Top recruits sign with IU

Mike Davis said Wednesday was like Christmas in November for the Hoosier program. The IU men's basketball coach announced his recruiting class for next season, landing four of his five early verbal commitments.\n"We got four nice signees," Davis said. "It was a nice day today for the Hoosiers. We got four big-time players ... We have a young group of kids right now and put the recruits together with the kids we got now, if they work hard we can win some games."\nIU received national letters of intent from Josh Smith of Powder Springs, Ga., D.J. White from Tuscaloosa, Ala., Robert Vaden and A.J. Ratliff, both from Indianapolis.\nClark Francis, publisher of hoopscooponline.com, said IU has the No. 1 recruiting class in the nation, without a doubt.\n"It's a great class," Francis said. "If Josh Smith shows up, (IU) can make the same type of impact that Syracuse made on college basketball a year ago. If not, D.J. White is terrific. He will be there for a year or two or three. He solves any problems IU will have inside this year."\nSmith is at the top of the class and is ranked in Francis' top five players in the nation. Smith's summer AAU coach Karl McCray said Smith is great player.\n"I think (IU) got a diamond," McCray said. "I think it's a good match."\nThere has been speculation that Smith may not attend IU and will make the jump directly to the NBA. Davis said he's not worried.\n"He's a Hoosier. Once a Hoosier, always a Hoosier," Davis said. "I know people are going to try to get him to come out. But we're not worried about it. He said he wanted to play with these guys. It's a great class together. He's wants to win a national championship, so that's our focus right now."\nFrancis said the key to the class is Davis' recruiting ability.\n"The story is, is that he can get the best players in the country," Francis said. "He is recruiting early. They recruit everyone for a year. They get an A+ on being ahead of the curve."\nWhite is a 6'9" forward whom Davis said will be the guy who can score some inside points for the team. Davis said Smith is probably the most athletic player in the country. Davis was also excited about guards Vaden and Ratliff, especially since they are from Indiana.\n"Both kids are really good," Davis said. "Robert (Vaden) really understands the game. Ratliff has a great coach and has a really, really good background in basketball."\nDavis said right now he is focused on the current team at IU. But he is also excited about the direction the program is heading.\n"You're looking at four guys who can play basketball, can really play basketball," Davis said. "Defensively all four can play well. All fours guys are athletic. They want to be here. They want to be a part of the program. That's big for us."\n-- Contact sports editor Tyler V. Hoeppner at thoeppne@indiana.edu.