Justin Young
Rivals.com Basketball Recruiting Senior Writer

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The Big East made a monster jump in the team recruiting rankings since the fall signing period.
Once ranked the fourth best recruiting conference in November, the Big East has now jumped to No. 1 overall.

Seven teams are inside the top 30 class rankings for the class of 2007.


Big East rank (National rank)
1. Syracuse (4)
2. Villanova (12)
3. Cincinnati (15)
4. DePaul (16)
5. Georgetown (23)
6. Pittsburgh (26)
7. St. John's (30)
8. Seton Hall
9. Rutgers
10. Marquette
11. Louisville
12. Providence
13. South Florida
14. West Virginia
15. Notre Dame
16. UConn

Big East tops all conference recruiting rankings
Villanova's incoming class is a major reason why the Big East is making a big jump. Incoming backcourt players Corey Fisher and Corey Stokes earned five-star status after strong senior seasons. Fisher, a dynamic point guard, is the fifth best floor general in the nation. Stokes checks in as the No. 28 prospect in the nation. Prep school point guard Malcolm Grant gives the Wildcats added versatility in an already-strong backcourt. Villanova went from unranked to No. 12 in the spring signing period.

Cincinnati's recruiting class had a lot to do with the increase of talent coming into the conference as well. Mick Cronin and his staff reeled in three Rivals150 players - Jason Henry (No. 52 overall in the country), Anthony McClain (the nation's seventh best center) and Alvin Mitchell - in the late period. The Bearcats went from unranked to No. 15 overall in the final class rankings.

Syracuse remained strong in the national rankings. The Orange inked a top-five class. Led by four players inside the top 100 individual rankings, the Big East power locked up players early. Wing forward Donte Green, the nation's ninth best player overall, is the gem of the class. He's joined by fellow McDonald's All-American guard Jonny Flynn from nearby Niagara Falls.

DePaul (No. 16 nationally) will rely on the 1-2 punch of Nayal Koshwal and Darquavis Tucker, prospects ranked in the top 50. Georgetown (No. 23 nationally) added immediate help in the backcourt in local prospects Austin Freeman and Chris Wright, both McDonald's All-Americans.


Best of the Big East
Best perimeter scorer: Austin Freeman, Georgetown
Best low post scorer: Nayal Koshwal, DePaul
Best passer: Johnny Flynn, Syracuse
Best shooter: Austin Freeman, Georgetown
Best rebounder: Nayal Koshwal, DePaul
Best shot-blocker: Rick Jackson, Syracuse
Best defender: Darquavis Tucker, DePaul
Most versatile: Donte Green, Syracuse
Best in the clutch: Austin Freeman, Georgetown
Best basketball IQ: Austin Freeman, Georgetown
Best pro prospect: Donte Green, Syracuse
Best interview: Donte Green, Syracuse
Best speed: Johnny Flynn, Syracuse
Best hands: Justin Burrell, St. John's
Best motor: Justin Burrell, St. John's
Best strength: Ayodele Coker, St. John's
Best leaper: Johnny Flynn, Syracuse
Impact player: Austin Freeman, Georgetown
Biggest sleeper: Jeremy Hazell, Seton Hall
Sleeper class: Seton Hall

Pittsburgh and St. John's both cracked into the top 30 classes nationally. The Panthers check in at No. 26 while the Red Storm closes out the list at 30.
Jerry Meyer's take: Both Georgetown and Villanova are bringing in high powered scoring combos in the backcourt with Austin Freeman and Chris Wright staying in D.C. and Corey Stokes and Corey Fisher headed to Philadelphia … Syracuse brings in a load of talent. Coach Jim Boeheim faces a challenge in distributing playing time in what will be a deep and talented backcourt. Donte Green should step right into the vacated small forward position for the Orange … Cincinnati will look like a different team this year with its large and talented recruiting class … DePaul is hoping that five-star prospect Nayal Koshwal can pick up the slack in the frontcourt … Look for Seton Hall's group of freshmen to make some noise next season.

Top five incoming freshmen

Syracuse stakes claim to two of the five best incoming freshmen in Green and Flynn. Green, a 6-foot-8 forward, will be the closest thing to Carmelo Anthony that the Orange has seen inside the Carrier Dome since the Big East program won the National Championship. Green has great inside-out skills. Flynn, an athletic speedster at the point, has star written all over him. Flynn and sophomore wing Paul Harris were high school and AAU teammates. Donte Green should make an immediate impact at Syracuse next season.

