Byline: FRANK VEHORN, STAFF WRITER
Barring unexpected snags, it appears the recruiting class that Duke basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski welcomes next August will be the highest-rated group ever brought in by an ACC school.
Better than the Eric Montross class at North Carolina. Better than the Tar Heels' Jerry Stackhouse-Rasheed Wallace class, too. It even compares favorably to the much-heralded ``Fab Five'' class at Michigan in 1991.
Three members of Duke's quartet rank among the top six prospects in the nation on most recruiting lists, and the other as high as 11th.
Chris Burgess, a 6-foot-10 center from Irvine, Calif., is the No. 1 prospect by Prep Stars Recruiter's Handbook, Sports Illustrated and USA Today. The Recruiter's Handbook ranks Shane Battier, a 6-8 forward from Birmingham, Mich., No. 2 and Elton Brand, a 6-8 power forward from Peekskill, N.Y., No. 6.
William Avery, a 6-2 point guard from Augusta, Ga., is ranked 30th by Recruiter's Handbook, but 11th by recruiting analyst Bob Gibbons.
Gibbons describes Duke's recruiting class as ``a rare accomplishment.''
``I don't know if anyone can expect this class to duplicate what the Fab Five did (two straight NCAA championship game appearances), but who knows?'' Gibbons said.
The only hitch is that two of the four prospects declined to sign official letters-of-intent during the signing period that ended Wednesday night. Avery and Brand said they remained committed to Duke. but would wait until April's late signing period before sealing their commitments.
What's the holdup?
Brand's high school coach in Peekskill, N.Y., Lou Panzanaro, said Brand wanted to make sure ``something crazy doesn't happen - like maybe Coach K leaving.''
Panzanaro said Brand was not having second thoughts about Duke, but was ``just being cautious.''
Unlike the other three, Avery has not qualified academically, but his coach at Oak Hill Academy, Steve Smith, recently assured a North Carolina newspaper that ``William will be fine.''
Duke had to battle Kentucky and Virginia for Avery and Brand, North Carolina and Michigan for Battier, and Kentucky and Brigham Young for Burgess, the last of the four to commit.
An angry and disappointed Brigham Young coach Roger Reid charged that Burgess, a Morman, ``let 9 million people down'' by choosing Duke. Burgess told a Salt Lake City newspaper that Reid also told him that he was ``letting down the prophet and the apostles.''
Burgess said he has been a longtime Blue Devils follower, dating to the days of Danny Ferry.
``I want to be a part of returning Duke to the national championship,'' Burgess said. ``This class can be awesome.''
A look at the rest of the league:
NORTH CAROLINA: Also scored well in the early period, beating out Clemson and Wake Forest to sign 7-foot Brendan Haywood, who analysts say could become an outstanding player. Signed two other blue chippers: 6-11 Brian Bersticker of Virginia Beach and 6-5 guard Max Owens from Macon, Ga.
Haywood did not begin playing basketball until late, and missed his sophomore year in high school because of a broken foot.
``There aren't many seven-foot kids like him with that size, coordination, good hands, and agility,'' Gibbons said.
NORTH CAROLINA STATE: First-year coach Herb Sendek didn't sign any prospects who rate as highly as Duke's and North Carolina's, but all five are solid.
``It could rank among the best classes in the country,'' Gibbons said.
The two big signees were 6-10 Ron Kelly of Emory, Texas, and 6-11 Cornelius Williams of Jacksonville, Ala.
VIRGINIA: The only signee was 6-1 point guard Chezley Watson of Gainesville, Ga. Watson wasn't noted among the top point guard prospects in the country on any major recruiting list.
WAKE FOREST: Fulfilled its most pressing need by beating out Indiana for 6-2 wing guard Robert O'Kelley of Memphis. O'Kelley said the opportunity to be a scoring point guard at Wake Forest influenced his decision. Received commitments from four other players, but none is expected to make an immediate impact.
FLORIDA STATE: Signed two players who could offer immediate help - 7-foot center Karim Shabazz of Lawrence, N.Y., and 5-10 point guard Devlon Arrington of Jersey City, N.J. Arrington's St. Anthony's High School team is 54-0 with him starting and his coach, Bob Hurley Sr., says he is the best point guard he's had since his son, Bobby, a former All-American at Duke. Future Stars recruiting service ranks Shabazz the No. 7 center prospect in the nation.
MARYLAND: Signed 6-7 Terrence Moore, a highly-regarded wing forward from Frederick, and Juan Dixon, a 6-2 guard from Towson.
