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'06 USA Today Top 50

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jimotis4heisman

jimotis4heisman

Banned
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/columnist/harrington/2005-05-10-class-of-2006_x.htm

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<!-- /EdSysObj --><!-- EdSysObj ID="SandboxLede" FRAGMENTID="12880800" psimpkin -->Superstar talent pushing Oden for No. 1 junior ranking
The graduating senior class is exhaling its final breaths. There are sputterings of late signings here and there, but the overwhelming majority of nation's basketball recruiting attention is directed toward the Class of 2006.
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</TD><TD class=sidebar vAlign=top width=75>Greg Oden was named player of the year for USA TODAY's All-USA Team last month.</TD><TD rowSpan=2>
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</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=bottom align=left>By Todd Plitt, USA TODAY file</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
The crop of juniors, just months away from the madness of the July evaluation period, is a return to glory of sorts for high school basketball. There's a relatively modest amount of talent at the top of the present senior class (just don't let the NBA scouts hear that), something that's going to change in a big way next year.

By far, the biggest name among juniors is Greg Oden, the superlative seven-footer who already has garnered national primetime television exposure. He's worth it. The Indianapolis native has been the dominant defensive force in the country for the past two years, and it's simply a matter of maturity before his offensive game catches up.

That said, there have been several other rising seniors who, believe it or not, could surpass Oden by the end of their prep career. It may not be advisable to bet on Oden's surrender of the No. 1 position, but the fact that it's even a possibility is a testament to the immense talent of those behind him.

It won't come as a major surprise if, 10 years from now, Kevin Durant is considered as the best player to emerge from the Class of 2006. The 6-9 wing forward releases one of the smoothest jump shots you'll ever see on a player his size. He isn't a great ball-handler yet and needs to gain weight — even if it means force-feeding him red meat — but his exquisite shooting and passing ability make him an elite commodity for both the college and NBA level.

Speaking of red meat, let's hope Durant leaves enough on the table for Brandan Wright. Like Durant, the 6-9 Wright possesses highly advanced skills but lacks the strength to dominate the way he could at all times. He proved this past season that he can hang with the very best even now, however, effectively going toe-to-toe with Duke-bound big man Josh McRoberts.

In addition to Wright and Durant, there are three additional elite players at their size: 6-8 wing forward Thaddeus Young, 6-9 combo forward Darrell Arthur and 6-9 power forward Vernon Macklin. None of those five forwards possesses the physical attributes of Oden, but each has abundant athleticism and skill. With more strength, who's to say just how high they may ascend?

If there's a weakness at the top of the class, it's the lack of blue-chip point guards. For over a year, the top tier of junior point guards included 6-0 Tywon Lawson, 5-11 D.J. Augustin and 6-1 Mike Conley.

But Sherron Collins might relegate the trio to a race for the silver medal. The 5-10 stud from Chicago blew up this spring, showing incredible quickness, dribbling and passing skills. Though sometimes wild, his natural talent compares favorably with any of the point guard prospects who created waves in 2002, including Raymond Felton, Dee Brown, Jarrett Jack, Anthony Roberson, John Gilchrist, Allan Ray and others.

After reading such a glowing review of the Class of 2006, the next question becomes obvious: How many of these guys actually will go to college?

The obvious answer, of course, is that the NBA's proposed age minimum will determine who does and does not go pro. If the status quo remains in place, expect a minimum of five players to make the jump, and likely several more. Assuming he applies for the NBA draft, Greg Oden appears at this point to be a strong contender to be selected No. 1 in 2006.

All that said, here's an early look at the national top 50.

