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Class 2005 Top 100 guard Mario Chalmers of Anchorage-Bartlett, Alaska, has picked the Kansas Jayhawks and coach Bill Self over Arizona.

Considered the nation's top junior point guard, Chalmers averaged 23 points to lead Bartlett to a 23-4 record and second place in the state tournament. He joins Class 2005 Top 100 forward Micah Downs of Bothell, Wash., who recently picked the Jayhawks over Duke and Gonzaga.

Kansas had already gained a tremendous 2004 class with five Top 100 prospects in center Chester (CJ) Giles of Seattle-Rainier Beach, Wash; forward Alex Galindo of Puerto Rico/Newark-St. Benedict's Prep, NJ; center Alexander Kaun of Melbourne-Florida Air Academy, Fla; guard Russell Robinson of New York-Rice, NY; and forward Darnell Jackson of Oklahoma City-Midwest City, Okla.

Sophomore forward Stan Gaines of Chicago Providence-St. Mel, Ill., a transfer from Minnesota, is headed to Seton Hall. The Pirates recently gained forward/center Marcus Cousin of Randallstown, Md., over Nebraska.

Manhattan has guard/forward C.J. Anderson of Cincinnati-Winton Woods, Ohio/Laurinburg Institute, NC., over late interest from Virginia Tech, Georgetown and Mississippi, among others.

Maine has signed center/forward Christian Cavanaugh of Mill Valley-Tamalpais, Cal.

Colorado State signed guard Andrew Patterson of Amarillo, Tex/Phillips CC, Tex/Lon Morris CC, Tex.

Wisconsin-Green Bay has a pledge from Class 2005 forward Cordero Barkley of Racine-St. Catherine, Wis., over Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

Idaho added guard Jason Bowden-Key of Chicago-Prosser, Ill.

Youngstown State signed guard Domonique Crawford of River Rouge, Mich/Mott CC, Mich.

Virginia Commonwealth added forward Sam Faulk of Fayetteville-E.E. Smith, NC.

Sam Houston State signed guard Jeremy Thomas of Victoria-Memorial, Tex.

Texas State has signed guard Rory Green of Memphis, Tenn/Arkansas-Little Rock/Northwest Mississippi CC, Miss.

Louisiana Tech signed guard Clarke Hale of Azle, Tex., who averaged 27.3 points as a senior.

Northern Arizona signed forward Kyle Landry of Calgary, Alberta, who averaged 31 points last season.

Campbell added forward Comerlee Poole of Chicago-Richton South, Ill/Olive-Harvey CC, Ill.

Gardner-Webb signed guard T.J. McCullough of Chipley, Fla/Okaloosa-Walton CC, Fla.

Radford has center Duane Ricks of Norfolk-Collegiate School, Va.

Southern Utah signed guard Curtis Lincoln of Portland-Jefferson, Ore/North Idaho CC, Id; and forward Nat Janes of Cedar City-Canyon View, Utah/Snow CC, Utah.

Top Available Transfers:
*Sophomore forward/guard Derrick Byars, transfer from Virginia.
*Freshman center/forward David Padgett, transfer from Kansas.
*Freshman guard Omar Wilkes, transfer from Kansas.
*Sophomore forward/center Bernard Cote, transfer from Kentucky.
*Starting sophomore guard Armondo Surratt, transfer from Miami-Florida.
*Guard De'Angelo Alexander, transfer from Oklahoma.
*Guard Elijah Ingram, transfer from St. John's.
*Starting junior center Gabe Lee, transfer from UMass.

*Check Class 2005 Top 100 Prospects/Commitments. More players projected to make an impact: Super Prospects. Search lists of all Class 2005 Prospects/Commitments/Signings/Schools and Conferences.

*Check Class 2004 Top 100 Prospects. More players projected to make an impact: Super Prospects. Search lists of all Class 2004 Prospects/Commitments/Signings/Schools and Conferences.

