top 25. While I previously said that the Wildcats were my pick to win it all this season, they no longer are (North Carolina is), but that is only because Harrison Barnes returned to North Carolina.

Josh Schoch is an aspiring sports writer dedicated to bringing you everything relating to college basketball, the NFL, MLB, NBA and more. Follow him on Twitter.