BOULDER — Call them the "Tad Five."

Second-year Colorado men's basketball coach Tad Boyle pulled off what some are calling a "historic" recruiting class for the program Wednesday, landing five athletically gifted players topped by two national top-100 prospects: 6-foot-9 Josh Scott of Lewis-Palmer High School near Colorado Springs and 6-6 Xavier Johnson of Mater Dei High School, a traditional hoops power in Orange County, Calif.

Scott is ranked No. 46 nationally by ESPN and No. 65 by Rivals.com, making him perhaps the most highly regarded high school boys basketball player in this state since Chauncey Billups.

"When I go up there (to Boulder), I feel very welcomed; I feel kind

of like a star," Scott told the Colorado Springs Gazette on Wednesday. "I know that I'm probably going to be expected from a lot of people to perform at a high level, but I'm ready for it."

Johnson rates No. 83 by Rivals and No. 86 by ESPN. Colorado sports information director David Plati, who has followed Buffaloes recruiting since he arrived as a student more than three decades ago, said he couldn't recall another class of CU men's basketball signees with two national top-100 players.

"I am proud of that," said Boyle, when told of the historic nature of the class. "Our coaches worked hard. Recruiting is like building relationships. I believe that Colorado can be special, that this is a special place.

"That is the attitude we have. It doesn't matter what living room we go into, doesn't matter who else is recruiting the kid, why wouldn't you want to come play basketball at Colorado?"

This Buffs class also is notable for including three in-state players. Scott is joined by 6-8 Wesley Gordon, a springy power forward from Colorado Springs Sierra and 6-1 point guard Xavier Talton, who led Sterling High School to the Class 4A state title championship last March at CU's Coors Events Center.

Colorado

also signed 6-7 Chris Jenkins, a versatile player from University of Detroit Jesuit High School whom Boyle considers, like Talton, to be underrated nationally but to have the skill set to become a terrific player.

Boyle cautioned that the fivesome hasn't proven anything yet on the college level. But he hopes the class will help build a foundation for the program that will enable the Buffs to compete successfully in the Pac-12 Conference.

Frontcourt players are hard to get, and Boyle said he believes Scott and Gordon, who are friends, will give the Buffs an inside presence that the program can build around.

"Josh will be as good as he wants to be," Boyle said.

What makes Scott particularly effective in the paint is that he is ambidextrous, Boyle said.

"When you watch video, you think he's left-handed," Boyle said of Scott, a natural right-hander. "From 8 feet in, he can finish with his right or his left. That's huge. (Opponents) get thrown off."

Gordon "has tremendous size, tremendous skill, tremendous athleticism," Boyle said. "When you've got two big guys in your state and they're skilled, you've got to get them. Those guys were must-gets for us. We can't let get guys slip out of this state."

The bouncy Johnson, ranked the nation's 17th-best small forward by Rivals.com, also received offers from the likes of UCLA, Southern California, Arizona State and LSU.

Video highlights of Johnson showed to a crowd of CU officials and boosters Wednesday featured a variety of reverse dunks and finger rolls. "He does things you can't coach," Boyle said.

The signing of Talton came as a surprise to some on Wednesday. Boyle said he had planned all along to sign the Sterling standout but asked Talton to remain mum about his recruiting situation so it would not affect Boyle's pursuit of other players. That included 6-4 point guard Tyrone Wallace of Bakersfield, Calif., who picked California over the Buffs on Monday.

"We would have signed six," Boyle said.

CU women sign three. Boyle wasn't the only Buffs coach to add a pair of top-100 prospects. Buffs women's coach Linda Lappe landed 6-foot-1 Lauren Huggins of Heritage

and 6-2 Jamee Swan of Marana (Ariz.) High School near Tucson. Swan is ranked the nation's 38th best player by ESPN. Huggins is No. 63.

"Jamee gives us a post presence in this class," Lappe said. "She's very athletic, has a lot of passion, a lot of fire."

Lappe, who previously coached at Metro State, said she first saw Huggins play as a seventh-grader. "Lauren is one of the best shooters our staff saw all summer," the coach said.

CU also signed 5-7 point guard Kyleesha Weston of Kansas City, Mo.

Footnote. Boyle said 6-7 freshman forward Damiene Cain is back as a member of the team but will not play in Friday's season opener against Fort Lewis or in an upcoming tournament in Puerto Rico. Cain, regarded as a national top-150 prospect out of Harvard Westlake High School in North Hollywood, Calif., announced on Sept. 11 that he had quit basketball to concentrate on academics. Cain asked to return to the team late last month.

Tom Kensler: 303-954-1280 or tkensler@denverpost.com

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CU men's basketball signings

Wesley Gordon, 6-8, forward, Colorado Springs Sierra HS

Averaged almost 21 points as a junior last season after helping Sierra defeat Pueblo East in the Coors Events Center for the 4A state title. Rated the nation's 23rd-best power forward prospect by Scout.com.

Chris Jenkins, 6-7, forward, University of Detroit Jesuit HS

Averaged 17 points and almost eight rebounds per game last season as a junior and is known for his versatility. Shot 40 percent from 3-point range as a junior and 81 percent from the foul line.

Xavier Johnson, 6-6 forward, Mater Dei HS, Santa Ana, Calif.

National four-star, top-100 prospect, ranked No. 83 by Rivals.com and No. 86 by ESPN. Leaper who can fill a highlight reel with an assortment of reverse dunks and finger rolls.

Josh Scott, 6-9, power forward, Lewis-Palmer HS

National, four-star blue-chipper ranked No. 46 nationally for all positions by ESPN.com and is No. 65 on Rivals.com's list. Averaged 24 points and 10 rebounds last season as a junior then jumped up national rankings with a tremendous summer.

Xavier Talton, 6-1 point guard, Sterling HS

Named Class 4A player of the year last spring as a junior after leading Sterling to 27 victories and the state championship. Averaged 21.3 points in Sterling's final three playoff games and was named tournament MVP.

Tom Kensler, The Denver Post

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Related news

CU women's basketball signings

Lauren Huggins, 6-foot-1 wing forward, Heritage HS

National top-100 player ranked No. 63 nationally by ESPN HoopGurlz, which also has her at No. 11 among small forwards. Rated the No. 1 senior girls basketball player in Colorado, Huggins averaged 12 points and almost eight rebounds as a junior.

Jamee Swan, 6-2 forward, Marana (Ariz.) High School

National top-100 blue-chipper, Swan is ranked No. 38 for all positions by ESPN's HoopGurlz. Ranked No. 8 among the nation's forward prospects by HoopGurlz, Swan averaged 19.6 points, 13.4 rebounds and 4.1 blocked shots as a junior.

Kyleesha Weston, 5-7 point guard, Park Hill HS, K.C., Mo.

Fills a need because last year's CU recruiting class did not have a point guard. As a junior, Weston averaged 15.4 points, 4.5 rebounds, 4.5 steals and 2.5 assists.

Tom Kensler, The Denver Post