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2012 Top 40 Recruiting Classes - Mid-Spring Signing Period Update

Friday, 04 May 2012 01:32 Written by Van Coleman

UCLA adds two top twenty talents to move past Kentucky and Arizona into the top spot, for now!

The 2012 Spring Signing Period kicked off with a bang, as the No.1 senior Shabazz Muhammad and No.2 senior Nerlens Noel made their college decisions with Shabazz heading to UCLA to move them to number three, since then they added top twenty prospect, 6-9 Tony Parker to move to number one in our rankings.

While Noel's decision moved Kentucky to the top spot originally, and now the 'Cats are in the number two spot just edging Arizona by a couple points in our ranking system. But, those spots are still up for grabs, as no less than three other top twenty-five prospects are still on the board in Anthony Bennett, Amile Jefferson, and Devonta Pollard, along with two other top fifty prospects Savon Goodman and Torian Graham and future top fifty talent Chris Obekpa are still up for grabs. They all, if signed by the right schools, will have a major affect on the national rankings.

Many of the nation's top ranked classes could benefit from the above talent. Here's a quick look at who each of the top talent and where the schools they are still considering.

#5 rated 6-8 WF Anthony Bennett lists Florida, Kentucky, Oregon, and UNLV as his final four.
#18 rated 6-8 W/PF Amile Jefferson says Duke, N.C. State, Kentucky, Villanova, Ohio State, and Temple are his finalists.
#25 rated 6-6 WF Devonta Pollard is struggling with his decision between Alabama, Georgetown, Missouri, Texas and late entrant LSU.
#37 rated 6-6 W/PF Savon Goodman lists Pittsburgh, Kentucky, Missouri, Temple, Seton Hall, UCLA, but could end up in prep school.
#38 rated 6-5 SG Torian Graham has N.C. State, Memphis, Xavier, Kentucky, or possibly he too, can end up in prep school if he doesn't qualify.
The last player mentioned above, 6-9 Chris Obekpa will be a new addition to the top fifty when we do our final ratings and the OSNA big man has St. John's, Connecticut, Oregon, and Cincinnati as his top four at this point.

So I guess, I'm painting a picture, that these rankings are still going to change a number of times this spring. So we will continue to update them through periodically thru May, then finalize our rankings in June.  But first we have to have bring us up to date, so let's take our Mid-Spring Signing Period look at the Spring's Top 40 Recruiting Classes:

Hot100Hoops Mid-Spring Signing Period Top 40 Recruiting Classes - (As of 5-3-2012)

1.  UCLA  4 Recruits -  #1 Shabazz Muhammad 6-6 WF Las Vegas, NV Bishop Gorman;  #4 Kyle Anderson 6-8 WF Jersey City, NJ St. Anthony; #19 Tony Parker 6-9 C Lithonia, GA Miller Grove;  # 51 Jordan Adams 6-5 WG Mouth of Wilson, VA Oak Hill.

2.  Kentucky  4 Recruits - # 2 Nerlens Noel 6-10 C Tilton, NH Tilton School;  #17 Archie Goodwin 6-5 WG Little Rock, AR Sylvan Hills;  #19 Alex Poythress 6-8 W/PF Clarksville, TN Northeast;   #45 Willie Cauley 6-10 Olathe, KS Northwest.

3.  Arizona  5 Recruits - #7 Kaleb Tarczewski 7-0 C Southborough, MA St. Mark's;  #8 Brandon Ashley 6-8 PF Henderson Findlay Prep NV;  #10 Grant Jerrett 6-9 PF La Verne Lutheran CA;  #34 Gabe York 6-2 WG Orange Lutheran CA;  T50 JC Matt Korcheck 6-9 PF.

4.  Indiana  5 Recruits - #26 Kevin Ferrell 5-11 PG Indianapolis, IN Park Tudor;  #37 Hanner Perea 6-8 PF La Porte, IN La Lumiere;  #50 Jeremy Hollowell 6-7 WF Indianapolis, IN Lawrence Central;  Peter Jurkin 7-0 C Charlotte , NC United Faith Christian;  Ron Patterson 6-3 WG Indianapolis, IN Broad Ripple.

