Brooklyn Lincoln star Lance Stephenson is the top-ranked player in the Class of 2009 according to the new rankings by the Hoop Scoop.
Derrick Favors is ranked No. 2 in the class, followed by Kenny Boynton, UAB commit Demarcus Cousins and North Carolina commit Dexter Strickland of St. Patrick of Elizabeth.
St. Anthony of Jersey City star Dominic Cheek is No. 10 and Rice standout Durand Scott is No. 30.
North Carolina guard John Wall was rated as the No. 1 fifth-year player by the Hoop Scoop.
In other news and notes…
**Memphis coach John Calipari has hired Bilal Batley to a staff position. A 2007 Oklahoma grad, Batley was a graduate manager at Indiana and was also involved in the recruitment of Nolan Dennis, who ended up at Memphis.
**Providence is working hard on the recruiting trail. The Friars had James Padgett, Stephenson’s Lincoln teammate in on Sunday, and are also involved with Kevin Parrom, Tevin Baskin and Jordan Williams.
**St. Anthony forward Derrick Williams paid a visit Tuesday to Fordham. Fordham assistant Jared Grasso has already landed former St. Anthony players Jio Fontan and Chris Gaston.
