BOB GIBBONS' TOP 35 COLLEGE RECRUITING CLASSES
School
1. UNLV.
Signees
..........7
2. MICHIGAN ST..............7
3. SYRACUSE....................6
4. ST. JOHN'S...................6
5. OKLAHOMA................6
6. KENTUCKY..................4
7. GEORGETOWN.
8. FLORIDA.
9. PURDUE......................5
Comments
A sensational class with DAVID BUTLER (JC #1), MOSES SCURRY (JC #14), GEORGE ACKLES (JC #36), EVRICK GRAY (#16), ANTOINE DAVISON (#57), BOBBY JOYCE (#67) and MATT OTHICK (#83). Three top 40 JC's and four top 100 preps constitute a recruiting bonanza. Gray, Davison and Joyce all may be non-qualifiers, and all could be farmed out to a junior college or NAIA school. Tark's recruiting is so advanced that he now deals in "futures" much like a commodities broker. Interestingly, Vegas is one of several (Georgetown is another) who have discovered the advantages of placing a budding star in an NAIA school for one year. He then transfers and sits out a year. The big advantages are the youngster plays as a freshman, can practice with the team during his redshirt or sitout year and he still has three years of eligibility, rather than two for JUCO transfers.
MATT STEIGENGA (#9), MIKE PEPLOWSKI (#17), JON ZULAF (#100), MARK MONTGOMERY (#107), PARISH HICKMAN (#133), KIRK BAKER (JC #13) and JEFF CASLER (JC #60). This is Jud Heathcote's best class since he landed the Magic man. After ranking third in November, the Spartans added two probable starters, top 60 JC's Baker and Casler this spring.
BILLY OWENS (#2), DAVID JOHNSON (#32), TONY SCOTT (#73), RICHARD MANNING (#122), DAVE SIOCK (#206) and MIKE HOPKINS (*). The Orangemen got it done early, and have now zeroed in on their top prospects for next year.
MALIK SEALY (#7), ROBERT WERDANN (#22), CHUCK SPROLING (#47), JASON BUCHANAN (#110), BARRY MILHAVEN (JC *) and TERRENCE MULLIN (*). Looie's loaded and looking to liquidate Big East foes.
HERMAN HENRY (JC #12), MICHAEL HARRIS (JC #22) and WILLIAM DAVIS (JC #43) are Tubbs' latest JUCO hotshots. Talented prepsters include ROLAND WARE (#94), BRIAN SALLIER (#112) and TERRY EVANS (**). Wild Billy still stockpiles despite his contention that "Prop 48 has ruined recruiting."
SHAWN KEMP (#3), CHRIS MILLS (#8), RICHIE FARMER (#50) and SEAN WOODS (#88). Despite all the turmoil, the 'Cats' recruiting shines as brightly as ever. Kemp has yet to pass Prop 48 and according to published reports, Woods will not. We cannot predict what will happen with Mills. Their only sure-fire recruit is Farmer, who in our opinion is 1988's version of Scott Skiles.
ALONZO MOURNING (#1), MILTON BELL (#39), HENRY HALL (#154), RONNIE THOMPSON (*) and DIKEMBE MUTOMBO. Mourning is The Man; Thompson has The Plan. Let it be written: the Hoyas are unquestionably the Beasts of the East, and ultimately, the nation.
STACEY POOLE (#34), CESAR PORTILLO (#40), JOHNNY WALKER (#46), JOSE RAMOS (#138), KELLY McKINNON (#249), TIM TURNER (*) and BRIAN HOGAN (*). The Gators gobbled up Florida's best talent.
LOREN CLYBURN (#28), WOODY AUSTIN (#82), CRAIG RILEY (#89), KEITH STEWART (#116) and CHARLES WHITE GC #32). Keady & Co. scrambled, but scored.
