College Basketball Recruiting: The Top 15 2012 Classes Updated for April (Pt. I)

The Kentucky Wildcats reclaimed their place atop the college basketball world with the school's ninth National Championship thanks to fantastic freshmen like Anthony Davis, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Marquis Teague and Kyle Wiltjer. This team proved that freshmen are important, and these 15 recruiting classes will have a huge influence on next season.

This is the first edition of my college basketball recruiting class rankings for this month. Another one will be out at the end of the month, as April is such an important time and we still have yet to see the nation's top two players, Nerlens Noel and Shabazz Muhammad, commit.

John Calipari's Kentucky team brings in another incredible class, but it is not the best in the nation...for now.

In Bleacher Report's early preseason rankings, five of the top 10 teams are on this list, proving the importance of freshmen.

This is one of the lists you can't afford to miss if you call yourself a college basketball fan.

15. Pittsburgh Panthers

Recruits: 2

ESPNU Top 100 Recruits: 2

Best Recruit: C Steven Adams

Notable Recruits Still Considering: SF Savon Goodman (No. 98)

Pitt has fallen two spots on my list in this update, as the Panthers only have two good recruits.

C Steven 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. 44) 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 beginning to lose faith in Adams. While he is ranked high and has the potential to be dominant, 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 new style of league, and I see him struggling at first.

While Savon Goodman could definitely help this class, it is in danger of falling off my list next week.

14. Purdue Boilermakers

Recruits: 4

ESPNU Top 100 Recruits: 3

Best Recruit: SG Rapheal Davis

Notable Recruits Still Considering: None

Robbie Hummel just 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 the class that brought Hummel, JaJuan Johnson and E'Twaun Moore to Purdue, as it has three players in the Top 100.

The Boilermakers are looking to get back on top again, with SG Rapheal Davis (No. 76), C A.J. Hammons (No. 78) and PG Ronnie Johnson (No. 80) leading the way.

A new backcourt and a talented big man help make this class a great one.

13. Syracuse Orange

Recruits: 2

ESPNU Top 100 Recruits: 2

Best Recruit: C DaJuan Coleman

Notable Recruits Still Considering: C Nerlens Noel (No. 1)

Syracuse is the first school on this list that will be directly impacted by Nerlens Noel and Shabazz Muhammad announcing their decisions on Tuesday. Noel is still considering the Orange, and he could give this class a huge boost.

Jim Boeheim will be losing his seven-footer Fab Melo to the NBA at the end of the season, but he is looking to replace him with C DaJuan Coleman (No. 12).

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, or also add Noel, the best player in the 2012 class according to ESPN.

However, Boeheim is not focusing solely on his center, as he also has seniors Scoop Jardine and Kris Joseph leaving, so he is bringing in SF Jerami Grant (No. 40), who gives this class an athletic look.

Overall, this class is good because of Coleman's prowess, but it could become even better with the addition of Noel.

12. UCLA Bruins

Recruits: 2

ESPNU Top 100 Recruits: 2

Best Recruit: SF Kyle Anderson

Notable Recruits Still Considering: SF Shabazz Muhammad (No. 2), C Tony Parker (No. 21), C Christopher Obekpa (No. 50), SF Savon Goodman (No. 98)

UCLA is another school that will be watching with bated breath on Tuesday as Shabazz Muhammad is still considering the Bruins.

Perhaps the school will not be as nervous as Syracuse, because we've all heard that Muhammad (the best player in the class, in my mind) will be choosing UCLA.

However, that is just a rumor and we have to rank this class based on fact.

Ben Howland's UCLA class is currently led by Kyle Anderson, who is the No. 3 player in the class of 2012. Anderson has already had a huge impact on the program, and he hasn't even stepped on the court yet.

Anderson is causing what has been called the LeBron James effect. Playing with a 6'9" small forward who can (and will) play point guard at times is such a rare opportunity. SF Jordan Adams (No. 37) has already committed because of Anderson, and a lot of other players are considering the Bruins because he has committed to them—including Muhammad.