5.  Baylor  4 Recruits - #3 Isaiah Austin 7-0 C Arlington, TX Grace Prep;  #31 Ricardo Gathers 6-7 W/PF Laplace, LA Reserve Christian;  #75 L.J. Rose 6-3 PG Houston , TX Westbury Christian;  Chad Rykhoek 6-9 C Ft. Worth, TX Christian.

6.  Texas  6 Recruits - #9 Cameron Ridley 6-9 C Richmond TX  Ft. Bend Bush;  #76 Javan Felix 5-11 PG New Orleans , LA St. Augustine;  #79 Prince Ibeh 6-11 C Garland, TX Naaman Forest;  Connor Lammert 6-9 C San Antonio, TX Churchill;  Loannis Papapetrov 6-8 WF Melbourne, FL Florida Air Academy;  DeMarcus Holland 6-3 WG Garland, TX Naaman Forest.

7.  North Carolina  4 Recruits - #14 Marcus Paige 6-1 PG Marion, IA Linn-Mar;  #39 Brice Johnson 6-9 PF Cordova, SC Edisto; #58 J.P. Tokoto 6-6 WF Menomonee Falls, WI H.S;  #59 Joel James 6-10 C Palm Beach, FL Gardens Dwyer;

8.  N.C. State  3 Recruits - #18 Rodney Purvis 6-4 WG Raleigh, NC Upper Room Christian;  #24 T.J. Warren 6-8 WF Wolfeboro, NH Brewster Academy  #40 Tyler Lewis 5-11 PG Mouth of Wilson, VA Oak Hill. 

9.  Maryland  6 Recruits - #36 Shaquille Cleare 6-9 C Houston , TX The Village;  #63 Jake Layman 6-8 WF Wrentham, MA King Phillips;  Charles Mitchell 6-7 PF Marietta, GA Wheeler;  Seth Allen 6-1 WG Fredericksburg, MD Christian;  Damonte Dodd 6-9 C Centerville, MD St. Anne's; Sam Cassell 6-3 P/WG Fitchburg, MA Notre Dame Prep.

10.  Providence 3 Recruits -  #20 Ricardo Ledo 6-6 WG Fitchburg, MA Notre Dame ;  #21 Kris Dunn 6-3 PG Wilbraham, MA Wilbraham-Monson;  Joshua Fortune 6-5 WF Ft. Hampton , VA Kecoughton.

11. Michigan  4 Recruits - #22 Mitch McGary 6-10 C Wolfeboro, NH Brewster Academy;  #43 Glenn Robinson 6-7 WF St. John, IN Lake Central;  #94 Nik Stauskas 6-6 WG/F Southborough, MA St. Mark's;  ;  Spike Albrecht 6-1 PG Northfield, MA Mount Hermon..

12. Michigan State  4 Recruits -  #11 Gary Harris 6-5 WG Fishers, IN Hamilton Southeast;  #91 Kenny Kaminski 6-8 PF Medina, OH High;  Matt Costello 6-9 C Bay City, MI Western;  Denzel Valentine 6-5 WG Lansing, MI Sexton.

13. Houston  5 Recruits -  #32 Danuel House 6-6 WF Sugar Land, TX Hightower;  #55 Danrad Knowles 6-9 PF Houston , TX HCYA;  Valentine Izundu 6-11 C Houston , TX Lamar ;  Tione Womack 6-1 PG Hagerstown CC, MD;  Brandon Morris 6-0 PG Kansas City CC, MS.

14. Kansas  4 Recruits - #30 Perry Ellis 6-8 PF Wichita, KS Wichita Heights;   Landen Lucas 6-9 PF Portland, OR Westview;  Zach Peters 6-9 PF Plano, TX Prestonwood Christian;  Anrio Adams 6-3 W'PG Seattle, WA Rainier Beach.

15. Iowa  5 Recruits - #42 Adam Woodbury 7-0 C Sioux City, IA East;  # 73 Mike Gesell 6-1 PG South Sioux City, NE;  Kyle Meyer 6-10 C Alpharetta, GA Northview;  Patrick Ingram 6-3 WG Indianapolis, IN North Central;  Anthony Clemmons 6-1 PG Lansing, MI Sexton.

