"What a great group of people. That's a really special bunch for a lot of reasons," said Duke coach Joanne P. McCallie, in her third season at the school.

"It's truly been one of the most amazing and unique experiences I've gone through in recruiting, and I think that this class has an opportunity to have an incredible career together."

Chiney Ogwumike, a 6-3 forward from Houston, considered the prize of the class, is expected to announce her college decision Thursday. Her finalists are Stanford, where sister Nneka is an emerging star; defending national champion Connecticut and Notre Dame.

If Ogwumike selects Connecticut, many analysts could vault the Huskies over Duke as the consensus No. 1 class.

Duke's class is led by Chelsea Gray, a 5-11 point guard from Manteca, Calif., and Richa Jackson, a 6-1 forward from Midwest City, Okla. Both are widely considered top-10 players.

The class also includes Haley Peters, a 6-3 guard/forward from Red Bank, N.J.; Tricia Liston, a 6-1 guard from River Forest, Ill., and Chloe Wells, a 5-7 guard from Colton, Calif.

"We set out to get the most interesting kids, character-wise, talent-wise and complementary," McCallie said. "I think versatility was the focus — the game is becoming so versatile and wide open."

Other winners:

A year ago Baylor landed prize recruit, 6-8 Brittney Griner, who headed the No. 1 class. This time the Lady Bears added 5-8 point guard Odyssey Sims of Irving, Texas. "She's an amazing talent with her speed, quickness and defensive pressure," Baylor coach Kim Mulkey said.

Maryland, which graduated the last of its 2006 national title team, needed a big year. Coach Brenda Frese's top-five class has five players, led by 6-0 G Laurin Mincy and 6-0 F Alyssa Thomas, both expected to sign this week.

The Bluegrass State could be heating up. Jeff Walz, who took Louisville to the title game last April in his first year, landed a top class as did Kentucky's Matt Mitchell, in his third year.

All in the family:

The schools couldn't make it official Wednesday but the daughters of Baylor's Mulkey and Northwestern coach Joe McKeown are expected to play for their parents. Both Makenzie Robertson and Meghan McKeown are shooting guards. … Jacqueline Jeffcoat, twin of blue chip football recruit Jackson Jeffcoat and daughter of ex-NFL player Jim Jeffcoat, signed with Oklahoma as expected.

***

Where the top 20 girls landed:

* — Public commit but not yet signed

Enlarge By Bob Pearson, The Dallas Morning News Chiney Ogwumike, ranked No. 1 in the girls' Class of 2010, will announce her college decision on Thursday.