Top Class Ever,Maybee

His reputation has taken a hit and his integrity has been called into question – again.

Still, despite allegations of major NCAA rules violations that occurred under his watch at Memphis, embattled coach John Calipari will be back on the bench this fall.

Only now he’s at Kentucky, where the future appears bright enough to blind those peering into Calipari’s past.

The reason for the optimism: John Wall – as well as DeMarcus Cousins, Eric Bledsoe, Daniel Orton, Darnell Dodson and Jon Hood. The group forms what is far and away the best recruiting class of 2009.

And, some say, ever.

“In recent contemporary college basketball history, The Fab Five at Michigan has always been the standard bearer for recruiting,” said Jerry Meyer, a recruiting analyst for Rivals.com. “This Kentucky class matches it – or surpasses it.

“We may never have seen a class this good.”

Indeed, Wall, a point guard, is the top-ranked prospect in the country and the likely No. 1 pick in next year’s NBA draft. The 6-foot-9 Cousins is ranked No. 2 while Orton (22) and Bledsoe (23) are also in the top 25.

Hood is a shooting guard who was recently named Mr. Kentucky Basketball. Dodson, a small forward, was one of the most sought-after junior college recruits in the nation.

If the class remains intact – Wall, Cousins and Bledsoe have yet to qualify academically – the debate over this group’s place in history will undoubtedly linger all season. In the meantime, here’s a look at the five most-hyped recruiting classes of all time.