Fittingly standing in the City Hall Atrium in Trenton, Abdul Smith announced Wednesday he was joining what is already the greatest recruiting class in the history of New Jersey's state university. 

Smith, a Trenton resident and two-way standout at the Perkiomen School in Pennsburg, Pa., told about two dozen friends, teammates and reporters that he was "staying home" to become the 19th member of Rutgers' class of 2009 -- a class rated the third best in the country by ESPN.com. 

Smith, who received 23 scholarship offers, had narrowed his choices to Rutgers, Penn State, Pittsburgh, Maryland and Boston College. Just before making the announcement, he reached into a bag and pulled out a scarlet Rutgers hat, drawing a loud round of applause. 

Rated a three-star recruit by Rivals.com, Smith is the ninth player from New Jersey to verbally commit to Rutgers, and the first from Mercer County.