16. Wake Forest  6 Recruits -  #82 Arnaud Adala Moto 6-6 WG Alexandria, VA Episcopal;  #85 Codi Miller-McIntyre 6-2 PG Concord, NC First Assembly Christian;  Aaron Roundtree 6-7 WF Wilson, NC Greenfield;  Andre Washington 6-10 C Roanoke, VA Catholic;  Tyler Cavanaugh 6-8 PF Jamesville, NY Jamesville-Dewitt; Devin Thomas 6-8 PF Harrisburg, PA Central Dauphin.

17. Pittsburgh  3 Recruits - #6 Steve Adams 6-10 C Fitchburg, MA Notre Dame Prep;  #78 James Robinson 6-3 PG Hyattsville, MD DeMatha;  Chris Jones 6-5 WG Teaneck, NJ High.

18.  Oklahoma State  3 Recruits - #12 Marcus Smart 6-3 WG Flower Mound, TX Marcus;  Phil Forte 6-0 PG Flower Mound, TX Marcus;  Kamari Murphy 6-8 PF Bradenton, FL IMG Academy FL.

19. Virginia  4 Recruits - #53 Justin Anderson 6-5 WF Rockville, MD Montrose Christian;  #81 Evan Nolte 6-8 WF Alpharetta, GA Milton;  #95 Mike Tobey 6-10 C Lakeville, CT Hotchkiss School;  Teven Jones 6-1 PG Waynesboro, VA Fishburne Military.

20.  Florida State  5 Recruits - #70 Montay Brandon 6-5 WG High Point , NC Wesleyan Christian Academy;  #100 Devon Bookert 6-2 PG Las Vegas, NV Impact Academy; Top 25JC Robert Gilchrist 6-9 PF Polk CC, FL;  Aaron Thomas 6-5 WF Wolfeboro, NC Brewster Academy; Boris Bojanovsky 7-3 C Grand Canary, SP Canarias Academy.

21. Syracuse  2 Recruits - #13 Dajuan Coleman 6-9 C Dewitt, NY Dewitt Clinton;  #44 Jerami Grant 6-7 WF Hyattsville, MD DeMatha.

22. Colorado  6 Recruits - #52 Josh Scott 6-10 PF Monument, CO Lewis-Palmer;  #74 Xavier Johnson 6-7 WF Santa Ana, CA Mater Dei;  Wesley Gordon 6-7 PF Colorado Springs, CO Sierra;  Chris Jenkins 6-7 WF Detroit , MI Jesuit;  Xavier Talton 6-0 PG Sterling, CO High;  Eli Stalzer 6-2 W/PG Santa Ana, CA Mater Dei.

23. Texas Tech  9 Recruits - Aaron Ross 6-8 W/PF Delafield, WI St. John Northwest Military;  Wannah Bail 6-9 W/PF Houston, TX Lamar; Daylen Robinson 6-0 PD Moberly CC, MO;  Rodrigo Silva 6-10 C Laramie County CC, WY;  Michael Carey 6-5 WG/F Little Rock, AR Pulaski Academy; Jamal Williams 6-3 W/PG Lake Land CC, TX;  Dusty Hannahs 6-3 WG Little Rock, AR Pulaski Academy;  Trency Jackson 6-2 P/WG NW Florida State CC;  Josh Gray 6-2 WG Houston , TX Wheatley.

24. Georgia Tech 4 Recruits - #29 Robert Carter 6-8 PF Snellville, GA Shiloh;  Marcus Hunt 6-5 WG College Park, GA North Clayton;  Chris Bolden 6-3 P/WG Suwanee, GA North Gwinnett;  Corey Heyward 6-0 PG Chatham, VA Hargrave Military.

25. Purdue  4 Recruits -  #88 A.J. Hammons 6-11 C Mouth of Wilson, VA Oak Hill;  #90 Ronnie Johnson 5-11 PG Indianapolis, IN North Central;  Raphael Davis 6-4 WG Ft. Wayne, IN South Side;  Jay Simpson 6-8 PF Champaign, IL Central.

