Garnett may yet become the gemstone of this class

Sporting News, The, May 29, 1995 by Gene Wojciechowski

After days of careful and painstaking research, followed by more days of exhaustive analysis, I have determined that UCLA had the best recruiting class of 1995.

Reason: They added a national championship trophy. Blue-chip that.

But recruiting analyst Bob Gibbons, who doesn't share my simplistic approach, has his own ideas on who won this year's recruiting wars. His rankings:

1) ARKANSAS

The Razorbacks finished second to the Bruins in the NCAA Tournament, but are in recruiting.

Arkansas signed 10 players, including high school All-American Derek Hood and a load of juco All-Americans. And former high school All-American Kareem Reid is eligible. Reid attended Arkansas as a part-time student last year, which means he'll have four years of eligibility.

2) MICHIGAN (with an asterisk)

If high school star center Kevin Garnett scores well enough on his June 10 ACT and signs with Michigan instead of the NBA, then the Wolverines will be the No. 1 team. Without Garnett, they are still No. 2.

"If you go by the number of top 10 players," says Gibbons, "then Michigan is already No. 1. But if you go by the total class, then it's Arkansas."

The Wolverines' three to watch: Robert Traylor, the 6-foot-9, 270-pound center who Gibbons ranks as the third-best player in the country; Albert White, a 6-6, 225-pound forward; Louis Bullock, a 6-2 guard.

3) KENTUCKY

When the Wildcats beat out Tennessee for 6-7 Ron Mercer, Gibbons says Kentucky became the no-brainer No. 3. Guard Wayne Turner is also a standout.

4) CONNECTICUT

The rankings get a little fuzzy at this point. Arkansas, Michigan and Kentucky were easy choices, says Gibbons, but the remaining seven have similar looks. The Huskies ended up No. 4 because they have six signees.

5) PITTSBURGH

You want to know why Pitt hired Ralph Willard? Here's why: Only his second year on the job and he puts together a recruiting class to die for.

6) SOUTH CAROLINA (with an asterisk)

The Gamecocks are on Garnett's short list of finalists; if they get him, their ranking will improve. But even if they don't, Coach Eddie Fogler had a breakthrough recruiting effort, with 6-10 Leonard Johnson and 6-1 B.J. McKie staying home. Gibbons considers Johnson one of the five best big men in the nation and ranks McKie second only to Georgia Tech-signee Stephon Marbury.

7) OHIO STATE

Beleaguered Coach Randy Ayers needed a boffo recruiting class, and he got one by signing eight very good players, including guard Damon Stringer and 6-9 Jermaine Tate.

8) NORTH CAROLINA

Vince Carter is the key signee, along with Antawan Jamison. Garnett supposedly was headed to Chapel Hill for a visit, but if so, it was news to his high school coaches in Chicago. And in something of a surprise, 6-11 Randall Jackson chose Florida State over the Tar Heels.

9) KANSAS

Once again, Coach Roy Williams comes to southern California and leaves with an elite player. This time it's 6-6 Paul Pierce. The Jay-hawks also signed 6-4 Ryan Robertson from St. Charles, Mo.

10) UCLA

As if the Bruins needed another feel-good moment, their top recruit, 6-11 Jelani McCoy, had 11 points at the recent Hall of Fame Hoop Summit, where USA high school stars defeated a select international junior team. UCLA also signed top-20 player Tommy Prince and shooting guard Brandon Loyd.

Asked to name several schools with less-than-impressive recruiting efforts, Gibbons chose Syracuse and Notre Dame.

"Syracuse would have to be one of the most disappointing," Gibbons says. "I think the Orangemen are in serious jeopardy of losing their (upper-division) status in the Big East"

Gibbons' reasons: Syracuse, which needs a point guard, went hard after Marbury, but couldn't sign him. The Orangemen were unable to sign any impact players, which is unusual for Coach Jim Boeheim and his staff.

As for Notre Dame, Gibbons said the Irish failed to fully capitalize on their new Big East ties.

"Notre Dame signed four players, but I think it's a continuation of what they already have," he says. "They needed a strong dose of athleticism, but I'm not sure they got it. I hope they did, but I don't think so."

Gibbons says he expects Richie Parker to sign with a junior college. Other sources indicate that Parker might end up at George Washington.

Parker, who pleaded guilty to felony sexual abuse, was once headed to Seton Hall and most recently was wooed by Utah. Utah was extremely interested until Assistant Coach Donny Daniels tried equating Parker's suffering to that of the victim of the sexual abuse. It was a clumsy and ignorant attempt to reason away Parker's wrongdoing.

Gene Wojciechowski covers college basketball for the Los Angeles Times.