Quite a few changes have occured since our last update of the top recruiting classes, which was posted earlier this month. As for changes since our last ranking of the fall classes, you will notice that Arkansas, Duke and Syracuse have joined the posse. In addition, Charlie Villanueva gives Illinois a boost up.

Arizona, however, still leads the pack, followed by a Conference USA threesome -- Louiville, Cincinnati and Memphis. Teams with a new commitment to the program since our last update, or a new team in the ranking, are indicated with an asterisk.

1. Arizona
Ndudi Ebi | 6-7 | F | Westbury Christian H.S. (Houston, Texas)
Mustafa Shakur| 6-3 | PG | Westbury Christian H.S. (Houston, Texas)
*Kirk Walters| 6-10 | F | South Christian H.S. (Grand Rapids, Mich.)
The Skinny: Arizona's No. 1 because point guard is the most important position. Shakur can lead a team with poise, creates for others and not just himself, and also has a bonus: Size. Ebi should flourish in the Arizona style as his skills develop and he is athletic. These two players will both be major impact guys.

2. Louisville
Nate Daniels | 6-8 | W | Broward CC (Broward, Kan.)
Nouha Diakite | 6-10 | PF | Barton County CC (Great Bend, Fla.)
Brandon Jenkins | 6-3 | G | Southeastern H.S. (Detroit, Mich.)
James Lang | 6-11 | C | Central Park Christian H.S. (Birmingham, Ala.)
The Skinny: Lang will need time to truly impact. Although Juco transfers do normally take a year to adjust, Daniels figures to make the earliest impact of this group. Jenkins is a keeper and Diakite has upside. No fluff in this class.

3. Cincinnati
*Mike Pilgrim | 6-7 | F | Purcell Marion (Cincinnati, Ohio)
Robert Whaley | 6-10 | PF | Barton County C.C. (Barton, Kan.)
Nick Williams | 6-5 | G | Chipola C.C. (Marianna, Fla.)
The Skinny: We're taking a gamble on Whaley because the talent is still there. Can he discipline himself and produce? We're betting on it. Williams should make the smoothest transition and, along with Whaley, impact immediately. Pilgram is an athlete coming back home. He should thrive at Cincy. Like the 'Ville's class, all three should contribute. We like Cincy at No. 3 because this is a very mature group coming in.

4. Memphis
Sean Banks | 6-7 | SF | Bergen Catholic H.S. (Oradell, N.J.)
Keena Young | 6-7 | SG | Ozen H.S. (Beaumont, Texas)
Kendrick Perkins | 6-10 | F | Ozen H.S. (Beaumont, Texas)
The Skinny: Alex Carmona left the country to play pro overseas, but Memphis fans won't be singing the blues on Beale Street next year with Banks and Perkins. Banks and Perkins may take a year to "get it," but get it they will. Perkins is a big-bodied center. Banks shoots the ball well and could swing between the forward and guard positions. The only problem is how long Perkins wants to stay.

5. Mississippi State
Jackie Butler | 6-10 | C | McComb H.S. (McComb, Miss.)
Gary Ervin | 5-11 | PG | Notre Dame H.S. (Fitchburg, Mass.)
Travis Outlaw | 6-9 | F | Starkville H.S. (Starkville, Miss.)
The Skinny: Kansas fans may be wondering how Mississippi State leap-frogged the Jayhawks without adding any new recruits. Well, the process of analysis never stops. As much as we like the Jayhawks' class, we just felt that Jackie Butler was the wild card and had to go with MSU. Butler has the talent and will have an opportunity to display it. Ervin can hold his own at the point and Outlaw may be the best pure athlete on the board that plays a forward position. In fact, Mississippi State is breathing down the necks of the Memphis recruits listed above them. And, Brandon Bass, the best prospect left on the board outside of LeBron James may be coming their way.