2004 NBA Draft
(May 10-Early Entry Deadline; June 17-Early Entry Withdrawal Deadline; June 24-NBA Draft; second round selections do not receive guaranteed contracts)
Official High School/Prep School Entries
C/F Dwight Howard 6-10 Atlanta-SW Atlanta Christian, Ga (Uncommitted). Agent. Draft: Top two first round.
G Shaun Livingston 6-7 Peoria-Central, Ill (Signed with Duke). Draft: Top three to five first round.
F Josh Smith 6-8 Mouth of Wilson-Oak Hill Academy, Va (Signed with Indiana). Agent Draft: Top 10 to 12 first round.
G/F J.R. Smith 6-6 Newark-St. Benedict's Prep School, NJ (Signed with NC). Agent. Draft: Middle first round.
G Sebastian Telfair 6-0 Brooklyn-Abraham Lincoln, NY (Signed with Louisville). Agent. Draft: Middle first round.
F/C LaMarcus Aldridge 6-11 Seagoville, Tex (Signed with Texas). Draft: Late first round.
F Al Jefferson 6-9 Prentiss, Miss (Signed with Arkansas). Draft: Late first round.
C Robert Swift 6-11 Bakersfield, Cal (Signed with USC). Draft: Middle to late first round.
F Dorell Wright 6-7 South Kent Prep, Conn (Signed with DePaul). Draft: Middle to late first round.
C Jackie Butler 6-11 Virginia Beach-Coastal Christian, Va. (Signed with Tenn). Agent. Draft: Second round, if selected.
C Robert Rothbart 7-1 Sacramento-Natomas, Cal (Signed with Indiana). Draft: Not expected to be drafted.
F/C Jermaine Bell 6-11 Notre Dame Prep, Mass. Draft: Not expected to be selected.
F Maurice Shaw 6-9 Bridgton Academy, Maine. Draft: Not expected to be drafted.
Official Junior College Entries
G/F Donta Smith 6-7 Southeastern Illinois CC, Ill (Signed with Louisville). Draft: Middle second round.
C Randy Orr 6-11 Georgia Perimeter CC, Ga. Draft: Not expected to be selected.
F Jason Parker 6-8 Kentucky (2000-01). Draft: Not expected to be selected.
G Kelvin Pena 6-3 Southeastern CC, Iowa. Draft: Not expected to be selected.
C/F Tremayne Singletary 6-10 Southwestern CC, Cal. Draft: Not expected to be selected.
C Sani Ibrahim 6-10 Gulf Coast CC, Fla. Draft: Not expected to be selected.

2003 NBA Draft
The most heralded high school player in years, forward LeBron James of Akron/St. Vincent-St. Mary, Ohio, was chosen No. 1 in the first round of the 2003 Draft by Cleveland. He averaged 20 points and was Rookie of the Year. The other three preps taken in the first round, all late picks, played a combined 86 minutes during the entire season: Forward Travis Outlaw of Starkville, Miss., 23rd pick by Portland; forward Ndudi Ebi of Houston-Westbury Christian, Tex., 26th pick by Minnesota; center Kendrick Perkins of Beaumont-Ozen, Tex., 27th pick by Memphis, then traded to Boston.

Class 2004 Basketball Database
*Search lists of Prospects/Commitments/Signings/Schools and Conferences
*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

*Check the lists of early Top 100 Prospects/Commitments.
* More players projected to make an impact: Super Prospects.

The 5/8 Rule
The NCAA Division I Board of Directors has voted to approve measures of academic reform that included a repeal of the controversial 5/8 rule limiting college basketball recruiting to no more than five recruits in a single class and no more than eight in any two-year period. With the rule rescinded, coaches can fill their 13-man rosters with the best eligible players who have yet to sign. NCAA Story

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.

2004 Jordan Capital Classic
Dwight Howard scored 18 points, 15 rebounds and six blocks to lead the Black team to a 107-96 victory over the White squad in the Jordan Capital Classic and was named the outstanding player. Malik Hairston led the Black team with 23 points, while Robert Vaden added 21. Dorell Wright led the White team with 24 points, while Al Jefferson added 17 points and 10 rebounds. Stories/games/rosters

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.