However, landing one of the many recruits still considering would greatly help Howland keep up with Sean Miller and Arizona in the Pac-12.

11. Kansas Jayhawks

Recruits: 5

ESPNU Top 100 Recruits: 2

Best Recruit: PF Perry Ellis

Notable Recruits Still Considering: SF Shabazz Muhammad (No. 2), C Tony Parker (No. 21), SF Savon Goodman (No. 98)

Maybe seeing a third major program in a row that will be watching the decisions on Tuesday hoping and praying to land a commit will show just how important Tuesday is in the college basketball recruiting world.

Bill Self just led this team to the National Championship Game, and that pitch is music to a recruit's ears, but apparently Kansas is in trouble in the Muhammad sweepstakes.

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?

A wise man once told me: 'More is not better. Better is better.'

While we weren't talking about recruiting, the same philosophy applies—it is better to have a few great players than a lot of good ones and hope that some good players become great.

While Kansas has a lot of good players, they only have two great ones in No. 31 Perry Ellis and No. 49 Andrew White. After these two this class is not exactly John Calipari-esque.

This is still a good class because of its size and the fact that Ellis and White are both excellent players who will make immediate impacts for the Jayhawks. Unfortunately, I don't see them landing Muhammad to add a third elite player.

10. Providence Friars

Recruits: 3

ESPNU Top 100 Recruits: 2

Best Recruit: SG Ricardo Ledo

Notable Recruits Still Considering: C Christopher Obekpa (No. 50)

Providence is not exactly a prestigious school in terms of basketball, but an early start during the summer helped coach Ed Cooley compete with the rest of the Big East in terms of recruiting.

Providence has a great recruiting class with a brand new backcourt. PG Kris Dunn and SG Ricardo Ledo are both in the Top 25 in the country, and they will give Providence a foundation to build on.

The Friars want to become relevant again and these players will help. But if they aim to become a Top-25 program, they'll need a few more classes like this one, and will need to bring in a few elite big men.

If they can land C Christopher Obekpa they'll be on the right track this year.

9. Michigan Wolverines

Recruits: 3

ESPNU Top 100 Recruits: 3

Best Recruit: C Mitch McGary

Notable Recruits Still Considering: None

Michigan may not have as many recruits as Kansas, but their recruits are much better.

C Mitch McGary is No. 21 in the country, and he could be ranked much higher. Entering the season he was ranked No. 2, and he still seems to be a dominant center.

The Wolverines are also bringing in No. 27 SF Glenn Robinson and No. 79 SF Nik Stauskas. Robinson is a dynamic player who is highly athletic, while Stauskas can play shooting guard with his range and has 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.

8. 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 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. Their class was once ranked No. 1 in the country, but they must settle for No. 9 now.

The class is led by No. 32 PG Yogi Ferrell but also includes No. 38 SF Jeremy Holloway and No. 69 PF Hanner Mosquera-Perea. They'll also be joined by SG Ron Patterson and C Peter Jurkin, who could have made a top-150 list in the minds of most recruiting nerds like myself.

Indiana had a great season this year thanks in part to freshman Cody Zeller. Having a few recruits turn out to be anywhere near as good as Zeller will keep Crean's Crew in the top 15 in the country next year.

7. North Carolina State Wolfpack

Recruits: 3

ESPNU Top 100 Recruits: 3

Best Recruit: SG Rodney Purvis

Notable Recruits Still Considering: PF Amile Jefferson (No. 18), SG Torian Graham (No. 81)

Named as the head coach of North Carolina State less than a year ago, Mark Gottfried has already put together a stellar recruiting class at NC State.

No. 19 Rodney Purvis is arguably the best shooting guard in the 2012 class, while No. 28 T.J. Warren is an elite small forward. No. 43 Tyler Lewis is a good point guard who will play for a few years, and these guys will be the foundation on which Gottfried builds the Wolfpack backup.

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.

6. 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. 10 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 will be a starter from day one, and he will be relied on at times.

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, these four guys can form a core that will keep Michigan State on the national stage for years to come.

