Excited states

FSU, LSU highlight top recruiting classes of 2003

Let's face it; we'd better start getting used to the NBA consistently having the top recruiting class each year. This season The League had a recruiting class of five from the high school ranks. Headed by LeBron James, the NBA rounded out its class with Ndudi Ebi, James Lang, Travis Outlaw and Kendrick Perkins.

Put those five guys in the college game and the landscape of college buckets changes a little, don’t you think? Ebi would have given Lute Olsen quite a punch at the forward slot. Outlaw, Perkins and Lang most certainly would have made immediate impacts for their respective teams as well.

Still, life goes on and much to the delight of Florida State fans, this coming basketball season will provide as much excitement as spring football in Tallahassee.

Leonard Hamilton arrived on campus with much fanfare and a very difficult task. The coach’s program needed an injection of talent and while no one doubted Hamilton’s gifts as a recruiter, few would have predicted such a sweet early haul.

McDonald’s All-American Vakeaton Wafer heads a talented four-man class that also includes power forward Alexander Johnson and junior college standouts Diego Romero and Antonio Griffin.

Here’s a look at the top dozen classes this season. (Click on each team's name for a full list of commitments)

1. Florida State: Pretty remarkable when you think about it. Hamilton’s staff struck gold well ahead of the mining schedule.

2. Louisiana State: This next edition of the Tigers is likely to be the fastest group the school has ever put together.

3. Maryland: From sea to shining sea, the Terrapins were racking up the frequent flier miles as they signed a pair of West Coast prospects.

4. Kansas: David Padgett is going to look pretty imposing alongside Wayne Simien and Jeff Graves. Keith Langford and J.R. Giddens? Now that’s a pair of athletes.

5. Michigan State: The Spartans bolstered an already impressive stock of wing talent with a high flier in Shannon Brown and terrific scorer in Brandon Cotton.

6. Syracuse: The Orangemen have a great foundation and this four-man class contains a trio of Top 50 prospects.

7. California: Leon Powe is a Top 10 player and he’ll be ready to help the Golden Bears continue their ascent in the Pac-10 standings.

8. Michigan: Could be the class in which Amaker really helps solidify a strong foundation in Ann Arbor. He’s got Mr. Basketball in Dion Harris in this group.

9. Connecticut: Charlie Villanueva put his NBA career on hold to try and help the Huskies win another ring. They signed three Top 100 recruits.

10. Arkansas: Yes, Stan Heath’s first class is a good one. They’ve got size, athleticism and four kids with plenty of potential.

11. Louisville: This class would have ranked much higher with James Lang but a pair of juco standouts a point guard are on the way.

12. Missouri: The Tigers will be good this year and Linas Kleiza is going to make them even better. Practices in Columbia should be fairly intense from Day One.

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