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the Final Rivals Basketball Recruiting Class Rankings have Memphis at No. 6 in the Country for 2005. In 2004 they finished 9th.

I doubt I'm the only one who is surprised they recruited that well under the banner of the New CUSA. Those guys all signed knowing Louisville and Cincy left for the BE. And they actually put together a higher ranked class than the year before. Its good news for them and CUSA, but let me change my description, its a little shocking, not just surprising.

How can the Rivals rankings be final when the late signing period for '05 is currently going on until May 18th or so?

.....because 92% of their Top 100 have already signed and most of the others have eligibility issues like Gary Flowers. Let's be honest schools signing players during the spring signing period are generally picking up scraps left behind from the fall or hoping a top recruit become eligible.