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 align=left><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=notch_header align=middle colSpan=5>Rob Harrington's class of 2006 spring recruiting rankings</TD></TR><TR><TD class=notch_medium>Player</TD><TD class=notch_medium>Ht.</TD><TD class=notch_medium>Pos.</TD><TD class=notch_medium>High School</TD><TD class=notch_medium>College</TD></TR><TR><TD class=notch_light>1. Greg Oden</TD><TD class=notch_light>7-0</TD><TD class=notch_light>C</TD><TD class=notch_light>Lawrence North (Indianapolis)</TD><TD class=notch_light></TD></TR><TR><TD class=notch_white>2. Kevin Durant</TD><TD class=notch_white>6-9</TD><TD class=notch_white>WF</TD><TD class=notch_white>Oak Hill (Mouth of Wilson, Va.)</TD><TD class=notch_white></TD></TR><TR><TD class=notch_light>3. Brandan Wright</TD><TD class=notch_light>6-9</TD><TD class=notch_light>PF/WF</TD><TD class=notch_light>Brentwood (Nashville, Tenn.)</TD><TD class=notch_light></TD></TR><TR><TD class=notch_white>4. Thaddeus Young</TD><TD class=notch_white>6-8</TD><TD class=notch_white>WF</TD><TD class=notch_white>Mitchell (Memphis, Tenn.)</TD><TD class=notch_white></TD></TR><TR><TD class=notch_light>5. Darrell Arthur</TD><TD class=notch_light>6-9</TD><TD class=notch_light>PF</TD><TD class=notch_light>South Oak Cliff (Dallas)</TD><TD class=notch_light></TD></TR><TR><TD class=notch_white>6. Vernon Macklin</TD><TD class=notch_white>6-9</TD><TD class=notch_white>PF</TD><TD class=notch_white>Norcom (Portsmouth, Va.)</TD><TD class=notch_white></TD></TR><TR><TD class=notch_light>7. Spencer Hawes</TD><TD class=notch_light>6-11</TD><TD class=notch_light>C/PF</TD><TD class=notch_light>Seattle Prep</TD><TD class=notch_light></TD></TR><TR><TD class=notch_white>8. Wayne Ellington</TD><TD class=notch_white>6-4</TD><TD class=notch_white>SG</TD><TD class=notch_white>Episcopal (Merion Station, Pa.)</TD><TD class=notch_white></TD></TR><TR><TD class=notch_light>9. Daequan Cook</TD><TD class=notch_light>6-4</TD><TD class=notch_light>SG</TD><TD class=notch_light>Dunbar (Dayton, Ohio)</TD><TD class=notch_light>OHIO STATE</TD></TR><TR><TD class=notch_white>10. Sherron Collins</TD><TD class=notch_white>5-10</TD><TD class=notch_white>PG</TD><TD class=notch_white>Crane (Chicago)</TD><TD class=notch_white></TD></TR><TR><TD class=notch_light>11. Chase Budinger</TD><TD class=notch_light>6-8</TD><TD class=notch_light>WF/PF</TD><TD class=notch_light>La Costa Canyon (Carlsbad, Calif.)</TD><TD class=notch_light></TD></TR><TR><TD class=notch_white>12. Gerald Henderson</TD><TD class=notch_white>6-5</TD><TD class=notch_white>SG/WF</TD><TD class=notch_white>Episcopal (Merion Station, Pa.)</TD><TD class=notch_white></TD></TR><TR><TD class=notch_light>13. Derrick Caracter</TD><TD class=notch_light>6-8</TD><TD class=notch_light>PF</TD><TD class=notch_light>St. Patrick (Elizabeth, N.J.)</TD><TD class=notch_light></TD></TR><TR><TD class=notch_white>14. Jonathan Scheyer</TD><TD class=notch_white>6-5</TD><TD class=notch_white>SG</TD><TD class=notch_white>Glenbrook North (Northbrook, Ill.)</TD><TD class=notch_white></TD></TR><TR><TD class=notch_light>15. Tywon Lawson</TD><TD class=notch_light>6-0</TD><TD class=notch_light>PG</TD><TD class=notch_light>Oak Hill (Mouth of Wilson, Va.)</TD><TD class=notch_light></TD></TR><TR><TD class=notch_white>16. Brook Lopez</TD><TD class=notch_white>6-11</TD><TD class=notch_white>C/PF</TD><TD class=notch_white>San Joaquin Memorial (Fresno, Calif.)