GEORGIA TECH: Signed one prospect, 6-11 Alvin Jones, Jr., the 13th-ranked center.
CLEMSON: Did not sign anyone.
CAPTION(S):
Graphic
ACC COMMITMENTS
Clemson
None
Duke
Chris Burgess, 6-10 C, Irvine, Calif. Nation's No. 1-rated center averaged 27 points, 12 rebounds as a junior. Runs the court well and is an excellent outside shooter in the mold of former Blue Devils great Christian Laettner.
Elton Brand, 6-6 F, Peekskill, N.Y. Averaged 28 points, 14 rebounds as a junior. Strong rebounder and solid ballhandler. He was MVP at Nike Peach Basket Classic.
Shane Battier, 6-8 F, Birmingham, Mich. Averaged 21 points, 14 rebounds, 6.2 blocked shots as a junior. Handles the ball well enough to be a point guard. His high school coach compares him to former Duke great Grant Hill.
William Avery, 6-1 PG, Augusta, Ga. Averaged 23 points, 10 assists as a junior. He is a smart court leader who also can score.
Florida State
Delvon Arrington, 5-11 PG, Jersey City, N.J. Averaged 10 points, 6 assists for USA Today's No. 1-ranked high school team last year.
Karim Shabazz, 7-0 C, Lawrence, N.Y. Averaged 27 points, 16 rebounds, 7 blocks as a junior. He has excellent court quickness but needs to add muscle to bang inside.
Georgia Tech
Alvin Jones III, 6-11 C, Lakeland, Fla. Averaged 15.8 points, 10 rebounds, 6 blocks as a junior. He has excellent ability, but temper can be a problem. His stock fell during summer camps.
Maryland
Terrence Moore, 6-7 F, Frederick, Md. Averaged 23 points, 14 rebounds, 5 blocks as junior. Great offense and effective shot-blocker.
Juan Dixon, 6-2 G, Towson, Md. Excellent shooting range.
North Carolina
Max Owens, 6-5 BG, Macon, Ga. Averaged 27 points, 4.1 steals as a junior. His scoring ability is compared to current Tar Heel Vince Carter, but he plays much better defense.
Brian Bersticker, 6-10 C, Virginia Beach. Averaged 12 points, 15 rebounds, 8 blocks as a junior. Impressed at summer camps with his mobility and versatily. Will be used as power forward or small forward in college.
Brendan Haywood, 7-0 C, Greensboro, N.C. Averaged 10.2 points, ll rebounds as a junior. The No. 3-ranked center has the bulk (265 pounts) to be a force under the basket but he is weak on fundamentals.
North Carolina State
Ron Kelly, 6-10 C, Emory, Texas. Averaged 21 points, 14 rebounds as a junior. Moves well for a big man and will play forward in college.
Cornelius Williams, 6-11 C, Jacksonville, Ala. Averaged 15 points, 12 rebounds as junior. Has the size and natural ability but skills need polishing.
Kenny Inge, 6-8 F, Virginia Beach. Very athletic with strong moves to the goal. Can be a solid contributor early.
Ryan Miller, 5-10 PG, Beaver Falls, Pa. Averaged 17 points, 8 assists as junior. His brother, Sean, is an assistant at State. A smart ballhandler.
Ron Anderson, 6-6 G, Fayetteville, N.C. Averaged 17.5 points as junior. Not highly recruited by other major schools.
Virginia
Chezley Watson, 6-1 PG, Gainesville, Ga. Averaged 22 points, 4 assists, 4 steals as junior. Has good quickness, protects the ball well, and his defensive skills will fit in with Cavaliers' program.
Wake Forest
Robert O'Kelly, 6-2 G, Memphis, Tenn. Averaged 24.5 points, 2.5 assists as junior. An excellent outside shooter and ballhandler. He hopes to beome another Randolph Childress for the Deacs.
Josh Shoemaker, 6-9 F, Gate City, Va. Has a lot of raw talent and is a good shot-blocker, but his future might be on the football field.
Joakim Bloom, 6-10 F/C, Sweden. He committed to Deacons last year but didn't qualify. He's all set now and could be in school second semester.
Nikki Arinze, 6-5 F Nashville, Tenn. Has good enough ballhandling skills that he could be used as a big guard. Did not make major recruiting lists.
Aron McMillian, 6-9 F, Greensboro, N.C. He's a project, but has good bloodlines. His father Jim is a former NBA Laker.
