High School Signings

UNC'S recruiting class is ranked No. 1

Tar Heels get 5 players from top 70. Duke, N.C. State also get high recruiting marks.

(Raleigh) News & Observer

Posted: Thursday, Nov. 13, 2008

More Information

UNC may be a man down
Wolfpack has all the pieces in place
Conference Previews
Clemson signs 2 S. Carolina recruits
The Rankings

Here's a breakdown on the Top 5 rankings for each as well as any ACC schools that have made the Top 25 in either site's rankings:
scout.com
1. North Carolina
2. Texas
3. Florida
4. Villanova
5. Duke
17. N.C. State
18. Clemson
20. Georgia Tech
rivals.com
1. North Carolina
2. Texas
3. Villanova
4. Kansas
5. Florida
7. Georgia Tech
11. Duke
13. N.C. State

High school basketball players across the country had their first chance on Wednesday to sign a letter of intent to play in college next fall.

The three ACC schools in the Triangle all have produced top-rated recruiting classes, with North Carolina's voted as the best in rankings at recruiting Web sites scout.com and rivals.com.

The Tar Heels on Wednesday signed five players who all are ranked among the 70 best in the country by both recruiting sites.

This early signing period ends Nov. 19. Players who don't sign now will have another chance in April.

Many high school players verbally commit before the official period opens – limiting surprises on signing days.

There was no word, as expected, from guard John Wall of Raleigh – a prized recruit who has yet to decide where he will play.

North Carolina announced its five commitments on Wednesday – including 6-foot-9 twins from California – in confirming earlier announcements from the players.

There was no official word from N.C. State or Duke, though several commitments have been announced. Two players signed for Wake Forest.

THE RANKINGS: Two major recruiting sites evaluate how the recruits compare. Both list UNC's 2009 class as the best in the nation.

THE PLAYERS: North Carolina has five commitments in the class of 2009 for the signing period that opened Wednesday and closes Nov. 19, the most so far among the four North Carolina ACC schools. Here's who the players are:

North Carolina

Forward John Henson of Tampa (Fla.) Sickles.

Guard Dexter Strickland of Elizabeth (N.J.) St. Patrick.

Guard Leslie McDonald of Memphis (Tenn.) Briarcrest Christian.

Forward Travis Wear of Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei.

Forward David Wear of Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei.

N.C. State

Guard Lorenzo Brown of Roswell (Ga.) Centennial.

Forward Richard Howell of Marietta (Ga.) Wheeler.

Guard Scott Wood of Marion (Ind.) Marion.

Duke

Forward Ryan Kelly of Raleigh's Ravenscroft.

Guard Mason Plumlee of Phoenix (Ariz.) St. Mary's.

Wake Forest

Guard C.J. Harris of Winston-Salem Mount Tabor.

Forward Ari Stewart of Marietta (Ga.) Wheeler.

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