by Alex Schwartz

The top four teams in the SEC remained in order since the first rankings in November, and the conference as a whole also kept its number one spot. Led by Kentucky's number one ranked recruiting class, the SEC will have a major influx of talent in 2011-12.

There are some elite talents in the class of 2011 bound for SEC programs. Three of the top four players in the D1 Hoops Report Class of 2011 Top 150 are headed to the SEC, including the two prospects atop the list. Extending a bit more, four of the top seven and seven of the top 16 players in the D1HR 2011 Top 150 will suit up in the Southeastern Conference next season.

The SEC has commitments from more top 10, top 25 and top 50 players than any other conference. It also has the second most top 100 and top 150 pledges, second only to the Big East, which has four more teams. The Big East, which was just narrowly beat out for the top spot, is also the only conference with more top 30 recruiting classes.

Below is the complete rundown on the players headed to the Southeastern Conference in the class of 2011. Note that player rankings are based off the D1HR 2011 Top 150 and the D1HR 2011 Post-Grad Top 40. In addition, note that the top six players in the D1HR PG Top 40 are also considered as top 150 players in all statistics/numbers.

SEC RECRUITING BREAKDOWN
An asterisk indicates that player is a junior college transfer and thus not eligible to be ranked
HM= Honorable Mention; NR= Not Ranked

Number of Top 30 Classes:  8
Class With the Most Commits: Alabama with 6
Class With the Most Ranked Commits: Arkansas with 5

Top Ranked Player: Michael Gilchrist, Kentucky
Best Unranked Player: DJ Gardner, Mississippi State
Top Ranked Point Guard: Marquis Teague, Kentucky
Top Ranked Shooting Guard: Brad Beal, Florida
Top Ranked Small Forward: Michael Gilchrist, Kentucky
Top Ranked Power Forward: Anthony Davis, Kentucky
Top Ranked Center: Willy Kouassi, Auburn

Number of Top 10 Players: 4
Number of Top 25 Players: 7
Number of Top 50 Players: 14
Number of Top 100 Players: 21
Number of Top 150 Players: 25
Number of Top 40 Post-Grads: 2

Class Rankings
Rank. School (National Rank)

1. Kentucky (1st)
Michael Gilchrist, SF, 6'7, St. Patrick's (NJ), #1
Anthony Davis, PF, 6'10, Perspectives Charter (IL), #2
Marquis Teague, PG, 6'2, Pike (IN), #7
Kyle Wiltjer, PF, 6'9, Jesuit (OR), #15

2. Arkansas (4th)
BJ Young, PG, 6'2, McCluer North (MO), #14
Rashad Madden, PG, 6'5, East Poinsett County (AR), #40
Hunter Mickelson, PF, 6'10, Westside (AR), #45
Aaron Ross, PF, 6'7, Parkview (AR), #86
Devonte Abron, PF, 6'7, Seagoville (TX), #89

3. Alabama (13th)
Levi Randolph, SG, 6'5, Bob Jones (AL), #41
Trevor Lacey, SG, 6'2, Butler (AL), #44
Nick Jacobs, PF, 6'8, South Atlanta (GA), #68
Rodney Cooper, SG, 6'5, Russell County (AL), #130
*Moussa Gueye, C, 7'0, Lake Land College (IL)
Retin Ojomoh, PG, 6'1, Koninklijk Atheneum Redingehof Leuven (BEL), NR

4. Mississippi State (18th)
Rodney Hood, SF, 6'7, Meridian (MS), #30
Deville Smith, PG, 5'11 Callaway (MS), #65
DJ Gardner, SF, 6'6, Okolona (MS), NR
Roquez Johnson, PF, 6'7, Carver (AL), NR

5. Florida (24th)
Brad Beal, SG, 6'3, Chaminade (MO), #4
Walter Pitchford, PF, 6'9, Summit Christian Academy (MI), #9PG

6. Vanderbilt (25th)
Dai-Jon Parker, SG, 6'3, Milton (GA), #38
Kedren Johnson, PG, 6'4, Marshall County (TN), #99
Shelby Moats, PF, 6'8, Waconia (MN), NR

7. Georgia (28th)
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, SG, 6'5, Greenville (GA), #16
Nemanja Djurisic, PF, 6'8, South Kent (CT), #11PG
Tim Dixon, C, 6'10, Oldsmar Christian (FL), NR
John Cannon, C, 6'10, Mountain Heritage (NC), NR
*John Florveus, C, 7'0, Hillsborough CC (FL)

8. South Carolina (29th)
Damien Leonard, SG, 6'4, JL Mann (SC), #60
Anthony Gill, PF, 6'8, Charlotte Christian (NC), #94
*Brenton Williams, PG, 5'11, Santa De CC (FL)

9. LSU (NR)
Johnny O'Bryant, PF, 6'9, East Side (MS), #39
Anthony Hickey, PG, 5'10, Christian County (KY), NR
John Isaac, SG, 6'4, Pickering (LA), NR

10. Auburn (NR)
Cedrick McAfee, SG, 6'2, Melrose (TN), #109
Willy Kouassi, C, 6'10, Central Park Christian (AL), #114
Bernard Morena, SF, 6'8, Central Park Christian (AL), NR

11. Tennessee (NR)
Josh Richardson, SF, 6'5, Edmond Santa Fe (OK), #127
Yemi Makanjuola, C, 6'9, Word of God Christian Academy (NC), NR
*Dwight Miller, PF, 6'8, Midland College (TX)
Quinton Chievous, SG, 6'5, Niles Notre Dame (IL), NR
Wes Washpun, PG, 6'1, Washington (IA), NR

12. Ole Miss (NR)
Ladarius White, SG, 6'5, McComb (MS), NR
Jarvis Summers, PG, 6'2, Provine (MS), NR
Maurice Aniefiok, SG, 6'5, Huntington Prep (WV), NR
Aaron Jones, PF, 6'8, Gautier (MS), NR
Jamal Jones, SF, 6'8, Searcy (AR), NR

Note- photo is of Marquis Teague and is from http://www.kentucky.com/