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Who has the best recruiting class for 2006?

Sporting News, The, Dec 2, 2005

Ohio State

One player makes all the difference

Had Ohio State signed Greg Oden--and only Oden--I still might be making the argument the Buckeyes recruited the nation's best class.

Ohio State did not just get the No. 1 player for 2006. Oden, a 7-0 center from Lawrence North High in Indianapolis, will be the most dominant player to enter college since Shaquille O'Neal arrived at LSU 16 years ago.

That's the difference here. North Carolina's boatload of elite prospects might form a championship team. And Ohio State wouldn't have done badly just with Daequan Cook, David Lighty and Mike Conley. But Oden is a once-in-a-generation player.

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That has been my stance all along: Russell, Chamberlain, Jabbar, Walton, Ewing, O'Neal ... Oden. He belongs in that lineage. Which is why no one recruited better than Ohio State this year.--Mike DeCourcy

BUCKEYES RECRUITS (Rivals.com ranking)

C Greg Oden (1)

G Daequan Cook (20)

G David Lighty (21)

G Mike Conley (26)

North Carolina

Tar Heels' overall talent is overwhelming

What separates North Carolina from Ohio State is the volume of great players headed to Chapel Hill: The Tar Heels landed a class that could be put on the floor as one unit--plus a sixth man.

Ty Lawson and Wayne Ellington will form an explosive backcourt duo--they could have stepped into college this year and made a major impact. Brandon Wright highlights the frontcourt haul, and his versatility allows him to defend either forward or the center. He is long, can score and fits perfectly with the uptempo style preferred by his backcourt teammates and coach Roy Williams.

Deon Thompson and Alex Stepheson are big men with great upside; you will see them get better as they get stronger. William Graves can handle the ball.

The Tar Heels are in rebuilding mode this season, but this class will help put them back in the Final Four hunt.--Tim Watts

TAR HEELS RECRUITS

(Rivals.com ranking)

F Brandon Wright (5)

G Wayne Ellington (9)

G Ty Lawson (13)

F Alex Stepheson (57)

F Deon Thompson (69)

F William Graves (NR)

Who has the best recruiting class for 2006?

Sporting News, The, Dec 2, 2005

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