ESPN Recruiting

Kansas head coach Bill Self has confirmed that freshman center/forward David Padgett of Reno, Nev., has become the third Jayhawk player to transfer since the season ended. Padgett, who played in 31 games last season and started 19, averaged 6.5 points and 4.5 rebounds. Kansas recently granted releases to freshman guard Omar Wilkes of Los Angeles-Loyola, Cal., who is the son of Jamaal Wilkes, the former UCLA and Lakers standout; and sophomore forward/center Moulaye Niang of El Cajon-Christian, Cal., who is considering San Diego State and TCU.

Class 2004 guard Je'Kel Foster of Natchez, Miss/Chipola CC, Fla., is expected to chose Ohio State. He averaged 16.8 points this season.

Sophomore forward Stan Gaines of Chicago-St. Mel, Ill; and redshirt freshman center Aliou Kane of Africa/Dallas-Blue Ridge, Tex., are transfering from Minnesota. The Gophers recently gained Class 2004 forward J'Son Stamper of Bronx, NY/Independence CC, Kan.

Houston and coach Tom Penders have signed two players from Midland CC, Tex., including guard Brian Latham of Memphis-East, Tenn., and forward Englebert Cherrington of Belize.

Ohio signed guard Mychal Green of Columbus-Northland, Ohio/Ohlone CC, Cal., who averaged 22.2 points this past season.

Providence signed guard Robert McKiver of New Haven-Hillhouse, Conn/Winchendon School, Mass.

Alabama-Birmingham signed forward Frank Holmes of Somerville/Fayette-Ware, Tenn.

San Diego State has signed 6-11 center Mohamed Camara of Louisville-Moore, Kty/Riverside CC, Cal., who was once pledged to St. John's.

Air Force has forward/center Jon Black of Phoenix-Greenway, Ariz.

Illinois-Chicago added forward Luther Boyd of Chicago Heights-Bloom, Ill/Iowa Western CC, Ia., who decommitted from Lamar.

UMKC has forward Chris Temple of Raleigh-Millbrook, NC/SW Missouri State/Iowa Western CC, Iowa.

George Mason gained guard Jordan Carter of Indianapolis-Brebeuf, Ind., who averaged 15.5 points this season.

Denver signed Class 2004 guard Steve Wetrich of Ottumwa, Iowa.

Middle Tennessee State has Class 2004 forward Tim Blue of Palm Beach-Palm Beach Gardens, Fla/Indian River CC, Fla.

*Check Class 2004 lists for Prospects/Commitments/Signings/Schools and Conferences. Ninety-three prospects on the early Class 2004 Top 100 have made Commitmen ts or Signed. List of remaining Top 100 Prospects.

2004 NBA Draft
*(May 10-Early Entry Deadline; June 17-Early Entry Withdrawal Deadline; June 24-NBA Draft)
Entries
C/F Dwight Howard 6-10 Atlanta-SW Atlanta Christian, Ga (Uncommitted). The top prep prospect for NBA with the body, skills and upside that general managers love to draft. Predicted Draft: First or second pick in first round (Howard or forward Emeka Okafor of Conn).

C Jackie Butler 6-11 Virginia Beach-Coastal Christian, Va. (Signed with Tennessee). Signed with agent for NBA Draft and will not attend college. Projected Draft: Second round, if selected.
F Ivan Chiriaev 7-1 Oakville, Ontario-St. Thomas Aquinas (Pledged to Iowa State). From Russia and has been playing for two years in Canada. Very good ball-handler with outside shot who played guard as a prep. Projected Draft: Top 10 to 15 in first round.
Will Not Enter Draft
F/C LaMarcus Aldridge 6-11 Seagoville, Tex., has signed with Texas. He was expected to be a possible late first round to second round selection.
Possible Entries (second round selections do not receive guaranteed contracts)

F Josh Smith 6-8 Mouth of Wilson-Oak Hill Academy, Va (Signed with Indiana). Exceptional talent and future. Still claims to not made a decision on the NBA, but has played in three all-star games and lost his freshman year of college eligibility. Predicted Draft: Top five to ten in first round.
G Shaun Livingston 6-7 Peoria-Central, Ill (Signed with Duke). Expected to play for the Blue Devils, but may surprise by entering the draft. Great floor general with decision-making skills, but has very thin fame. Projected Draft: Top four to 10 in first round.
G Sebastian Telfair 6-0 Brooklyn-Abraham Lincoln, NY (Signed with Louisville). Is the East Coast hype bigger than the small player? No high school point guard has ever declared for the NBA draft, but Telfair may be the first. Many scouts say one or two years in college would help. Must improve outside shot. Projected Draft: Top 10 to 15 in first round.
F Al Jefferson 6-10 Prentiss, Miss (Signed with Arkansas). A dominator with a power game who probably needs a year at Arkansas to develop moves and get into the lottery for big money. Projected Draft: Late first round to second round.
C Randolph Morris 6-11 Fairburn-Landmark Christian School, Ga (Uncommitted). Has the size and power that could translate into the pro game but would be a project at this point. Georgia Tech or Kentucky are his college favorites. Very intelligent. Should wait. Draft: Late first to second round.
F Juan Palacios 6-8 Centereach-Our Savior New American, NY (Uncommitted). Great talent and size, but needs a year of college. Should wait. Draft Range: Late first to second round.
F Shawne Williams 6-8 Laurinburg Prep, NC (Signed with Memphis). Needs to play at least a year in college. Should wait. Projected Draft: Late first to second round.
C Robert Swift 7-0 Bakersfield, Cal (Signed with Southern California). Great upside with his size and footwork, but needs weight to handle the NBA. Should wait. Projected Draft: Late first to second round.
F Rudy Gay 6-8 Severn-Archbishop Spalding, Md (Signed with Connecticut). Should wait. Projected Draft: second round.
G Daniel Gibson 6-2 Houston-Jones, Tex (Signed with Texas). Should wait. Projected Draft: second round.
G/F J.R. Smith 6-6 Newark-St. Benedict's Prep School, NJ (Signed with North Carolina). Should wait. Projected Draft: Late first to second round.
F Marvin Williams 6-8 Bremerton, Wash (Signed with North Carolina). Should wait. Projected Draft: Late first to second round.
F Dorrell Wright 6-7 South Kent Prep, Conn (Signed with DePaul). Should wait. Projected Draft: second round.