5. 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 knows that he is losing just about his entire starting five after the season, as they all have NBA-level talent. Because of that, his 2012 recruiting class relies on four players who will help this team maintain its national prestige.

No. 22 PG Marcus Paige, No. 29 PF Brice Johnson, No. 65 SF J.P. Tokoto and No. 76 C Joel James are all great players who will help replenish this team. They will have to have an immediate impact with Harrison Barnes, Tyler Zeller, John Henson and Kendall Marshall all leaving next season.

Look for these guys to have a good amount of playing time next year, alongside Dexter Strickland, P.J. Hairston and James Michael McAdoo.

4. Baylor Bears

Recruits: 4

ESPNU Top 100 Recruits: 3

Top Recruit: C Isaiah Austin

Notable Recruits Still Considering: SG Torian Graham (No. 81)

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

With senior Quincy Acy leaving and Perry Jones III presumably leaving for the NBA as well, this team will have only one starter on the frontline return—and that's if freshman Quincy Miller decides to return for his sophomore season.

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

Ricardo Gathers is a powerful forward who has the body of a defensive lineman. He ranks No. 35 in the country, and he gives Baylor two elite big men.

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

Baylor is going to have one of the best frontcourts in the nation again next year, but they will also have No. 73 PG L.J. Rose and C Chad Rykhoek joining them.

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

3. Texas Longhorns

Recruits: 5

ESPNU Top 100 Recruits: 4

Best Recruit: C Cameron Ridley

Notable Recruits Still Considering: SF Devonta Pollard (No. 32), SG Torian Graham (No. 81)

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 he is not working on No. 7 Anthony Bennett, who is from Canada.

Barnes' top recruit in 2012 is No. 7 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.

2. Kentucky Wildcats

Recruits: 3

ESPNU Top 100 Recruits: 3

Best Recruit: SG Archie Goodwin

Notable Recruits Still Considering: C Nerlens Noel (No. 1), SF Shabazz Muhammad (No. 2), PF Anthony Bennett (No. 7), PF Amile Jefferson (No. 18), PF Tony Parker (No. 21), SF Devonta Pollard (No. 32)

Tuesday is a huge day for Kentucky, as both Nerlens Noel and Shabazz Muhammad are considering the Wildcats, and Kentucky should land at least one of the two if John Calipari stays true to form.

Calipari was at it again this year, bringing in three recruits in the top 40. No. 14 Archie Goodwin heads the class, but No. 15 Alex Poythress is very athletic and may be just as good. No. 39 Willie Cauley brings height to this team as a 6'10" center.

Calipari has had the No. 1 recruiting class in the nation every year since he came to Lexington to join the Kentucky Wildcats. He ranks No. 2 as of now, but he is still recruiting some of the best players in the country, and he has the potential to jump to No. 1 after Tuesday.

Calipari won't even be done on Tuesday however, as he is still recruiting the top six players left in the nation.

This next team had better look out, as Kentucky is hot on their heels for the No. 1 class in America.

1. Arizona Wildcats

Recruits: 4

ESPNU Top 100 Recruits: 4

Best Recruit: C Kaleb Tarczewski

Notable Recruits Still Considering: SF Shabazz Muhammad (No. 2), PF Anthony Bennett (No. 7), SG Torian Graham (No. 81)

Sean Miller was busy forming one of the greatest recruiting classes in history this year. 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. 35 Gabe York is probably the most underrated player in the class as a highly skilled point guard.

Miller's class is already good enough to make the Wildcats a Top 25 team, but it may get even better. Miller and Arizona are still recruiting No. 2 Shabazz Muhammad (although it appears unlikely that he will join the Wildcats), No. 7 Anthony Bennett (whose high school teammate, Ashley, is already headed to Arizona) and No. 81 Torian Graham (who appears to belong to North Carolina State).

While it's unlikely that they land a fifth top 35 recruit, it is possible, and with Miller's recruiting talent it would not be unheard of.

Miller brings in four legitimate stars next year, and Arizona should dominate in the Pac-12.

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