The nation’s top-ranked junior center – 6-foot-9, 230-pound Samardo Samuels from St. Benedict’s in Newark – committed to Rick Pitino and Louisville last night.

The Jamaican-born Samuels, the No. 1 center according to scout.com and the sixth overall prospect according to rivals.com, averaged 19 points and a dozen boards for a team that went 24-1 and spent a week atop the USA Today poll.

As expected, Pitino has cleaned up in the metropolitan area, and not just by swiping Samuels from early leader North Carolina. Louisville already has freshmen Earl Clark of Rahway and Derrick Caracter of Fanwood, and Edgar Sosa of Rice.

Also, 6-8 junior Devin Ebanks of St. Thomas More is expected to announce his decision between Rutgers, Indiana or Miami at Saturday’s Rumble in The Bronx.