</TD><TD class=notch_white>STANFORD</TD></TR><TR><TD class=notch_light>17. Lance Thomas</TD><TD class=notch_light>6-7</TD><TD class=notch_light>WF</TD><TD class=notch_light>St. Benedict's (Newark, N.J.)</TD><TD class=notch_light></TD></TR><TR><TD class=notch_white>18. Robin Lopez</TD><TD class=notch_white>6-11</TD><TD class=notch_white>PF</TD><TD class=notch_white>San Joaquin Memorial (Fresno, Calif.)</TD><TD class=notch_white>STANFORD</TD></TR><TR><TD class=notch_light>19. D.J. Augustin</TD><TD class=notch_light>5-11</TD><TD class=notch_light>PG</TD><TD class=notch_light>Brother Martin (New Orleans)</TD><TD class=notch_light></TD></TR><TR><TD class=notch_white>20. Isaiah Dahlman</TD><TD class=notch_white>6-7</TD><TD class=notch_white>WF/SG</TD><TD class=notch_white>Braham (Minn.)</TD><TD class=notch_white></TD></TR><TR><TD class=notch_light>21. Pierre Niles</TD><TD class=notch_light>6-8</TD><TD class=notch_light>PF</TD><TD class=notch_light>Ridgeway (Memphis)</TD><TD class=notch_light></TD></TR><TR><TD class=notch_white>22. Mike Conley</TD><TD class=notch_white>6-1</TD><TD class=notch_white>PG</TD><TD class=notch_white>Lawrence North (Indianapolis)</TD><TD class=notch_white></TD></TR><TR><TD class=notch_light>23. Curtis Kelly</TD><TD class=notch_light>6-9</TD><TD class=notch_light>PF/C</TD><TD class=notch_light>Rice (New York)</TD><TD class=notch_light></TD></TR><TR><TD class=notch_white>24. Damion James</TD><TD class=notch_white>6-8</TD><TD class=notch_white>WF</TD><TD class=notch_white>Nacogdoches (Texas)</TD><TD class=notch_white>OKLAHOMA</TD></TR><TR><TD class=notch_light>25. Landon Milbourne</TD><TD class=notch_light>6-7</TD><TD class=notch_light>WF/PF</TD><TD class=notch_light>St. Francis (Alpharetta, Ga.)</TD><TD class=notch_light>MARYLAND</TD></TR><TR><TD class=notch_white>26. Bryan Davis</TD><TD class=notch_white>6-8</TD><TD class=notch_white>PF</TD><TD class=notch_white>Grand Prairie (Texas)</TD><TD class=notch_white></TD></TR><TR><TD class=notch_light>27. Brian Carlwell</TD><TD class=notch_light>6-10</TD><TD class=notch_light>C</TD><TD class=notch_light>Proviso East (Maywood, Ill.)</TD><TD class=notch_light></TD></TR><TR><TD class=notch_white>28. Daniel Deane</TD><TD class=notch_white>6-8</TD><TD class=notch_white>PF/WF</TD><TD class=notch_white>Judge Memorial (Salt Lake City, Utah)</TD><TD class=notch_white></TD></TR><TR><TD class=notch_light>29. Brian Zoubeck</TD><TD class=notch_light>7-0</TD><TD class=notch_light>C</TD><TD class=notch_light>Haddonfield Memorial (Cherry Hill, N.J.)</TD><TD class=notch_light></TD></TR><TR><TD class=notch_white>30. Keith Clark</TD><TD class=notch_white>6-8</TD><TD class=notch_white>PF</TD><TD class=notch_white>Putnam City (Oklahoma City, Okla.)</TD><TD class=notch_white></TD></TR><TR><TD class=notch_light>31. Javaris Crittenton</TD><TD class=notch_light>6-4</TD><TD class=notch_light>PG</TD><TD class=notch_light>Southwest Christian (Atlanta)</TD><TD class=notch_light></TD></TR><TR><TD class=notch_white>32. Josh Chichester</TD><TD class=notch_white>6-7</TD><TD class=notch_white>WF</TD><TD class=notch_white>Lakota West (Westchester, Ohio)</TD><TD class=notch_white></TD></TR><TR><TD class=notch_light>33. Paul Harris</TD><TD class=notch_light>6-4</TD><TD class=notch_light>WF</TD><TD class=notch_light>Niagara Falls (N.Y.)