Top Five 2009 NCAA Basketball Recruiting Classes

Kentucky Coach John Calipari propelled the Kentucky Wildcats to a top10 national ranking and the number 1 rated 2009 NCAA recruiting class in just a few short months in Lexington. With the signing of John Wall and Demarcus Cousins, Coach Cal is bringing one of the deepest Kentucky teams in a decade into the 2009-10 NCAA season. Coupled with returning star postman, Patrick Patterson, the Cats are poised to make a return trip to the NCAA final four for the first time since the 1990's! Villanova on the other hand, would have had the number 1 class in any other recruiting year! The "Other" Wildcats are bringing in some great back and front court talent to complement the already strong returning cast from last seasons team.

Top 5 2009 NCAA Basketball Recruiting Classes

#1 2009 NCAA Basketball Recruiting Class - Kentucky Wildcats

In two months, Coach Cal has catapulted the expectations for the Kentucky Wildcats from a "one to two year" project to content for the NCAA title, to some fans wondering if the Wildcats will lose a game next season. With the signings of John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins in the past two months, Kentucky could potentially have three to four 2010 NBA Draft Lottery contenders next summer if shooting guard Jodi Meeks returns for next season. The Cats potential lottery picks would be: John Wall, Demarcus Cousins, Patrick Patterson, and Jodi Meeks. Don't overlook the signings of point guard Eric Bledsoe, shooting guard Jon Hood, and JUCO talent Darnell Dodson either! Kentucky could very well field two five man teams that can compete with any other major college program next season!

Kentucky's 2009 Recuits as ranked by Rivals.com:

PG John Wall(1)
PF DeMarcus Cousins (2)
C Daniel Orton (22)
PG Eric Bledsoe (23)
SG Jon Hood (40)
SF Darnell Dodson (JC)

#2 2009 NCAA Basketball Recruiting Class - Villanova Wildcats

Villanova had the best recruiting class for 2009 lined up until Coach Cal migrated north to Lexington. Two of the best power forward prospects in the 2009 NCAA recruiting signed with Nova in Mouphtaou Yarou and Isaiah Armwood to go with Dominic Cheek and Maalik Wayns.

Villanova's 2009 Recruits as ranked by Rivals.com:

PF Mouphtaou Yarou (10)
PG Maalik Wayns (26)
SG Dominic Cheek (30)
PF Isaiah Armwood (62)

#3 2009 NCAA Basketball Recruiting Class - Texas Longhorns

Texas rolls into the 2009-10 season with one of the best recruiting classes in the country. Avery Bradley and Jordan Hamilton will make big impacts for Texas in the 2009-10 NCAA basketball season and you should expect to see the Longhorns in the thick of things come NCAA tourney time!

Texas's 2009 Recruits as ranked by Rivals.com

SG Avery Bradley (4)
SF Jordan Hamilton (6)
SF Shawn Williams (67)

#4 2009 NCAA Basketball Recruiting Class - North Carolina Tar Heels

Roy Williams has reloaded after winning the 2009 NCAA tournament. Expect to see North Carolina approach the 30 win mark again this season with Dexter Strickland and Leslie McDonald coming in to an already stacked squad!

North Carolina's 2009 Recruits as ranked by Rivals.com

PF John Henson (5)
PG Dexter Strickland (34)
SG Leslie McDonald (65)
PF David Wear (59)
PF Travis Wear (6)

#5 2009 NCAA Basketball Recruiting Class - Kansas Jayhawks
Kansas was able to land Xavier Henry after John Calipari departed Memphis for the Kentucky coaching job. Coupled with Thomas Robinson, the Jayhawks have a great recruiting class to complement the strongest returning cast in college basketball. Coach Self will have Kansas entering the NCAA tournament as one of the teams to beat and is the preseason number 1 team in most pre-season polls.

Kansas's 2009 Recruits as ranked by Rivals.com

SG Xavier Henry (8)
PG Elijah Johnson (24)
PF Thomas Robinson (31)

Refs:

http://www.collegehoopsvideo.com/2009/05/sec/kentucky-wildcats-videos/

http://www.collegehoopsvideo.com/2009/06/top-five-ncaa-basketball-recruiting-classes-of-all-time/

http://www.collegehoopsvideo.com/2009/07/2009-10-ncaa-bracketology-%e2%80%93-july-edition/

http://www.thestate.com/591/story/793488.html?storylink=omni_popular

http://basketballrecruiting.rivals.com/

http://www.collegehoopsvideo.com/2009/05/big-east/villanova-wildcats/

http://www.courier-journal.com/blogs/demling/blog.html

http://www.collegehoopsvideo.com/2009/06/2009-kentucky-recruiting-darnell-dodson/

http://www.collegehoopsvideo.com/2009/06/2009-kentucky-basketball-recruiting-demarcus-cousins/

http://www.collegehoopsvideo.com/2009/05/kentucky-wins-the-john-wall-lottery/

http://www.collegehoopsvideo.com/2009/05/2009-north-carolina-tar-heels-basketball-recruiting-class/

http://www.collegehoopsvideo.com/2009/05/2009-kansas-jayhawk-college-basketball-recruiting-class/