The Kentucky Wildcats have moved into the top spot as the top college basketball class in the nation after the signing of five-star guard Eric Bledsoe, according to Rivals.com.
Bledsoe, a 6-foot-2 guard from Parker H.S. in Birmingham, AL, committed to Kentucky and new head coach John Calipari on Tuesday. Bledsoe signed his letter-of-intent and set to begin school in the fall in Lexington.
Bledsoe joins fellow five-star recruits DeMarcus Cousins (6-foot-9 forward from LeFlore HS in Mobile, AL) and Daniel Orton (6-foot-10 center from Oklahoma City's Bishop McGuinness), along with four-star in-state recruit Jon Hood, and Darnell Dodson, arguably the nation's top junior college prospect .
Calipari's move from Memphis to Kentucky last month caused a huge ripple effect in college basketball. His Memphis team originally had commitments from two of the nation's top three players: Cousins and 6-foot-6 guard Xavier Henry (Putnam City H.S. in Oklahoma City). Henry, who was set to join his brother C.J. on the Tigers team, later bolted to Kansas as his brother followed. Cousins kept his commitment to Calipari and went to Kentucky.
At this time, John Wall, the nation's top player according to Rivals.com, stated that UK was his top choice. With the addition of Bledsoe, it is uncertain if Wall, a 6-foot-4 point guard from Word of God Academy in Raleigh, NC, is still heavily interested in the Wildcats. Wall has until May 20 to make a decision.
The commitment of Bledsoe, who averaged 20.3 points, 11.5 assists and 9.4 rebounds per game this season for Parker HS, moved Kentucky past Villanova for the top recruiting class for 2009 by Rivals.com. Villanova's 2009 recruiting class consists of four top 70 recruits: top 10 recruit Moustaphou Yarou, McDonald's All-Americans Maalik Wayns (No. 26), Dominic Cheek (No. 30) and Yarou's Montrose Christian teammate Isaiah Armwood (No. 60).
Texas, Georgia Tech and reigning national champions North Carolina round out Rivals' top five recruiting class. The Longhorns landed two top 10 recruits in 6-foot-8 forward Jordan Hamilton (No. 4) and 6-foot-3 shooting guard Avery Bradley (No. 6). The Yellow Jackets won big in-state, snagging five Georgia players, including Atlanta's Derrick Favors (No. 3), the Parade Magazine Player of the Year; Stone Mountain's Mfon Udofia (No. 32); and Marietta's Glen Rice (No. 45).
North Carolina grabbed the early lead in the rankings, signing five top 60 commits in the fall, including four McDonald's All-Americans: 6-foot-10 forward John Henson (No. 5), 6-foot-3 guard Dexter Strickland (No. 34), and 6-foot-9 forwards David (No. 59) and Travis Wear (No. 60).
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