Taurasi, who scored 52 points in her opening game this fall, averaged 30.1 points and 12 rebounds as a junior. She has scored 50 or more points four times during her career and is considered one of top players in California history.

"It was the staff, players and the people," Taurasi said after picking UConn over UCLA and Arizona. "That's the kind of environment for me. I never thought I'd leave (California), but I liked what I saw."

Taurasi also liked what she saw when she pictured the next four years.

"When you have the opportunity to play with three or four great players for four years, you have to take it," Taurasi said. "They have a good group of current players who are going to be there for at least two more years. That was real important.

"I'm just looking forward to playing in Connecticut."

Taurasi's signing gives UConn the top class in the nation. Here's a look at the country's top 10 recruiting classes:

1. Connecticut: G/F Ashley Battle, G Maria Conlon, F Jessica Moore, G Diana Taurasi, G Morgan Valley. Both Taurasi and Valley are Top 10 prospects, while Moore and Battle are Top 50. A tremendous class for coach Geno Auriemma.

2. Purdue: G Cherrise Graham, F Lindsay Hicks, F/G Shalicia Hurns, G Beth Jones, G Erika Valek, F Shereka Wright. The defending national champions suffered major losses to graduation but gathered an outstanding class. Valek and Graham will be an exceptional pair of guards for new coach Kristy Curry and are within the top six players nationally. Wright is Top 25 and Hurns is an athlete.

3. Duke: F Alana Beard, G Rometra Craig, G Vicki Krapohl, F Iciss Tillis, C Crystal White. Beard and Tillas will be cornerstones as coach Gail Goestenkors has given Duke two powerhouse basketball programs.

4. Stanford: F Rebecca Bonner, G/F Kate Denny, G Susan King, F Nicole Powell, F Chelsea Trotter. Highly rated Powell and King can score and this class has size. Powell could be a great all-around college player.

5. Tennessee: F/G Tasha Butts, F Latoya Davis, F Courtney McDaniel, C Ashley Robinson. The Vols and coach Pat Summitt keep rolling along. A tremendous center prospect, Robinson is 6-4 and will only improve. Butts will lead Tennessee on the floor.

6. Auburn: G/F Nancy Derrick, F Tia Miller, G Carol Smith, F Mandisa Stevenson. From Gulf Coast Coummunity College, Smith is the prize.

7. Illinois: C Brenda Blackburn, G/F Anne ONeil, F Yolonda Smith, F Aminata Yanni. O'Neil, an icon in the state of Iowa and one of the nation's best, is a major catch for Illinois. Nearly every major power in the country, including UConn, Purdue and Stanford, recruited her. Yanni is a talent and coach Theresa Grentz, who loves post players, added the 6-6 Blackburn.

8. Rutgers G Mandy Clark, G Nikki Jett, G Dawn McCullouch. Scarlet Knights coach C. Vivian Stringer has turned things around and is now reloading, not rebuilding. All three guard prospects are nationally rated and quick.

9. Arkansas: C Lakiesha Beard, F Shameka Christon, F Shanna Harmon, F Sara Lundberg. Christon is rated among the leading forwards, while Lundberg and Harmon are Top 100.

10. Texas Tech: F Jolee Ayers, F Dionne Brown, F Casey Jackson, G Jia Perkins, G Natalie Ritchie. Perkins and Ritchie will have an immediate impact as freshmen.

For information on the latest basketball commitments and signings, visit FANSonly.com's Women's database search.