Harvard Recruiting, Houston Recruiting, Marshall Recruiting, memphis Recruiting, Teams, UNLV Recruiting, Xavier Recruiting

EARLY SIGNING PERIOD HIGHLIGHTS - NON-BCS SCHOOLS

By Brian Bosworth, National Recruiting Analyst

So far we have taken a look at the early signing period recruiting class highlights from the BIG EAST, ACC, Big 10, Big 12, Pac 12 and SEC. In this edition of our look at the early period recruiting look at college basketball we go outside the six so-called ‘power conferences’, or BCS Schools, and take a look at some other schools that put together some pretty impressive classes in their own right. A couple of these schools will likely have their efforts rewarded with a spot in our national Top 15 which will be posted later tonight…

Top 5 Non-BCS Recruiting Classes for 2012:

1) Houston
Commits – Danuel House (SF) , Danrad “Chicken” Knowles (PF), Valentine Izundu (C)
-James Dickey has done the impossible and kept the best homegrown talent away from the Big 12.

2) Memphis
Commits – Shaq Goodwin (PF), Damien Wilson (SF)
-Josh Pastner locked up Atlanta Celtics teammates Goodwin and Wilson and remains a key player for un-committed PF Jarnell Stokes which would leapfrog the Tigers over Houston on this list.

4) UNLV
Commits – Katin Reinhardt (SG), Demetris Morant (PF), DaQuan Cook (PG)
-Dave Rice is still in the running for the nation’s top player Shabazz Muhammad which would propel the Runnin’ Rebels to the top of this list.

5) Towson
Commits – Jerome Hairston (PG), Frank Mason (PG), Timajh Parker-Rivera (PF), Barrington Alston (PF)
-With their second consecutive impressive recruiting class, Towson is establishing itself as a legitimate player in the Colonial.

Top 10 Non-BCS Impacts Recruits of 2012:

1) Shaq Goodwin (Memphis) – One of the most physical and dominant low post players in the entire nation, Goodwin will be a beast in Conference USA.

2) Danuel House (Houston) – House has tremendous size for a wing player and combines it with above the rim athleticism that will remind Cougar fans of the Phi Slamma Jamma days.

3) Katin Reinhardt (UNLV) – Reinhardt takes and makes big shots with range beyond the three point line. He should thrive in UNLV’s open system.

4) Semaj Christon (Xavier) – Doing a post-graduate year at Brewster Academy before heading to Xavier, Christon is an explosive lead guard that has been compared to Jamal Crawford.

5) Danrad “Chicken” Knowles (Houston) – Knowles is wafer thin but has excellent skill for a 6’9” player and while not the same talent has a game that is in some ways similar to Kevin Durant.

6) Damien Wilson (Memphis) – Fearless on his forays to the rim Wilson is an elite athlete but needs to continue working on his outside shot so that defenders don’t play off him.

7) Kareem Canty (Marshall) – Canty chose Marshall over suitors from both the Big East and ACC and should be given the reins of the Thundering Herd from the get go.

8} Myles Davis (Xavier) – The ultimate zone buster, Davis has seemingly unlimited range but doesn’t get enough credit for his ability to put the ball on the floor and attack the cup.

9) Jerome Hairston (Towson) – Another guard who chose the mid-major option over high-major suitors, Hairston can score the ball in a variety of ways including deep range on his jumper.

10) Siyani Chambers (Harvard) – Chambers is a steal for Tommy Amaker and his staff at Harvard as the lefty could have played at much higher levels but chose to receive one of America’s best educations instead.