The Pac-10, Conference USA, SEC, ACC and Big 12 each had two schools in the Top 10 ratings. The Big East, led by UConn, Seton Hall and St. John's, dominated the Class of 2000 final rankings.

DePaul, rated No. 1 in the Class of 2001 early ratings after last fall's signing period, fell to 14th following the loss of top center Eddy Curry of South Holland-Thornwood, Ill., to the NBA Draft. Forward Kwame Brown of Brunswick-Glynn Academy, Ga., who had signed with Florida, and forward Kedrick Brown of Okaloosa-Walton CC, Fla., an LSU signee, also opted for the professional ranks.

Top 2001 Recruiting Classes:
1. Memphis: Coach John Calipari has the nation's best prep guard in Dajuan Wagner, who was a probable Top 5 pick if he had chosen the NBA Draft. Junior college forward Chris Massie is a real force, while guard Anthony Rice and forward Duane Erwin can play.

2. UCLA: A load of talent in guard Cedric Bozeman, forward Andre Patterson and forward Dijon Thompson. Center Michael Fey did not qualify, which will hurt the Bruins. Transfer guard Jon Crispin, a starter at Penn State, will redshirt.

3. Florida: The Gators still have two outstanding Top 10 players in forwards David Lee and James White despite the loss of forward/center Kwame Brown to the NBA. Brown would have made this class unbelievable. Lee and White can flat play with the best. Forward Adrian Moss was a late signee.

4. North Carolina: Three standouts in forward Jawad Williams, guard Jackie Manuel and guard Melvin Scott.

5. Louisville: Coach Rick Pitino starts off with a top class, including guard Carlos Hurt, forward Brandon Bender, forward Otis George, guard Dennis Coutee and forward Larry O'Bannon. Football signee Greg Tinch, an outstanding basketball prospect, will also be thrown into the mix.

6. North Carolina State:: Guard Julius Hodge is Top 10. Forwards Levi Watkins, Josh Powell, Ilian Evtimov and center Jordan Collins are all Top 100 caliber.

7. Kansas: Three hot prospects in forward Wayne Simien, guard Aaron Miles and guard Keith Langford. Michael Lee is promising and guard Jeff Hawkins will walk on as a redshirt.

8. Oklahoma: The Sooners are reloading with top junior college prospects in forward Ebi Ere, guard Quannas White, guard Jason Detrick and center Jabahri Brown. Forward Matt Gipson should help. Ere is a rare talent.

9. Arizona: The Wildcats can rebuild with forward Dennis Latimore, guards Will Bynum and Salim Stoudamire, plus big men in Channing Frye and Isaiah Fox. Arizona lost out on forward Rick Rickert, who picked Minnesota.

10. LSU: Losing forward Kedrick Brown to the NBA hurt, but two outstanding junior college players in center Shawnson Johnson and forward Thomas Davis ease the pain. Guards Antonio Hudson and Xavier Whipple will help, while football signees Marcus Spears and Michael Clayton were also national-quality recruits in basketball.

11. Alabama: The Tide have real talent in forward Rodney Bias and guard Maurice Williams. Guard Earnest Shelton and forward Efeuny Williams have promise, as well. Highly rated junior college forward Kai Madison did not qualify.

12. Georgia Tech: Dropped center Mike Southall for off-court problems, but added 7-0 Luke Schenscher. Signed four Top 100 players in forward Ed Nelson, forward Isma'il Muhammad, guard Barry Elder and guard Anthony Vasser.

13. Michigan State: The Spartans gained another Top 10 guard in Kelvin Torbert. Forward Alan Anderson is quality and guard Chris Hill should help.

14. DePaul: The loss of center Eddy Curry to the NBA was brutal, but expected. Forward Sam Hoskin, forward Quemont Greer, guard Marlon Brooks, guard Drake Diener and guard LaVar Seals still make this a very good class. Forward Kenny Adeleke was released and signed with Hofstra.

15. Missouri: Dropped down from early rankings after releasing outstanding big man Robert Whaley for off-court problems. The Tigers recovered by signing junior college center Uche Oklafor. Forward Najeeb Echols, forward Jeff Ferguson and forward Duane John are very talented.

16. Cincinnati: Taron Barker is a tremendous junior college guard prospect. Also expected to contribute early are forward Jason Maxiell and center Derek Hollman. Forward Jimmy Hubbard could help.

17. California: Forward Julian Sensley is a rare talent. Center Jamal Sampson will see time and forward Erik Bond can shoot.

18. Auburn: Forwards Brandon Robinson and Marco Killingsworth are bookends. Guards Dwayne Mitchell is promising and Derrick Bird will help. Forward Greg Johnson did not qualify.

19. Kentucky: Three Top 100 players in guard Rashaad Carruth, forward Chuck Hayes, and guard Josh Carrier. Guard Adam Chiles will help.

20. Iowa: Guard Pierre Pierce lit up the Illinois State Tournament. Guard Chauncey Leslie is a top JC prospect, while forward Marcellus Sommerville is highly rated. Center Erek Hansen was a find from Texas.