26. Florida  4 Recruits -  #49 Braxton Ogbueze 6-0 PG Charlotte , NC United Faith Christian;  #92 Michael Frazier 6-4 WG Tampa , FL Plant;  Dillon Graham 6-4 WG Orlando, FL First Academy;  Devon Walker 6-6 WF Winter Haven, FL.

27. Iowa State  4 Recruits -  #62 Georges Niang 6-7 PF Tilton, NH School;  #100  Nkereuwem Okoro 6-5 WG Bronx, NY St. Raymond's;  Nazareth Long 6-4 PG Mississauga ON; Sherron Dorsey-Walker 6-4 WG Detroit , MI Pershing.

28. St. John's  5 Recruits - #46 Jakarr Sampson 6-9 PF Wolfeboro, NH Brewster Academy; Darrick Wood 6-4 WG North Bridgton, ME Bridgton Academy; Felix Balamou 6-3 WG Centerreach, NY Our Savior New American ; T25JC Orlando Sanchez 6-8 PF Monroe CC, NY; T50JC Marco Bougault 6-6 WF Monroe CC, NY.

29.  Texas A&M  5 Recruits - #69 J-Mychal Reese 6-3 PG Bryan, TX high;  #83 Alex Caruso 6-6 WG College Station, TX A&M Consolidated;  Top25JC Fabyon Harris 5-9 PG CC of Southern Idaho , ID;  Shawn Smith 6-4 WG Brandon, FL Faith Baptist;  Top 25JC Andrew Young 6-9 PF Peninsula CC, FL.

30.  Oregon  5  Recruits - #57 Dominic Artis 6-0 PG Henderson, NV Findlay Prep;  #98 Ben Carter 6-9 PF Las Vegas, NV Bishop Gorman;  Top 50JC Devon Branch 6-6 WG/F Cloud County CC, FL;  Damyean Dotson 6-6 WF Houston, TX Jack Yates;  Fred Richardson 6-5 WG Houston , TX Friendswood.

31. Xavier  4 Recruits -  #80 Semaj Christon 6-2 PG Wolfeboro, NH Brewster Academy;  Myles Davis 6-2 WG Fitchburg, MA Notre Dame ;  James Farr 6-10 PF Evanston, IL Township;  Jalen Reynolds 6-9 PF Wolfeboro, NH Brewster Academy.

32.  Memphis  3 Recruits - #28 William Goodwin 6-8 PF Decatur, GA Southwest Dekalb;  Damien Wilson 6-6 WF Mouth of Wilson, VA Oak Hill Academy; T25JC Geron Johnson 6-4 WG Garden City CC, KS.

33. Wichita State  7 Recruits - Top25JC Cleanthony Early 6-7 PF, Sullivan County CC, NY;  Deontae Hawkins 6-7 WF Dayton, OH Dunbar;  Henry Uwadiae 6-11 C Charlotte, NC United Faith Christian; Fred Van Vleet 5-11 PG Rockford, IL Auburn;  Derail Green 6-7 WF Houston, TX Klein Forest;  Top25JC Nick Wiggins 6-6 WF Wabash Valley CC, IL;  Top50JC Chuck Lufile 6-9 PF Coffeyville CC, KS.

34.  Villanova  2 Recruits - #41 Daniel Ochefu 6-10 C Westtown, PA Friends Central;  #67 Ryan Arcidiacono 6-4 PG Langhorne, PA Neshaminy.

35.  Mississippi  4  Recruits - Top 25JC Jason Carter 6-8 PF Chipola CC, FL;  Top 50JC Marshall Henderson 6-2 WG South Plains CC, TX;  Martavious Newby 6-4 WG Memphis, TN B.T. Washington;  Anthony Cortesia 6-9 PF Montverde, FL Academy;  Terry Brutus 6-6 WF Woodstock, VA Massanutten.

36. Missouri  5 Recruits - T25JC Tony Criswell 6-9 PF Independence CC MO;  Stefan Jankovic 6-10 C/PF Huntington, WV Prep;  Negus Webster-Chan 6-6 WG Huntington, WV Prep;  Ryan Rosburg 6-9 C Chesterfield, MO Marquette ;  Dominique Bull 6-3 WG Tilton, NH Tilton School.