6. Kansas
Jeremy Case | 5-11 | PG | McAlester H.S. (McAlester, Okla.)
J.R. Giddens | 6-5 | SF | John Marshall H.S. (Oklahoma City, Okla.)
David Padgett | 7-0 | C | Reno H.S. (Reno, Nev.)
Omar Wilkes | 6-3 | SG | Loyola H.S. (Los Angeles, Calif.)
The Skinny: We may be cheating a bit here, but we like the fact that none of these guys will be gone after one or two years. Plus, in the intangible area, you are talking about high character recruits. Padgett will come in with good skills and it's a good fit for him. Giddens is an athletic wing. Wilkes is a highly efficient player. It's just such a feel-good group. No one player makes us want to jump up out of our seats, but collectively they form a great foundation.

7. Michigan State
Shannon Brown | 6-1 | SG | Proviso East H.S. (Maywood, Ill.)
Brandon Cotton | 5-11 | PG | DePorres H.S. (Detroit, Mich.)
Drew Naymick | 6-10 | C | North Muskegon H.S. (North Muskegon, Mich.)
The Skinny: Michigan kids identify with Michigan State because Izzo has not only continued to make in-state kids a priority, but he gets them. Cotton's injuries sidelined his ability to showcase this summer, but the kid can score. Naymick is the type of big kid that Izzo has won with: cerebral and tough. Brown is a talent who just has to push himself all the time to be as good as he can be. That's another one of Izzo's strengths. Cotton and Brown will provide a lot of perimeter scoring.

8. Illinois
Warren Carter | 6-8 | PF | Lake Highlands H.S. (Dallas, Texas)
Richard McBride | 6-3 | SG | Lanphier H.S. (Springfield, Ill.)
Brian Randle | 6-7 | F | Notre Dame H.S. (Peoria, Ill.)
*Charlie Villanueva | 6-9 | F | Blair Academy (Blairstown, N.J.)
The Skinny: This is an interesting group. If Villanueva arrives in Champaign, he has to be thinking one and done. But there's a good chance they can keep him for two. Either way, we are giving the Illini points for getting Charlie and discounting it a little at the same time. Oh, almost forgot. He is talented, skilled combo forward. Outside Villanueva, Randle is ranked the highest by most pundits. He can shoot the ball, but he's never truly floated our boat as a Top 25 type of guy. He does deserve his ranking in the Top 100. It's the barrel-chested McBride who may be the most ready offensively to come in and contribute. He's an accurate shooter with deep range. Guarding quick perimeter players will be his toughest adjustment. Besides Villanueva, Carter has the most upside of the group and could wind up being a more valuable player than either McBride or Randle. What does that tell you? Even without Charlie, this group will help keep the Illini stay right there with Michigan State over the next few years.

*9. Arkansas
Ronnie Brewer | 6-5 | SW | Fayetteville H.S. (Fayetteville, Ark.)
Olumuyiwa Famutimi | 6-5 | SW| Northwestern H.S. (Flint, Mich.)
Vincent Hunter | 6-9 | PF | Fair H.S. (Little Rock, Ark.)
Julius Lamptey | 6-11 | C | New Hampton School (New Hampton, N.H.)
The Skinny: Stan Heath's recruiting debut is huge! Of course it didn't hurt the first time around that Ronnie Brewer's dad is connected to Arkansas besides being an alum, but breaks are part of it. Heath's Michigan contacts and special circumstances helped him land Famutimi. Both of them are players. And both can slide easily between the two and the three, shoot it and create their own shot, in addition to playing taller than their size. Think huge matchup problems down the road for opponents. Hunter has upside. Lamptey was very big the last time we saw him and it's doubtful much has changed with him. A real space-eater is something that has been lacking in Arkansas lately.