21. Florida State: Three Top 100 prospects in forward Anthony Richardson, center Adam Waleskowski and guard Adrian McPherson, who signed for football. Junior college center Trevor Harvey is highly rated.

22. UNLV: Great junior college guard in Marcus Banks and a very good prep version in Ernest Turner. Jamal Holden, a JC foward, will play early.

23. Michigan: Key talent in guards Dommanic Ingerson and JaQuan Hart. Forward Kelly Whitney did not qualify.

24. Stanford: Three top prospects in forward Josh Childress, center Robert Little and guard Chris Hernandez.

Tie-25. New Mexico: Center Moustapha Diagne is a Top 10 junior college prospect and forward Jamaal Williams is promising. JC forward Jamal Brown, once a Lobo commitment, signed with TCU.

Tie-25. Texas Tech: Coach Bobby Knight filled his first class with JCs, led by forwards Pawel Storozynski and Kasib Powell, plus guard Will Chavis. Hot-shooting prep guard Nathan Doudney, once a signee at Tulsa, will walk on.

Tie-25. Ohio State: Guard Brandon Fuss-Cheatham and forward Matt Sylvester.

Next Best (top signee):
Charlotte (guard Curtis Nash and guard Mitchell Baldwin), Clemson (forward Chey Christie), Colorado (center David Harrison), Illinois (forward Blandon Ferguson and forward Roger Powell), Kansas State (loaded with JCs, including center Pervis Pasco), Minnesota (forward Rick Rickert), San Diego State (forward Michael Mackell), Southern California (forward Jerry Dupree), Syracuse (guard Billy Edelin), Texas (guard T.J. Ford), Virginia (forward/center Elton Brown), Wake Forest (forward Jamal Levy and forward Vytas Danelius), Washington (guard Charles Frederick and forward Erroll Knight), West Virginia (guard Jonathan Hargett, guard Drew Schifino).

Others (top signee):
Alabama Birmingham (guard Eric Bush), Arizona State (guard Jason Braxton), Colorado State (center Darian Burke), Connecticut (guard Ben Gordon), Florida International (forward Taurance Johnson), George Mason (guard Darren Tarver), Georgetown (forward Harvey Thomas), Iowa State (forward Tommie King), Louisiana Tech (guard Lavelle Felton), Marquette (guard Travis Diener), Mississippi State (centers Michael Ignerski and Marcus Campbell), New Orleans (guard Johnell Smith), Providence (forward Garnett Thompson), San Jose State (forward Carlton Baker), South Florida (forward Greg Brittian), St. John's (guard Marcus Hatten), TCU (forward Jamal Brown), Tennessee (guard Thaydeus Holden), Valparaiso (guard Antonio Falu).

Top 100 Prospects:
Ninety-two Class 2001 Top 100 Prospects made their college choices. A record six Top 100 players opted for the NBA, which affected classes for DePaul and Florida. Georgia Tech and Missouri each dropped an outstanding prospect for off-court problems. LSU lost a top junior college player to the pro ranks.

NBA Draft:
Forward/center Kwame Brown of Brunswick-Glynn Academy, Ga. (signed with Florida). Picked by Washington as 1st choice overall in first round.

Tyson Chandler, a 7-0 center/forward from Compton-Dominguez, Calif. (unsigned). Picked by LA Clippers as 2nd choice overall in first round, then traded to Chicago.

Center Eddy Curry of South Holland-Thornwood, Ill. (signed with DePaul). Picked by Chicago as 4th pick overall in first round.

Sagana Diop, a 7-0 center from Senegal/Oak Hill Academy, Va. (unsigned). Picked by Cleveland as 8th pick overall in first round.

JC forward Kedrick Brown of Okaloosa-Walton CC, Fla., (signed with LSU). Picked by Boston as 11th pick overall in first round. He was the only junior college player chosen in draft.

Forward Ousmane Cisse of Montgomery-St. Jude, Ala. (unsigned). Picked by Denver as 47th pick overall in second round.

Tony Key, a 6-10 center from Compton-Centennial, Calif. (unsigned). Not drafted.

The decisions of Brown, Key, Diop, Chandler, Curry and Cisse broke the record of four preps deciding to bypass college. Al Harrington, Rashard Lewis, Ellis Richardson and Korleone Young declared for the 1998 draft. Forward Darius Miles and guard DeShawn Stevenson declared in 2000 and forward Jonathan Bender in 1999. Kedrick Brown was the first junior college player to declare this year. Center Ernest Brown (Miami Heat) and guard/forward Cory Hightower (LA Lakers), both from Indian Hills CC, Iowa, were picked in the second round in 2000.

Basketball Signings/Commitments
FANSonly: Main Recruiting Page.
Class 2002 Men: Prospects/Commitments.
Class 2001 Men: Prospects/Commitments/Official Signings.
Men's Top 100: Prospects/Commitments/Official Signings. Six players opted for NBA, two had scholarships withdrawn for off-court problems.
Class 2001 Women: Prospects/Commitments/Official Signings.
Class 2000 Men: Database.
Class 2000 Women: Database.