2004 Capital Classic
*Apr. 17 at the University of Maryland Comcast Center, 7:30 p.m. EST. ESPN2.
White Team
Pos. Name Hgt Hometown High School College
G Rajon Rondo 6-1 155 Mouth of Wilson-Oak Hill Academy, Va (Kentucky)
G A.J. Price 6-2 Amityville, NY (Connecticut)
G Sebastian Telfair 6-0 160 Brooklyn-Abraham Lincoln, NY (Louisville)

G Jason Rich 6-2 Orlando-Dr. Phillips, Fla (FSU)
G Joe Crawford 6-4 205 Detroit-Renaissance, Mich (Kentucky)
F Rudy Gay 6-8 215 Severn-Archbishop Spalding, Md (Connecticut)
F Josh Smith 6-9 215 Mouth of Wilson-Oak Hill Academy, Va (Indiana)
F Corey Brewer 6-7 180 Portland, Tenn (Florida)
C LaMarcus Aldridge 6-11 215 Seagoville, Tex (Texas)

C Alexander Kaun 6-10 Melbourne-Florida Air Academy, Fla (Kansas)
C Al Jefferson 6-10 265 Prentiss, Miss (Arkansas)
Black Team
G Jordan Farmar 6-2 170 Woodland Hills-Taft, Cal (UCLA)

G Russell Robinson 6-1 New York-Rice, NY (Kansas)
G Daniel Gibson 6-2 190 Houston-Jones, Tex (Texas)

G Isaiah Swann 6-1 Hargrave Military Academy, Va (FSU)
F Malik Hairson 6-5 190 Detroit-Renaissance, Mich (Undecided)

F Robert Vaden 6-5 North Bridgton-Bridgton Academy, Maine (Indiana)
F D.J. White 6-9 230 Tuscaloosa-Hillcrest, Ala (Indiana)
F RaSean Dickey 6-9 Bennettsville-Marlboro County, SC (GT)
C Brian Johnson 6-8 Oak Hill Academy, Va (Louisville)
C Dwight Howard 6-10 225 Atlanta-SW Atlanta Christian, Ga (Undecided)

2004 McDonald's All American Game
J.R. Smith and Dwight Howard helped the East rout the West, 126-96, at the 27th McDonald's All American Basketball Boys Game in Oklahoma City, Okla. The John Wooden Award which is given to the most valuable player of the game was given to co-winners Smith and Howard. Smith led all scorers with 25 points, while Howard contributed 19 points, 10 rebounds and two blocked shots. Story, Rosters.

McDonald's Games/All-Star Games/NBA Drafts
Search for Stories/games/rosters.

2004 Nike Hoop Summit
The 2004 USA Basketball Men's Junior National Select team defeated World Select, 99-79, in the Hoops Summit game in San Antonio. Josh Smith led all scorers with 27 points, J.R. Smith added 17, while Rudy Gay and Al Jefferson had 14 and 13. Sebastian Telfair scored six. Luka Bogdanovic led the World team with 20 points. Churchill Odia and Juan Diego Palacios each scored 10. Stories/games/rosters.

Class 2004 Basketball Database
*Search lists of Prospects/Commitments/Signings/Schools and Conferences
*Early list of Top 100 Prospects/Commitments/Signings/ Remaining Top 100 Prospects.
*More players projected to make an impact: Super Prospects.
*Top JC Prospects: Junior College List.
*Basketball Signing Periods: Early (Nov. 12-19) and Regular (Apr. 14-May 19).

*Indiana, Texas and Louisville lead the early 2004 Top Classes.

Class 2005 Basketball Database
*Search early lists of Prospects/Commitments

Basketball Commitments/Signings:
Class 2005: Database
Class 2004: Database/Top 100/Top Classes.
Class 2003: Database/Top 100/Top Classes.
Class 2002: Database/Top 100/Top Classes
Class 2001: Database/Top 100/Top Classes
Class 2000: Database/Top 100/Top Classes
Class 1999: Database
Class 1998: Database/ Top Classes

Bill Hodge is the executive editor and director of recruiting coverage at CollegeSports.com. For daily columns on prospects, commitments and signings, plus databases, go to CollegeSports.com's Recruiting Page.