10. Maryland
Will Bowers | 6-11 | C | Archbishop Spaulding H.S. (Severn, Md.)
Hassan Fofana | 6-10 | C | Hargrave Military Academy (Chatham, Va.)
*Ekene Ibekwe | 6-9 | F | Carson H.S. (Carson, Calif.)
Mike Jones | 6-4 | SG | Thayer Academy (Braintree, Mass.)
D.J. Strawberry | 6-3 | G/F | Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.)
The Skinny: Ebekwe has been a little bit of an enigma, but a talented one and we are banking on Gary Williams and staff to bust this bronco and get him focused on what will make him an effective player. He has the most upside in this bunch. Jones is the most polished and most likely to be able to consistently contribute right away. Strawberry has not yet figured it all out, not being a dominant player at the high school level, although he has the tools to do so. Strength will help him as he matures over the next couple of years. Fofana is a big man. That means he has a learning curve and a physical maturation curve. Big guys just take more time. Bowers is a project who on paper will take more time than Fofana. Having said all that, it's a very good Maryland class. Two big boys. One very athletic tall guy. Two athletic wings who can run and defend. The sum of the parts.

11. California
Ayinde Ubaka | 6-1 | PG | Oakland Tech H.S. (Oakland, Calif.)
Marquise Kately | 6-6 | SF | Maine Central Institute (Pittsfield, Maine)
Dominic McGuire | 6-5 | F/G | Lincoln Prep H.S. (San Diego, Calif.)
Leon Powe | 6-6 | PF | Oakland Tech H.S. (Oakland, Calif.)
The Skinny: The academic sliding scale newly instituted by the NCAA may still not help Kately for next year. But, let's act for now as if it will. That would give Cal three freshman who are all capable of being impact players. Ubaka will definitely get major minutes as a frosh on a team that will desperately need his size, offense and quickness at the position. Kately plays a lot taller than his size and is a tough slasher. Powe still has to prove to us that he can score anything from outside the paint, but his value to Cal is his ability to rebound the ball in traffic because, like Kately, he plays a lot taller than his size and is very mature physically.

*12. Duke
Luol Deng | 6-8 | F | Blair Academy (Blairstown, N.J.) Kris Humphries | 6-8 | F | Hopkins H.S. (Minnetonka, Minn.)
The Skinny: Notice A Trend? The better programs are getting a lot of interchangeable parts, er, players. Deng can play either forward position. He can shoot it, put it on the floor and is tough enough to do well inside. Humphries, who is skilled and already has a pretty good frame on him, can also play both spots. Even with just a two man class, it's difficult to have Duke as low as No. 12 with these two. Both are prepared to contribute as freshmen, although the sophomores ahead of them will have something to say about that.

13. LSU
Regis Koundjia | 6-7 | SF | Laurinburg Institute (Laurinburg, N.C.)
Darnell Lazare | 6-6 | SF | Woodlawn H.S. (Baton Rouge, La.)
Taurean Minor 5-10 | PG | Booker T. Washington H.S. (Houston, Texas)
Ross Nelter 6-8 | F | Highlands H.S. (Fort Thomas, Ky.)
The Skinny: LSU may ride the seesaw with Koundjia and Minor. Some call Minor "mercurial," which could refer to his emotional state as well as his game. He is a unique lead guard who scores. Nickname is "Tank" and he is built like one. Whether he will be able to just bull his way to the basket at the next level remains to be seen, but he has great scoring instincts. Koundjia should be the recipient of a lot of lobs. Major bounce and basic skills are there. Tigers would still love to hook Bass.

*14. Syracuse
Louie McCroskey | 6-3 | SG | St. Raymond's H.S. (Bronx, N.Y.)
Demetris Nichols | 6-6 | SF | St. Andrew's H.S. (Barrington, R.I.)
Terrence Roberts | 6-8 | F | St. Anthony's H.S. (Jersey City, N.J.)
The Skinny: The addition of Terrance Roberts pushes Syracuse into this fast company. Roberts has been underrated in our opinion, although we don't expect to see a Carmelo Anthony like debut (37 in their exhibition) from him next year. McCroskey knows how to play and is steady. Nichols can run and shoot. Three very nice four year players.