-Georgetown will lean heavily on Freeman, a five-star product from the famed DeMatha program in Maryland. The Hoyas are in need of a scoring upgrade at the two spot. Freeman provides that.

DePaul will likely look to Koshwal early and often. DePaul loses its top three rebounders and its top two scorers - Wilson Chandler and Sammy Meija – from last season. Koshwal is a strong candidate to lead the team on the glass.

Villanova's backcourt should be one of the youngest, and best, in the conference next year. Joining Scottie Reynolds, the Big East Rookie of the Year last season, is Fisher. The point guard from St. Patrick (N.J.) should allow Reynolds, a 14.6 point per game scorer last year, to return to his best position at the two. Fisher could be an assist leader in the conference next season.

Filling the void

Pittsburgh needs help inside. Gone are senior big men Aaron Gray and Levon Kendall. The two combined for 72 starts, nearly 20 points and 15 rebounds. Enter Dejuan Blair. The Pittsburgh native posted amazing stats on the AAU trail and in his senior season. The 6-foot-8, 265-pounder will be inserted into the starting lineup and will be asked to anchor the frontline from the outset.

Inside the numbers

Seven incoming players to the Big East are five-star players. Syracuse bound Donte Green is the top ranked player coming into the conference. The conference has 18 players coming into the conference inside the top 100 rankings and 27 players are ranked in the final Rivals150 rankings. Syracuse, Cincinnati and Pittsburgh each have four players coming to college from the Rivals150. Thirteen of the 16 schools in the conference signed a top-150 prospect

I'm surprised that WVU isn't at the bottom of the list. They only had 2 recruits, and they belittle them for small football recruiting classes. I guess ND and UConn didn't have any scholarships to give this year.

People were saying they were skeptical that UC's recruiting class can make and impact this year, but I think differently. I think UC's class will make and immediate impact. I'm not saying 25 wins and the NCAA Tournament but UC could be one of the surprise teams in the nation this year, definitely one of the most improved.

I really like Chris Wright, the PG going to Georgetown. I first saw him play when he was a freshman in high school and he is a freaking stud.

I don't put any stock to these recruiting rankings. Judge the recruiting classes after they graduate. Then they might have some kind of meaning. If they were worth the paper they were printed on, Pitt would win the BEast (football) every year.

Doesn't the Big East have 16 teams in their Hoop Conference?

Of course they should have more teams ranked in someone's made-up Top 30 ranking of mostly HS kids vs the other top conferences (most have just 11 or 12 teams).

KnightLight Wrote:Doesn't the Big East have 16 teams in their Hoop Conference?

Of course they should have more teams ranked in the Top 30 vs the other top conferences (most have 11 or 12 teams).

Duhh, Why dont you write to the writer, and let him know this. As far as were concerned, WE ARE #1

The top 30 means the 30 best schools. Any conference could have them. KnightLight, why don't you grow up and make some meaningful conversation.

Quote:As far as were concerned, WE ARE #1

-- Amen....seven teams in the Top 30 is pretty good....Its great to see so many great players want to play in the Big East...Also good to see depaul and st johns putting together classes that should help them get to the next level

Jackson

Almost 25% of the top 30. Not too shabby.

2008 is looking even better

Cincy, UConn, Ville, and Georgetown are pretty much all locks to have a top 25 class based on what recruits they already have and who they are recruiting, all 4 have the potential to be in the top 10. Several BE programs like Pitt, Cuse, Nova, Depaul, and Marquette could also easily find themselves in the top 25 depending who commits where. The 2008 class could potentially have 8-9 teams in the top 25. The Big East is going to be very competitive in the next few years...

WVU will have a few scholarships to give out next year too. And Huggins will have a year under his belt in Morgantown to do some recruiting. The basketball future is bright for West Virginia and the BEast.

Yea no doubt Huggins will bring in some good players...just stay out of Ohio!

Ohio is prime ground for WVU. You can forget about Huggy leaving it alone.

DePaul will be interesting this year, and I would love to see Syracuse and 'Nova back at the top of the BE.