School
10. DEPAUL.
Signees
..........6
11. ARKANSAS..................8
12. OKLAHOMA ST..........7
13. LSU.............................7
Comments
SAM CASSELL (#63), DAVID BOOTH (#66), CURTIS PRICE (#78), STEPHEN HOWARD (#134), GILBERT MILLER GC #30) and walk-on CHUCK MURPHY (*). The Blue Demons filled their primary needs and got the guards to replace Hot Rod Strickland.
LEE MAYBERRY (#12), TODD DAY (#29), OLIVER MILLER (#127), MAURICE CANNON (#194), DARRELL HAWKINS (#238), WARREN LINN (N/R), MICHAEL HOGUE (N/R) and LENZIE HOWELL QC *). Nolan Richardson recruited the best backcourt duo in the Southwest Conference, and possibly the nation.
BYRON HOUSTON (#43), DARWYN ALEXANDER (#140), CEDRIC MACKYEON (#211), COREY WILLIAMS (#218), SHAWN DAVIS (**), ANTHONY JONES GC #20) and VAUGHN McDADE GC *). Leonard Hamilton (and Johnny Pittman) can hardly wait for next season.
STANLEY ROBERTS (#4), HAROLD BOUDREAUX (#54), MAURICE WILLIAMSON (#106), KEVIN MOSES (#143), SCOTT GULDSETH (**), VERNELL SINGLETON (*) and STEVE COOK (*). If CHRIS JACKSON (#15) enrolls next fall, move the Tigers up to No. 3.
LaPHONSO ELLIS (#11), ELMER BENNETT (#48), KEITH TOWER (#79), DAIMON SWEET (#85) and KEITH ADKINS (#151). With four top 100 signees, Irish hopes are soaring.
COREY WALKER (#76), ROBERT McKIE (#99), RONNIE BATTLE (#158), CRAIG WALKER (**), REGGIE GALLON (**), KEVIN ARDISTER GC #54), KIRT HANKTON GC *). Ol' Sonny Smith successfully stocks up.
Almost too many to count, much less list. DERRICK TURNER GC #21), CLINT BEAN GC #42), KENNY SMITH GC#61), MclNTYRE GC *), BARNETT (JC), TRAVIS BUTLER (#181), TIM BREAUX (#200), LONNIE JONES (**), MICHAEL BROWN (**), REGGIE SLATER (*), TIM REMME (*), SANDERS (N/R), STUBBLEFIELD (N/R). Mercifully, some won't make it.
17. ALABAMA...................5   DAVID BENOIT GC #4), ROBERT HORRY (#37),
ANTHONY LAWRENCE (#115), KENNETH RICE (#153), MARCUS WEBB (**). Everything but a point guard.
18. GEORGIA...................6   LITTERIAL GREEN (#27), TOMMY GAINES (#52),
MIKE GREEN (#111), ARLANDO BENNETT (#119), SEBASTIAN NEAL (**), REGINALD TINCH (**). The Dogs hope a few will qualify.
19. OHIO STATE...............5   MARK BAKER (#20), BILL ROBINSON (#65),
CHRIS JENT (#72), JAMAAL BROWN (#162), STEVE HALL (**). The Buckeyes have had consecutive top 20 classes, which definitely brings "good luck."
14. NOTRE DAME............5
15. AUBURN.
16. WYOMING...............13
20. NEBRASKA.
DAPREIS OWENS (#41), CARL HAYES (#74), LEWIS GETER (#152), ERIC DOLEZAL (#174) and RAY RICHARDSON GC #37). Danny Nee reaped a bountiful harvest.
21. ARIZONA 24. IOWA 27. MISSOURI 30. TENNESSEE 33. KANSAS STATE
22. KANSAS 25. UCLA 28. LOUISVILLE 31. BALL STATE
34. TEMPLE
23. DUKE 26. SETON HALL 29. SOUTH CAROLINA 32. VILLANOVA 35. NORTHWESTERN INDIANA, MARYLAND
Note: Number following each player constitutes ranking in top, 250.   **Means player is ranked from 251:350;   *Means player is ranked from 351-750.   N/R means player is unranked.