37.  Auburn  4 Recruits - #64 Jordan Price 6-5 WG Decatur, GA Southwest Dekalb;  T50JC Asauhn Tatum 6-11 C Chattahoochee CC, GA;  Shaquille Johnson 6-4 WF Alpharetta, GA Milton;  Jordan Granger 6-8 PF Florissant, MO McCluer North.

38.  Mississippi State  6 Recruits - Gavin Ware 6-9 C Starkville, MS;  Fred Thomas 6-5 WG Jackson, MS Jim Hill;  Craig Sword 6-3 WG Montgomery, AL Carver;  Top 50JC Colin Borchert 6-8 East Mississippi CC;  Andre Applewhite 6-5 Memphis , TN Central;  Jacoby Davis 6-2 PG Delafield, WI St. John NW Military

39. San Diego State  3 Recruits - #33 Winston Shepard 6-8 WF Henderson, NV Findlay Prep;  Skylar Spencer 6-9 C Los Angeles, CA Price;  Matt Shrigley 6-6 Carlsbad, CA La Costa Canyon.

40.  UNLV  3 Recruits - #35 Katin Reinhardt 6-5 WG Santa Ana, CA Mater Dei;  Daquan Cook 6-0 PG Baltimore, MD Digital Harbor;  Demetris Morant 6-9 PF Las Vegas, NV Bishop Gorman. 

40.  Notre Dame  3 Recruits - #68 Cameron Biedschied 6-6 WF St. Louis , MO Cardinal Ritter;  Austin Burgett 6-8 PF Avon, IN High;  Zach Auguste 6-9 PF New Hampton , NH Prep

40.  USC  4 Recruits - Top 25JC J.T. Terrell 6-3 WG Peninsula CC, WA;  Larry Lewis 6-2 WG Scottsdale, AZ Arcadia;  Strahinja Gavrilovic 6-8 PF La Jolla, CA Prep; Brendyn Taylor 6-2 WG Los Angeles, CA Fairfax.

40.  Stanford  3 Recruits - #71 Rosco Allen 6-8 WF Las Vegas, NV Bishop Gorman;  #97 Grant Verhoeven 6-9 PF Visalia, CA Central Valley Christian;  Christian Sanders 6-5 Houston , TX St. Thomas.

Near Misses & Potential Breakthroughs -

Marquette  3 Recruits - #72 Steve Taylor 6-8 PF Chicago, IL Simeon;  Aaron Durley 6-10 C Richmond, VA Fort Bend Bush;  T.J. Taylor 6-4 WG Paris CC, TX;  Jamal Ferguson 6-4 WG Norfolk, VA Maury.

Clemson  5 Recruits -  Jaron Blossomgame 6-7 WF Alpharetta, GA Chattahoochee;  Jordan Roper 6-0 Columbia , SC Irmo;  Landry Nnoko 6-10 C Montverde, FL Academy;  Adonis Filer 6-2 PG Fitchburg, MA Notre Dame Prep; Josh Smith 6-8 PF Charlotte , NC Olympic.

UTEP  6 Recruits - #93 Twymond Howard 6-6 WF Pearl H.S. MS;  T50 JC Kenny Williams 6-6 PF Moberly CC MO;  Chris Washburn 6-8 PF Grand Prairie, TX South Grand Prairie;  Dwayne Benjamin 6-6 WF Lafayette, LA Northside;  Mekale McKay 6-6 WF Louisville, KY Moore;  Dustin Watts 6-3 WG Simi Valley, CA Stoneridge Prep.

Utah  7 Recruits -  Jordan Loveridge 6-6 WF West Jordan, UT;  Brandon Taylor 5-10 PG Pacific Hills, CA High;  Justin Seymour 6-3 WG Marietta, GA Wheeler;  Jeremy Olsen 6-9 Lawrenceville, GA;  Dallin Bachynski 6-8 PF Calgary, Alberta;  Renan Tucker 6-9 PF Arizona Western CC;  Dakari Tucker 6-5 WG Gardena, CA Serra.

Georgetown  2 Recruits - #39 D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera 6-4 WG Mouth of Wilson, VA Oak Hill Academy;  Brandon Bolden 6-8 PF Charlotte sville, VA The Miller School.  

