The two top players in this year's basketball recruiting class chose two of the historic top programs in the nation on signing day. Nerlens Noel chose Kentucky, while Shabazz Muhammad chose UCLA.
Noel, a 6-10 center from Everett, Mass, was widely considered the top ranked player in this year's class. He immediately gives the reigning national champions a shot in the arm, with several of its top players expected to declare for the NBA draft.
Muhammad, an electric 6-6 swingman from Las Vegas, decided to stay close to home at UCLA, instead of signing with Kentucky or Duke, who the top recruit also considered.
UCLA has been reeling the last several years, missing the NCAA tournament this year, and being featured in a scathing article by Sport Illustrated on the coaching style of Ben Howland. Muhammad may prove to be UCLA's biggest recruiting coup since Kevin Love.