</TD><TD class=notch_light></TD></TR><TR><TD class=notch_white>34. Dwayne Collins</TD><TD class=notch_white>6-7</TD><TD class=notch_white>PF</TD><TD class=notch_white>Miami Senior</TD><TD class=notch_white></TD></TR><TR><TD class=notch_light>35. Jason Bennett</TD><TD class=notch_light>7-2</TD><TD class=notch_light>C</TD><TD class=notch_light>Arlington Country Day (Jacksonville, Fla.)</TD><TD class=notch_light></TD></TR><TR><TD class=notch_white>36. Bryce Webster</TD><TD class=notch_white>6-9</TD><TD class=notch_white>PF/C</TD><TD class=notch_white>St. Thomas (Saint Paul, Minn.)</TD><TD class=notch_white></TD></TR><TR><TD class=notch_light>37. Anthony Gurley</TD><TD class=notch_light>6-2</TD><TD class=notch_light>SG/PG</TD><TD class=notch_light>Newton North (Newtonville, Mass.)</TD><TD class=notch_light></TD></TR><TR><TD class=notch_white>38. Derrick Jasper</TD><TD class=notch_white>6-5</TD><TD class=notch_white>SG/PG</TD><TD class=notch_white>Paso Robles (Calif.)</TD><TD class=notch_white></TD></TR><TR><TD class=notch_light>39. Alex Stepheson</TD><TD class=notch_light>6-8</TD><TD class=notch_light>PF</TD><TD class=notch_light>Harvard-Westlake (North Hollywood, Calif.)</TD><TD class=notch_light></TD></TR><TR><TD class=notch_white>40. Obi Muonelo</TD><TD class=notch_white>6-4</TD><TD class=notch_white>SG</TD><TD class=notch_white>Santa Fe (Edmond, Okla.)</TD><TD class=notch_white></TD></TR><TR><TD class=notch_light>41. James Keefe</TD><TD class=notch_light>6-8</TD><TD class=notch_light>PF</TD><TD class=notch_light>Rancho Santa Margarito (Calif.)</TD><TD class=notch_light>UCLA</TD></TR><TR><TD class=notch_white>42. JuJuan Jones</TD><TD class=notch_white>6-5</TD><TD class=notch_white>SG</TD><TD class=notch_white>Douglas County (Douglasville, Ga.)</TD><TD class=notch_white></TD></TR><TR><TD class=notch_light>43. Duke Crews</TD><TD class=notch_light>6-7</TD><TD class=notch_light>PF</TD><TD class=notch_light>Bethel (Hampton, Va.)</TD><TD class=notch_light></TD></TR><TR><TD class=notch_white>44. Taj Gibson</TD><TD class=notch_white>6-8</TD><TD class=notch_white>PF</TD><TD class=notch_white>Stoneridge Christian (Merced, Calif.)</TD><TD class=notch_white></TD></TR><TR><TD class=notch_light>45. Jeremiah Rivers</TD><TD class=notch_light>6-4</TD><TD class=notch_light>PG/SG</TD><TD class=notch_light>Winter Park (Fla.)</TD><TD class=notch_light></TD></TR><TR><TD class=notch_white>46. Perry Stevenson</TD><TD class=notch_white>6-9</TD><TD class=notch_white>PF</TD><TD class=notch_white>Northside (Lafayette, La.)</TD><TD class=notch_white></TD></TR><TR><TD class=notch_light>47. Mike Jones</TD><TD class=notch_light>6-7</TD><TD class=notch_light>WF/PF</TD><TD class=notch_light>Lower Richland (Hopkins, S.C.)</TD><TD class=notch_light></TD></TR><TR><TD class=notch_white>48. DeShawn Sims</TD><TD class=notch_white>6-7</TD><TD class=notch_white>WF/PF</TD><TD class=notch_white>Pershing (Detroit, Mich.)</TD><TD class=notch_white></TD></TR><TR><TD class=notch_light>49. David Lighty</TD><TD class=notch_light>6-4</TD><TD class=notch_light>SG</TD><TD class=notch_light>St. Joseph (Cleveland, Ohio)</TD><TD class=notch_light>OHIO STATE</TD></TR><TR><TD class=notch_white>50. Jamil Tucker</TD><TD class=notch_white>6-8</TD><TD class=notch_white>WF</TD><TD class=notch_white>West Side (Gary, Ind.)</TD><TD class=notch_white></TD></TR><TR><TD class=notch_light colSpan=5>Harrington is a recruiting analyst for www.PrepStars.com</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>































































