Talent wins out: Final Four rosters filled with former four- and five-star recruits
By Mike Huguenin, Yahoo! Sports Wednesday, Mar 28, 2012
A look at the rosters for this season’s Final Four teams shows that four- and five-star prospects are vital, a shallow bench means nothing and upperclassmen are overrated
(Truthfully, the “four- and five-star prospects are vital” line sort of overwhelms everything else.)
Each of the Final Four teams has at least one starter who was a five-star prospect coming out of high school. Kentucky, of course, famously starts five former five-star guys and has another coming off the bench.
Ohio State has three former five-star recruits in the starting lineup, while Kansas and Louisville have one each. Ohio State’s other two starters are former three-star signees. Each of Kansas’ other four starters is a former four-star prospect, while Louisville has two former four-star recruits and two former three-star guys.
Sixteen of the 20 starters were considered national top-100 players as high school seniors; Kentucky also has two reserves who were top-100 guys.
As for the subs, only Kentucky (with Darius Miller) and Louisville (Russ Smith) have guys off the bench who could be considered “key” players. They are the only reserves in the Final Four who average more than 5.7 points. Kansas backup Conner Teahan averages 5.7 points, but he has scored just 22 points in his past eight games.
And as for experienced players, it’s a mixed bag. There are four senior starters in the Final Four, along with five juniors, seven sophomores and four freshmen (three for Kentucky and one for Louisville, all of whom are five-star guys). Kansas has an all-upperclass starting five (four juniors and a senior); Kentucky, on the other hand, has an all-underclass starting five (two sophomores and three freshmen).
[ Pat Forde: Rick Pitino back in Final Four – 25 years after first trip ]
Two other notes: Of the 20 starting players, 12 attended a private high school. Only five of the 20 starters attended high school in the state in which they go to college, and three of those play for Ohio State.
Here’s a closer look at the key players for each team.
| KANSAS JAYHAWKS |
| PROBABLE STARTERS |
|
C Jeff Withey
Particulars: 7-0/235, Jr.; Arizona transfer, preceded by San Diego Horizon Christian Academy Recruiting ranking:  in 2008 class; No. 36 player nationally
F Thomas Robinson
G Elijah Johnson
G Tyshawn Taylor
G Travis Releford
|
| KEY RESERVES |
|
F Justin Wesley
Particulars: 6-9/220, Soph.; Lamar transfer, preceded by Fort Worth (Texas) North Crowley Recruiting ranking: A walk-on at Kansas, Wesley was unranked out of high school in the 2009 class F Kevin Young
G Conner Teahan
|
| KENTUCKY WILDCATS |
| PROBABLE STARTERS |
|
C Anthony Davis
Particulars: 6-10/222, Fr.; Chicago Perspectives Charter Recruiting ranking:  recruit in the 2011 class; No. 2 player nationally
F Terrence Jones
F Michael Kidd-Gilchrist
G Doron Lamb
G Marquis Teague
|
| KEY RESERVES |
|
F Kyle Wiltjer
Particulars: 6-9/239, Fr.; Portland (Ore.) Jesuit Recruiting ranking: in 2011 class; No. 22 player nationally
G/F Darius Miller
|
| LOUISVILLE CARDINALS |
| PROBABLE STARTERS |
|
C Gorgui Dieng
Particulars: 6-11/235, Soph.; Huntington (W.Va.) Huntington Prep Recruiting ranking: in 2010 class; No. 44 player nationally
F Chane Behanan
Kyle Kuric
G Peyton Siva
G Chris Smith
|
| KEY RESERVES |
|
F Jared Swopshire
Particulars: 6-8/200, Jr.; Bradenton (Fla.) Pendleton Academy; No. 130 player nationally Recruiting ranking:  in 2008 class
G Russ Smith
|
| OHIO STATE BUCKEYES |
| PROBABLE STARTERS |
|
F Jared Sullinger
Particulars: 6-9/280, Soph.; Columbus (Ohio) Northland Recruiting ranking: in 2010 class; No. 5 player nationally
F DeShaun Thomas
G William Buford
G Aaron Craft
G Lenzelle Smith Jr.
|
| KEY RESERVES |
|
F Evan Ravenel
Particulars: 6-8/260, Jr.; Boston College transfer, preceded by Brandon (Fla.) High Recruiting ranking: in 2008 class; unranked nationally
G Shannon Scott
|
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