A look at 2016 Big Ten basketball signing classes

The early-signing period for men?s basketball began on Wednesday. And Michigan State was the big winner in the Big Ten. According to Scout.com, the Spartans inked the Big Ten?s top class and the No. 2 haul in the nation behind Duke.

The four-man Spartan class is led by small forward Miles Bridges, the No. 11 player in the nation according to Scout.com. Shooting guard Josh Langford (No. 19), point guard Cassius Winston (No. 28) and center Nick Ward (No. 47) round out a star-studded haul that Tom Izzo has called his best ever.

Penn State has the second-highest rated class, coming in at No. 13. It is being hailed as the best signing class in school history. Pat Chambers hit his native Philadelphia hard, landing point man Tony Carr (No. 37) and power forward Lamar Stevens (No. 67) from Roman Catholic High.

Richard Pitino has the No. 3 class in the Big Ten led by wing Amir Coffey (No. 41)-a Gopher legacy–and power forward Eric Curry (No. 95). Scout.com rates the Gophers? class No. 20.

Maryland?s class is No. 25, paced by point man Anthony Cowan (No. 57) and shooting guard Kevin Huerter (No. 61).

Michigan State inked the highest-rated players to sign with a Big Ten team in Bridges, Langford and Winston.

Scout.com says only the ACC has more top 100 commitments than the Big Ten, and it is the second-best conference overall in terms of recruiting. The early-signing period ends Nov. 18. The spring signing period begins April 13, 2016. Here is how Scout.com ranks the Big Ten hoops recruiting classes.

1. Michigan State
2. Penn State
3. Minnesota
4. Maryland
5. Michigan
6. Northwestern
7. Iowa
8. Ohio State
9. Nebraska
10. Indiana
11. Illinois
12. Purdue
13. Rutgers/Wisconsin

A look at each signing class.

Illinois

• G Te?Jon Lucas, 6-0, Milwaukee (Washington)
• F Kipper Nichols, 6-6, Lakewood, Ohio (St. Edward)

Analysis:

Indiana

• G Grant Gelon, 6-5, Crown Point, Ind. (Crown Point)

Iowa

• G Jordan Bohannon, 6-0, Marion, Iowa (Linn Marr Community)
• F Tyler Cook, 6-8, St. Louis (Chaminade)
• F Ryan Kriener, 6-9, Spirit Lake, Iowa (Spirit Lake)
• F Cordell Pemsl, 6-8, Dubuque, Iowa (Wahlert)

Maryland

• G Anthony Cowan, 5-10, Washington, D.C. (St. John?s College)
• G Kevin Huerter, 6-5, Clifton Park, N.Y. (Shenendehowa)

Michigan

• C Austin Davis, 6-10, Onsted, Mich. (Onsted)
• G Xavier Simpson, 6-0, Lima, Ohio (Senior)
• C Jon Teske, 7-0, Medina, Ohio (Medina)
• F Ibi Watson, 6-5, Pickerington, Ohio (Central)

Michigan State

• F Miles Bridges, 6-6, Huntington, W.Va. (Huntington Prep)
• G Joshua Langford, 6-6, Madison, Ala. (Madison Academy)
• G Cassius Winston, 6-0, Detroit (Jesuit)
• F Nick Ward, 6-9, Gahanna, Ohio (Lincoln)

Minnesota

• G Amir Coffey, 6-6, Hopkins, Minn. (Hopkins)
• F Eric Curry, 6-6, Little Rock, Ark. (Southwest Christian Academy)
• G/F Michael Hurt, 6-6, Rochester, Minn. (John Marshall)

Nebraska

• F Jeriah Horne, 6-6, Kansas City, Mo. (Barstow)
• F Isaiah Roby, 6-8, Dixon, Ill. (Dixon)

Northwestern

• C Barret Benson, 6-10, Willowbrook, Ill. (Hinsdale South)
• G Isiah Brown, 6-3, Lynnwood, Wash. (Lakeside School)
• F Rapolas Ivanauskas, 6-9, Barrington, Ill. (Brewster Academy, N.H.)

Ohio State

• F Derek Funderburk, 6-9, Lakewood (Hargrave Military Academy, Va.)
• C Micah Potter, 6-9, Mentor (Montverde, Fla., Academy)

Penn State

• G Tony Carr, 6-5, Philadelphia (Roman Catholic)
• F Lamar Stevens, 6-6, Philadelphia (Roman Catholic)
• F Joe Hampton, 6-7, Mouth of Wilson, Va. (Oak Hill)
• G Nazeer Bostick, 6-4, Philadelphia (Roman Catholic)

Purdue

• G Carsen Edwards, 5-11, Humble, Texas (Atascocita)

Rutgers & Wisconsin had none.

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