South Florida  3 Recruits - Top 25 JC Waverly Austin 6-11 C Palm Beach CC, FL;  T50 JC Musa Abdul-Aleem 6-5 WG Georgia Perimeter CC, GA;  Javontae Hawkins 6-4 WG Huntington, WV Prep.

West Virginia  3 Recruits - #51 Elijah Macon 6-8 PF Huntington, WV Prep;  Eron Harris 6-3 WG Indianapolis, IN Lawrence North;  Terry Henderson 6-4 WG Raleigh, NC Neuse Baptist Christian.

Western Michigan  8 Recruits - A.J. Avery 6-7 WF Chicago, IL St. Rita;  Charles Harris 6-4 WG Lake Forest, IL Academy;  Jared Klein 6-1 PG Otsego, MI High;  Taylor Perry 6-4 WG Rochester, MI High;  Darius Paul 6-8 PF Gurnee, IL Warren Township;  Kellen McCormick 6-8 Pontiac, MI Notre Dame ;  Connar Tavar 6-6 PF Chicago, IL DeLasalle: Ray Lee 6-3 WG Romulus, MI High.

Central Florida  6 Recruits - Stephon Blair 6-8 PF Lauderdale, FL Dillard;  Matt Williams 6-5 WG/F Orlando, FL Jones;  Dylan Karell 6-10 C Miami, FL Dr. Krop;  Taylor Barnette 6-2 WG Lexington, KY Christian Academy; Michael Chandler 6-10 C Brandon, FL Faith Baptist;  Devon Walker 6-5 WF Winter Haven, FL High.

Cleveland State  5 Recruits - Darnell Harris, 6-8 PF La Jolla, CA La Jolla Prep; Junior Lomomba, 6-4 WG Madison, WI Memorial; Malik London 6-9 C Chillicothe; Bryn Forbes 6-2 WG Lansing, MI Sexton; Gary Akbar 6-3 WG/F Dayton, OH Dunbar.

Best of the Rest -

Rhode Island (5) Recruits;  Oklahoma (4) Recruits;  Fresno State (6) Recruits;  Towson (5) Recruits;  New Mexico (3) Recruits;  Kent State (5) Recruits;  Virginia Tech (2) Recruits;  Harvard  (6) Recruits;  Washington State (4) Recruits;  Arkansas (3) Recruits;  Miami (FL)  (2) Recruits;  Loyola-Chicago (6) Recruits;  Nebraska (4) Recruits;  Dayton  (3) Recruits;  Temple (3) Recruits;  LSU (3) Recruits;  Pennsylvania  (4) Recruits;  Marshall (3) Recruits;  Murray State  (5) Recruits;  Idaho 5 Recruits;  George Washington (3) Recruits;  Detroit (5) Recruits;  Loyola-Marymount (4) Recruits;  Ball State (4) Recruits;  Charlotte (4) Recruits;  Wyoming (5) Recruits;  Liberty (5) Recruits;  Temple (3) Recruits;  Drake  (5) Recruits;  Brigham Young  (5) Recruits;  Georgia State  (4) Recruits;  California (3) Recruits;  Creighton  (3) Recruits;  Florida Atlantic  (2) Recruits;  DePaul  (3) Recruits;  Old Dominion  (4) Recruits;  Nevada (4) Recruits;  San Francisco (5) Recruits;  VCU  (3) Recruits;  Arizona State  (3) Recruits;  Oregon State  (3) Recruits;  Georgia (3) Recruits;  Hofstra (3) Recruits;  Butler (3) Recruits;  Northwestern  (3) Recruits;  TCU  (3) Recruits;  Vanderbilt (2) Recruits;  Missouri State  (3) Recruits;  Iona (4) Iona;  Illinois-Chicago (4) Recruits;  UC-Santa Barbara (4) Recruits; Longwood (6) Recruits; Utah State (6) Recruits; Montana (4) Recruits);  SMU (3) Recruits;  Penn State (3) Recruits;  Indiana State (4) Recruits;  Dartmouth (4) Recruits.

Editor's Note:  We will be updating these rankings in the Middle of May, then finalize it in June, as many of the nation's remaining top unsigned talent continue to make their decisions. Watch for those updated rankings right here at Hot100Hoops.com.