15. Florida State
Antonio Griffin | 6-6 | F | Scottsdale C.C. (Scottsdale, Ariz.)
Diego Romero | 6-10 | C | Lon Morris C.C. (Jacksonville, Texas)
Vakeaton Wafer | 6-5 | SW | Heritage Christian H.S. (Cleveland, Tex.)
The Skinny: Leonard Hamilton is known for ability to recruit. Being at an ACC program everybody knew it wasn't going to take too long for Hamilton to bring in some talent. Romero gives him a solid big man and Wafer has the potential to be a consistent scorer. Wafer is a big-time get. Athletic wing who can score. They can only hope that Romero is the real deal.

16. Providence
Dwight Brewington | 6-4 | CG | Worcester Academy (Worcester, Mass.)
Gerald Brown | 6-3 | SG | Hargrave Military Academy (Chatham, Va.)
Jeff Parmer | 6-7 | F | Niagara Falls H.S. (Niagara Falls, NY.)
The Skinny: Two big guards. Two big guards. Two big guards. That's a mantra that many a head coach would like to say every day to himself and Providence will have Brewington and Brown for awhile. Both underrated. Both can score and their size will cause problems for opponents defensively. Brewington will get a look at point, and if he can get it done, the Friars will have the tallest backcourt in the Big East, and a very athletic one. Brewington and Brown can both score. Parmer is a solid player who will continue to get better and better.

17. Michigan
Dion Harris | 6-4 | SW | Redford H.S. (Detroit, Mich.)
Brent Petway | 6-7 | PF | Griffin H.S. (Griffin, Ga.)
Courtney Sims | 6-10 | C | Noble & Greenough H.S. (Dedham, Mass.)
The Skinny: Despite real and PR problems stemming from the past, Tommy Amaker continues to find a way to re-invigorate the once-proud Wolverine program. Harris is an aggressive offensive player and a key in-state recruit who will hit the ground scoring. Sims could eventually be the answer inside for a Michigan team that has had a hole there for quite awhile.

18. Oregon
Aaron Brooks | 5-10 | PG | Franklin H.S. (Seattle, Wash.)
Mitch Platt | 6-9 | PF/C | Green Valley H.S. (Henderson, Nev.)
Ray Schafer| 6-10 | C | Wasilla H.S. (Wasilla, Alaska)
The Skinny: Brooks will have the option of a one-year apprenticeship behind Luke Ridnour, or, the starting position should Ridnour bolt early. He was a must have for Oregon, who chose the Ducks over UCLA. Brooks will help ease the Luke & Luke transition period. Platt is a skilled big man. He can shoot from the perimeter and is an excellent passer. He also comes pre-assembled: He has a body. Schafer was MIA this past summer due to injury, but is a very mobile big man and will team with Platt to give the Ducks their potentially best frontline duo in awhile.

19. Wake Forest
Todd Hendley | 6-9 | PF | Lee County H.S. (Sanford, N.C.)
Jeremy Ingram | 6-3 | SG | Kinston H.S. (Kinston, N.C.)
Chris Paul | 5-11 | PG | West Forsyth H.S. (Clemmons, N.C.)
Kyle Visser | 6-10 | C | Forest Hills Central H.S. (Grand Rapids, Mich.)
The Skinny: Prince Paul is the most important piece, Wake's future point guard. Ingram is a very athletic running mate. Visser and Hendley will have some time to develop. With Skip Prosser in charge, we believe in the group dynamic thing for Wake.

20. Charlotte
Marcus Bennett | 6-3 | CG | Schoolcraft CC (Livonia, Mich.)
Martin Iti | 6-11 | C | Mount Zion Academy (Durham, N.C.)
The Skinny: Who the heck knows if Iti will ever actually put on the uniform and play? If he does, the big guy is the most talented center in this class. That doesn't mean that he is going to come in like a stud, but we have to respect his talent. We have seen him run with high school players, college players and pros. Iti can score and rebound when he feels the urge.

David Benezra and Mark Mayemura cover the national college basketball recruiting scene. E-mail at: hoopsusa@mindspring.com or call (818) 783-2244 or (818) 783-2212 for subscription information.