College Basketball Recruiting: UNC Tar Heels Sign #1 Class on Early Signing Day

Several of the nation's top 100 high school basketball players signed letters-of-intent on Early Signing Day on Wednesday.

The early signing period in college basketball began Wednesday as several potential McDonald's All-Americans signed letters-of-intent to their college choices. Thus far, the majority of the signees committed to their schools prior to Wednesday as there was no suspense.

North Carolina Tar Heels boast the nation's consensus No. 1 recruiting class for 2009 as they signed two five-star recruits (6-10 forward John Henson and 6-3 guard Dexter Strickland) and three four-star prospects (6-6 guard Leslie McDonald, 6-8 forwards Travis Wear and David Wear). All of UNC's future Tar Heels are in the top 70 on Rivals.com.

UNC's 2006 recruiting class was their last No. 1 class. That year, they signed Brendan Wright, Ty Lawson and Wayne Ellington, three McDonald's All-Americans and five-star prospects, in addition to two four-star recruits (Deon Thompson and Alex Stepheson) and a three-star player in William Graves.

Texas Longhorns are second after signing two of the Rivals.com's top 10 players in 6-8 forward Jordan Hamilton (No. 5) and 6-3 shooting guard Avery Bradley (No. 8). The Longhorns also signed 6-7 forward Shawn Williams (No. 64).

Like UNC, this is Texas' best class since 2006 when UT head coach Rick Barnes signed Kevin Durant, D.J. Augustin and Damion James.

Villanova Wildcats, Kansas Jayhawks and Florida Gators round out Rivals.com's top five recruiting classes, while Indiana Hoosiers, Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, Illinois Fighting Illini, Oklahoma State Cowboys and Kentucky Wildcats are the top 10.

Villanova inked two stars from Montrose Christian (Rockville, MD) in 6-9 forward Moustaphou Yarou (No. 14) and 6-8 forward Isaiah Armwood (No. 62), as well as Philly 6-1 point guard Maalik Wayns (No. 25).

Kansas signed two of the nation's top 30 players in 6-8 forward Thomas Robinson (No. 18) and 6-2 point guard Elijah Johnson (No. 27). UF signed the nation's second-best shooting guard in 6-2 guard Kenny Boynton (No. 8), as well as 6-9 center Deshawn Painter (No. 85) and 6-10 power forward Erik Murphy (No. 104).

DeMarcus Cousins (No. 2), the 6-9 forward from LeFlore (Mobile, AL), was expected to sign with UAB, but according to reports, he will not sign unless his letter-of-intent assures in writing that Mike Davis will be the coach when he gets there next year. If this clause is not included, Cousins will sign else.

No other top 10 players have committed to colleges yet. 6-4 point guard John Wall (No. 1) is choosing between Baylor, Oregon, N.C. State, Kansas, Memphis, Miami and, as of late, Duke. Xavier Henry (No. 3), the nation's top shooting guard, has narrowed his list down to two schools: Kansas, where his father played, and Memphis, where his brother C.J. plays now.

Derrick Favors (No. 4), the nation's top center, has scheduled official visits to Georgia, Georgia Tech and N.C. State, and has also listed Memphis in his top four.

Two of the nation's most-hyped players are also uncommitted, but are rumored to be looking at the Brandon Jennings route and play professionally in Europe. Lance Stephenson (No. 9) and Renardo Sidney (No. 10) have been in the limelight since middle school. The two friends have also been rumored to be a package deal if they attend college, but recent reports have not confirmed this.

Stephenson, the 6-5 guard from Lincoln (Brooklyn, NY), lists Kansas, Memphis, USC and UCLA, all of which are schools he plans to take an official visit to. He also lists St. John's, which he has made an official visit to already. Indiana, Seton Hall, Pittsburgh are also in the mix.

Sidney, the 6-10 power forward/center from Fairfax (Los Angeles, CA), recently visited Virginia, but also lists USC, UCLA, LSU and Mississippi State. Sidney is originally from Piney Woods, MS, hence the attraction to SEC schools.

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