Before players decide to leave early and jump to the NBA I decided to make list my top 10 schools for next year. I have made some assumptions about players leaving early, or deciding to stay. In addition, I have considering the incoming freshman class which is loaded with young talent.
1) UCLA - They will reach the final four for a third time in a row and possibly bring home the hardwood with the addition of Kevin Love, the best big man for the class of '07. The bruins did not have one senior on their roster to reach to the final four this year. The entire team should return, including Afflalo, Collison, Mbah a Mute, & Josh Schipp. Adding Kevin Love to this team should make the Bruins cream their pants.
2) Memphis - Conference USA may be a mid major conference these days but it still has one of the best teams in the nation. It will also be bringing in a top 10 recruiting class and a top 5 player in Derrick Rose. I wish he was heading to Champaign but he is not, and he might help Memphis better their 33-4 record. Last year Standford brought in the Lopez twins this year its going to be the Morris twins. Despite their ugly jersey this team is going to be nasty
3) Ohio State- Greg Oden can be the number one pick if he chooses to enter the draft this year. However, everyone knows he is not ready to compete at a high level with talented NBA centers. I have a feeling that reaching the national championship game was not enough and Oden will choose to stay at OSU. He should be 100% the entire year and can lead this team back to the final four, with both hands. Mike Conley Jr. has proved himself to be one of the best PG's in the country and will do very well on draft day. However, I don't think that he will leave his high school teammate behind. Let's not forget
the OSU also has a top 10 recruiting class coming in. And if Oden does choose to leave McDonalds All-American Kosta Koufos will lighten the load a bit. I would also expect Daequan Cook to show more skills like he did the first half of the season. The loss of seniors Ron Lewis and Ivan Harris will be replaced by the experienced gained this year and the incoming class. If the freshman return look for Ohio State in the Championship game again.4) USC - OJ MAYOOO. This kid is just ridiculous. He may have been a bust at the McD's game but take a look at his final dunk in high school. The kid is out of control and will bring even more talent to other SoCal club. This year the trojans were over achieving. But I think all their underclassmen will return. Taj Gibson will continue to represent Brooklyn and with Gabe Puitt and Nick Young's leadership they can be something special. OJ Mayo, is not the best high schooler in the country, but this video just makes me laugh. I'm not sure they are deserving of this ranking but OJ Mayo called me up and told me to do it (not true at all)
5) Kansas- Bill Self has proven again and again that he can not lead his team in the tournament. This year his team had the number 1 seed and had the moment to get to the finals, but they just could not get the job done. Rumor has it that all of these future NBA stars are going to return. Maybe he takes Sherron Collins off the bench they will make a bigger run at the end of the season. It is Kansas State, not Kansas, that is bringing in the talented freshman. This is not really a big deal at all because Kansas may have the most talented team next year. However, Mr.Selfish just can't coach. Maybe he should have stayed at Illinois brought the players there and actually won a national championship, wouldn't that have been nice.
6) UNC - This is the team I am most unsure as to who may be returning. Brandon Wright is going to be a lottery pick, and he is not going to pass up that money. Tyler Hansbrough is nuts and can be a mid first rounder with his offensive skills under the basket. Yet, he is not ready to leave Roy Williams. On the other hand, Ty Lawson may use his speed to run right to the draft. I think that Wright will be the only one to leave and UNC will continue to use their depth to wear down opponents. They should win the ACC and be happy with that. I'm still upset they won the championship in 2005.
7) Tennessee - Bruce Pearl is an enemy to the Illini nation but also a part of the Jewish nation. It helped that he
painted his chest for the woman's game. The team should add Candice Parker to the squad. Chris Lofton is one of the best shooters in the country. The back-to-back champion Gators couldn't seem to win at Rocky Top and I think it will be easy for anyone to do it next year. They had a top 10 recruiting class last year led by Wayne Chism and Drew Crews. I see this team taking over the SEC next year.
8) Arizona - Chase Budinger has already said he is going to return for another year. This diaper dandy had a great season and proved to me that he can play not only volleyball but basketball too. Marcus Williams notified the team that his was leaving before the season was even over. With an attitude like that they should not even want him on the team. The 'Cats are bringing in two more 5-Star recruits, with Bayless and Horne coming from the west coast. Lute Olson will continue to do his job. At number 8 look for this team to reach the elite 8 and possibly repeating their 2005 game against Illinois losing a heart breaker in the final 4 minutes (One of the greatest comebacks ever)!
9) Michigan State - Tom Izzo can straight up coach. Drew Neitzel is another one of the best PG's in the country. With him running the team they can be a threat in the Big Ten. This school also brings in a top 10 recruiting class and some of the best shooters in the country. I just have a feeling that Izzo will find a way and the Izzone will continue to love him for it.
10) Louisville - Rick Patino is a Long Island boy and deserves some respect for turning around the cards this season. Mid season it looked as if they were heading to the NIT but they made a great run into the tourney. Last year their recruiting class was on of the best and included names like Derrick Character and Edgar Sosa, who is straight out of Manhattan. David Padgett, Juan Palacious, and Terrance Williams are all returning. The Big East Champs are not even going to be on the East Coast but in the center of Kentucky.
Other Teams Considered: Georgetown, Indiana, George Tech, Gonzaga, Kansas State (Best Freshman Class), Syracuse, and of course ILLINOIS
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