<!--start data for usatc app<head-short>No. 1 recruit ... for now
</head-short><last-modified>5/10/2005 2:33 PM
</last-modified><images><image src="/sports/_photos/2005/05/10/inside-oden.jpg" width="180" height="180"><caption>Greg Oden was named player of the year for USA TODAY's All-USA Team last month.</caption><credit>By Todd Plitt, USA TODAY file</credit></image></images>--><!-- /EdSysObj -->
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I heard Exclusive Clothes say someting along the lines of the 5th member of the Thad 5 being somebody not highly discussed right now amongst OSU recruiting circles. He said Lance Thomas or Derrick Caracter could fill that final spot.

EDIT: I don't remember if he posts on here, but he is a serious Wake insider and speaks regularly to these kids at AAU tournaments. He said everybody wants to play with Conley... which tells you how great of a PG he is.
 
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Both of those two are 5 stars...
Caracter is the 3rd best PF and 6th best in the country
Thomas is the 7th best SF and 21st best in the country

This is merely a post by EC stating that we will get the 4, he did not mention who would be the 5th... I hope this means we have too many to choose from for our 5th... what a wonderful problem

It appears all 3 will attend OSU. Matta may have some problems deciding on the 5th frosh though.

From BN Free board:
Young is a LONGSHOT as best.
Yea Thomas can really play he is the best big man who isn't a threat to go pro.

I bet the Wake board will love reading this quote by EC:
HOnestly I don't know how he does it. Cook was a UNC lean, but Matta got him, Conley was a Wake lean, and it looks like Matta may get him also. Oden was a IU lean and Matta may get him too. I talk to alot of recruits and they just love the guy. The parents and other HS coaches like the guy also, he seems to be very high energy and always positive.
 
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bucknuts44820 said:
OSU is actively recruiting the following from this list....Oden, Young, Cook, Conley, Augustin, Chichester, Webster, Lighty and Tucker.

Its amazing the impact Matta has had on the program in less than a year.
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He's not been on campus long this Thad Matta fellow, but already I like his style.

Comes into town, team in dissaray, on the heels of all kinds of allegations and legal turmoil. Does this phase him, not in the least.
He turns that team around, gets a better performance out of the squad than anyone (myself included) thought likely. He does all this without a huge carrot to go with any stick he can use to propel the team forward. That in my book is masterful motivation, a great piece of coaching.

Matta comes into a football town, where all (Buck) eyes in the media focus on the pigskin. Where it is often heard that the days of glory for Basketball at Ohio State are long gone, in another century. Does this dissaude him, heck no. Matta goes and makes a chance to pull together one of the best recruiting classes ever at The Ohio State University -- and they will play round ball.

Thad Matta does not buy into others expectations, for they are too low. He sets his own standards, then he shapes events so the outcome fits best his high hopes for Ohio State basketball.
 
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In this thread on BN Hoop board: http://mb12.scout.com/fohiostatefrm3.showMessage?topicID=7044.topic

<TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=5 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR bgColor=#cccccc><TD vAlign=top noWrap align=left width="20%">CrimsonPepe

Junior Varsity
Posts: 107
(5/9/05 10:37:11 pm)
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More PF prospects for '06 <HR SIZE=1>Our good buddy ExlusiveClothes had this to say on the Wake board....


"Apprently guys want to play with Conley and its to the point Matta may not have enough schollys for the players in 06."


AND

"As for the other guys, Matta needs a PF and Young is a longshot at best. I would not be surprised to see Lance Thomas list OSU in the coming weeks or Derrick Caracter. I have heard both want to play with Conley. I would put my money on LT more so than DC."

Lance Thomas is #7 PF from NJ and all the big programs have offered. Caracter is a 300lb'er also from New Jersey. Everytime Exclusiveclothes opens his mouth he has good news for us. Anyone know any more about these guys?
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Everyone is talking about these guys wanting to play w/ conley so they might come to osu... lets remember not to get ahead of ourselves too fast because conley is still deciding on a college


The odds look good on conley, but its not over till its over.
 
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I think the difference is that Matta has awakened the sleeping giant. Even if a bunch of the aforementioned guys went elsewhere, there is no question Matta is going to be taking big strides in the future. We aren't Duke or UNC, so if these guys don't come this year and we have to wait longer to get to the final four, I'm fine with that. It seems clear that Matta's appeal is not strictly tied to Conley's interest in OSU. This year taht may be the case, but tons of recruits have fallen in love with the guy and then consider OSU very strongly b/c of the added value of playing with Conley.
 
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