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Monday, September 15

Ratliff joins touted Hoosier class

By Bill Hodge
CollegeSports.com

Top 100 guard A.J. Ratliff, a Class 2004 prospect from Indianapolis-North Central, Ind., has chosen the Indiana Hoosiers and coach Mike Davis over Iowa and Xavier, among many others. Ratliff, who averaged 18 points and seven assists as a junior, is the fifth Top 100 player to pledge to Davis. The Hoosiers, building a tremendous recruiting class, earlier gained forward Josh Smith of Powder Springs-McEachern, Ga; forward D.J. White of Tuscaloosa-Hillcrest, Ala; guard/forward Robert Vaden of Indianapolis-Pike, Ind/Bridgton Academy, Maine; and guard/forward James Hardy of Fort Wayne-Elmhurst, Ind. Both Smith and White are considered top ten players.

Top 100 guard Enrico Tucker, a Class 2004 prospect from San Diego-University, Cal., has chosen the Minnesota Gophers over Utah, Fresno State and University of San Diego, among others.

Class 2004 Top 100 forward Shaun Pruitt of Aurora-West Aurora, Ill., is expected to announce a decision between Illinois and Michigan State.

Xavier has pledged touted Class 2004 guard Churchill Odia-Ehis of Nigeria/Rockville-Montrose Christian, Md.

North Carolina State has a commitment from Class 2004 forward Gavin Grant of Bronx-St. Raymond's, NY., over Pittsburgh.

Texas Tech pledged Class 2004 guard/forward Martin Zeno of Sulphur, La., and forward Phil Harbaugh of Corvallis, Ore.

San Diego State has signed Class 2003 guard Brandon Heath of Los Angeles-Westchester, Cal., for this upcoming season. Heath originally signed with the Aztecs in Class 2002, but did not qualify.

East Carolina has a commitment from Class 2004 guard Cedric Jackson of Columbus-Northern Burlington, NJ.

Appalachian State gained Class 2004 forward Jeremy Clayton of Greensboro-Smith, NC.

Virginia Commonwealth has a commitment from Class 2004 forward Michael Anderson of Virginia Beach-Landstown, Va.

Quinnipiac pledged Class 2004 guard DaShawn Dwight of Bloomfield-Bloomfield Tech, NJ.

UNC-Wilmington has a commitment from Class 2004 guard Daniel Fountain of Woodbridge, Va.

Northeastern has commitments from Class 2004 forwards Mantas Griskenas and Steward Baldonado, both from Wichendon School, Mass.

Sixty-three prospects on the early Class 2004 Top 100 have already made commitments.

Texas, Indiana and Alabama lead the very early 2004 Top Classes. Florida State led the 2003 Top Classes.

Class 2004 Basketball Database
* Search the early list of Prospects/Commitments/Schools and Conferences
* Early list of Top 100 Prospects/Commitments/Remaining Top 100 Prospects.
* More players projected to make an impact: Super Prospects.
*Bssketball Signing Periods: Early (Nov. 12-19) and Regular (Apr. 15-May 19).

* Texas, Indiana and Alabama lead the very early 2004 Top Classes.

Class 2003 Basketball Database
* Search the list of Prospects/Commitments/Signed/Schools and Conferences.
* List of Top 100 Prospects/Commitments/Remaining Top 100 Prospects/Super Prospects/Top 100 JC Prospects.

* Florida State led the 2003 Top Classes.

2003 NBA Draft:
The most heralded high school player in years, high school forward LeBron James was chosen No. 1 by the NBA. All four other preps were selected, while three junior college prospects were not picked: Forward LeBron James of Akron/St. Vincent-St. Mary, Ohio, top pick in first round by Cleveland; forward Travis Outlaw of Starkville, Miss., 23rd pick in first round by Portland; forward Ndudi Ebi of Houston-Westbury Christian, Tex., 26th pick in first round by Minnesota; center Kendrick Perkins of Beaumont-Ozen, Tex., 27th pick in first round by Memphis, then traded to Boston; center James Lang of Birmingham-Central Park Christian, Ala., 19th pick in second round by New Orleans (not guaranteed contract). Forward Charlie Villanueva of Blairstown-Blair Academy, NJ., and center/forward Sani Ibrahim of Southern Idaho CC, Id., withdrew from draft. (List).

2002 NBA Draft:
The NBA selected only one high school and a single junior college prospect: Center/forward Amare Stoudemire of Orlando-Cypress Creek, Fla., was taken 9th in the first round by Phoenix, while Portland took forward Qyntel Woods of Northeast Mississippi CC, Miss., at No. 21 in the first round. The NBA passed on three other high school/prep school prospects and seven JC players (List).

2003 McDonald's All-American Game
LeBron James scored 27 points in leading the East over the West, 122-107, in the 26th annual McDonald's All-American high school basketball game in Cleveland, Ohio. McDonald's All-American Game stories/Rosters for 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000.

2003 Parade All-America Boys Basketball Team
LeBron James heads roster.

Basketball Commitments/Signings:
OCSN: Main Recruiting Page.
Class 2004 Men: Database/Top 100.
Class 2003 Men: Database/Top 100/Top Classes.
Class 2002 Men: Database/Top 100/Top Classes/Women: Database.
Class 2001 Men: Database/Top 100/Top Classes/Women: Database.
Class 2000 Men: Database/Top 100/Top Classes/Women: Database.
Class 1999 Men: Database/Women: Database.
Class 1998 Men: Database/ Top Classes/Women: Database.
*McDonald's All-American Game stories/Rosters for 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000
*USA Men's Junior National Team.

Bill Hodge is the executive editor and director of recruiting coverage at CollegeSports.com. For daily columns on prospects, commitments and signings, plus databases, go to CollegeSports.com's Recruiting Page.

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