, instead of eight, if they show they can compete. A doctor is requi

Auburn coach Bruce Pearl felt like a winner two days before his team even plays its first game.The Tigers assured themselves one of the nations top recruiting classes when the early signing period began Wednesday. It is headlined by top-10 prospect Austin Wiley, whose parents both starred for Auburn, and includes four-star prospects Davion Mitchell and Chuma Okeke.This class is historic, said Pearl, who is trying to bounce back from an 11-20 mark in his second season with the Tigers. It started with Austin Wiley, about a year and a half ago, committing to us prior to his junior year. ... He had offers from everywhere, but he wanted to be an Auburn man.His mother, Vickie, was an All-American for the Tigers. His father, Aubrey, was a star rebounder.But Austin could have gone anywhere in the country, Pearl said. More importantly, he wanted to lead even before he got here. He knew that his verbal commitment might attract others. ... Now hes going to come here and add to the history and legacy of his father.Wiley, Mitchell and Okeke sent in signed letters of intent on the first day prospects are allowed. Some of the biggest names in this years class have yet to make their decisions.Unlike football, where signing day usually represents the finish line, it is merely the starting line in college basketball. The early period doesnt end until Nov. 16, and some will wait to see how things shake out at other schools before signing a letter of intent in the spring.Still, the early period gives some barometer for where schools are in their recruiting efforts:DESERT SWARM: Top-ranked prospect DeAndre Ayton, a 7-footer from Hillcrest Academy in Phoenix, leads Arizona coach Sean Millers star-studded class. He was expected to land letters of intent from three more top-100 recruits in Brandon Randolph, Ira Lee and Alex Barcello, and hes in the running for five-star swingmen Lonnie Walker and Brian Bowen, top guard Hamidou Diallo, and big man Brandon McCoy.PAC-12 POWER: Arizona may top the early returns, but its conference as a whole has been tearing up the recruiting trail. Oregon landed five-star guard Troy Brown despite overtures from Kansas, Georgetown and Alabama, while five-star forward Michael Porter headlines a five-deep class at Washington.Porter will be joined on coach Lorenzo Romars floor by four-star guards Jaylen Nowell and Daejon Davis, St. Louis-area forward Mamoudou Diarra and North Carolina guard Blake Harris.CHAMPS RELOAD: Villanova coach Jay Wright has reeled in 6-foot-6 forward Jermaine Samuels, who appears tailor-made to replace senior Josh Hart. Wright also hooked Dhamir Cosby-Roundtree, a somewhat undersized post player from Philadelphia, who had offers up and down the East Coast.Villanova is also in the running for Walker and Philly guard Quade Green.BLUEBLOODS HUNTING: Duke has only one commitment in Georgia guard Alex OConnell, Kansas has one in Dallas guard Marcus Garrett, and Kentucky has yet to land its first commitment for next year.That may sound ominous for now, but just wait until things shake out.The Blue Devils are in the mix for top-10 prospects Wendell Carter and Gary Trent Jr., who some believe could be a package deal, along with top-100 players Matt Coleman, Kevin Knox and Mohamed Bamba. The Jayhawks are pushing hard for guards Collin Sexton and Trae Young and forward Billy Preston.The Wildcats are also coveting Young, a 6-foot-2 guard from Oklahoma, while five-star prospects P.J. Washington and Nick Richards are expected to sign letters of intent with Kentucky later this week.BIG TENS BEST: Illinois coach John Groce has started what could be a make-or-break season by landing a four-man class headlined by St. Louis-area forward Jeremiah Tilmon -- though its unclear when he will sign his letter of intent. Michigan State hopes the combination of Jaren Jackson and Xavier Tillman is only the start of another talented class in East Lansing.They played together on the same AAU team. They kind of fit together, Spartans coach Tom Izzo said of his two new power forwards. And were not done. Hopefully we can add one, two, maybe even three more, but we have a great base, a base people want to play with guys like this.---More college basketball: http://collegebasketball.ap.org/NMD R1 Mens Australia . "No difference at all," chirped U.S. roommate and linemate James van Riemsdyk. "Its still the same cranky Phil. NMD R1 Mens Sale . The defence is doing its part, too. Drew Brees threw a pair of touchdown passes in the first half and the guys on the other side made sure that was enough, sending the Saints to a 17-13 victory over the Atlanta Falcons on Thursday night. http://www.nmdaustraliasale.com/nmd-xr1-shoes-australia.html .5 million, one-year contract on Friday. Hawkins, who turns 41 in December, will compete with Rex Brothers for the closers role at spring training. Cheap NMDs Australia . Jon Montgomerys gold medal in skeleton at the Whistler Sliding Centre and his subsequent auctioning off of a pitcher of beer in the village square elevated him to folk-hero status. NMD R1 Womens Australia . It was the kind of score that might make everyone else wonder which course he was playing. Except that Graeme McDowell saw the whole thing. Crouched behind the 10th green at Sheshan International, McDowell looked over at the powerful American and said, "Ive probably seen 18 of the best drives Ive seen all year in the last two days.MORGANTOWN, W.Va. -- Fighters at a gym tucked inside an old Morgantown shopping mall grab, twist and leverage each others limbs and heads, seeking small advantages and aiming for submission holds.Its the less glamorous stuff of mixed martial arts, a sport now legal in West Virginia thats faulted at times for its violence because of its highlight-reel knockout punches and flying kicks.West Virginia legalized MMA just last year for amateurs, though there were some unsanctioned fights before, and lawmakers had approved MMA fights by paid professionals in 2011.On Sunday, the lawmakers begin reviewing the sports new regulations. They specify safety measures like prohibiting anyone under 18 from state-sanctioned fights and requiring blood tests for HIV and hepatitis even for amateurs.Youve got to train smart, Josh Fowler said amid an hour of grappling on the big blue mat at Ground Zero Fighting Systems. The gyms 39-year-old co-owner, he plans to have his fourth amateur MMA bout in April. If you train smart you can do this for a long time.Under the new rules, amateur kicks to the head are allowed. Promoters have to post bonds and provide insurance coverage for injuries. Amateurs can turn pro after four sanctioned fights, instead of eight, if they show they can compete. A doctor is required at ring or cage matches, just like the professional sport. Brain scans would be required for contestants over 40.I have never, thank God, seen anybody seriously hurt, said Leon Ramsey, chairman of the State Athletic Commission that issued the regulations and sanctioned 292 amateur bouts in the past year.A former professional fighter and trainer, he sees well-regulated MMAs sporting promise in a state without professional teams. Smaller venues can draw crowds with affordable tickets where fighters can gain skill and experience locally and progress, he said.The current commission has three other members: Dr. Tim Peasak, a physician; Paul Thornton, a former referee; and Tony Figaretti, a longtime boxing official.Last years amendments both permitted fight cards at venues with less than 2,500 seats and legalized amateur cards.Weve been banging shows out like crazy since then, promoter Chris Smith said. He put on MMA cards in the past year around West Virginia called Ruckus in the Cage, mostly with amateurs. He said those were held before crowds ranging from about 1,000 to 22,300 people.ddddddddddddhere were about 15 MMA cards statewide las