Nov. 16

TOP CLASSES
In the early stages of recruiting, I would say the three teams which have fared the best are Florida, DePaul and Memphis. I feel all three of those schools had excellent classes.

The key will be whether or not Eddy Curry at DePaul and Dajuan Wagner at Memphis decide to go to school and pass up the lure of the big bucks of the NBA.

Stay tuned since this soap opera keeps on going.

BIG MEN MUST PERFORM
In the state of Illinois, two big men will be tested big-time. Stephen Hunter of DePaul and Brian Cook of Illinois have a world of potential.

Now both big men must step up and perform. Both guys will face top competition early. Keep an eye on Cook out in Maui.

BACK IN THE NEWS
A couple of recruits have signed down South, returning to the headlines.

Georgia Tech signed Michael Southall to a letter of intent. You may remember him as the player recruited by Kentucky before having off-the-court problems. Paul Hewitt checked him out, and while Southall will be under scrutiny, you want to see people get a second chance.

Now it is up to the young man to take advantage of the opportunity coach Hewitt has given him.

There was a shocker for Indiana fans as 6-9 Kei Madison signed a letter of intent at Alabama. Madison had originally signed with the Hoosiers out of Shelby County High School. He then ended up at Iowa Western Community College before joining the Crimson Tide.

That's great news for Tide coach Mark Gottfried, who continues to build the program with the likes of Gerald Wallace and Rod Grizzard in the lineup this season.