HEADLINE STORY:
Three of the nation's top remaining uncommitted basketball recruits, center David Padgett, forward Gary Forbes and guard Omar Wilkes all have made their college decisions in the past 24 hours.
Wilkes, a 6-2, 170 pound shooting guard and the son of former UCLA and LA Laker star Jamaal Wilkes, announced his decision at 3:00 pm this afternoon at a press conference at his Los Angeles (Calif.) Loyola High.
"I have committed to the Kansas Jayhawks," Wilkes revealed just moments ago. "Kansas was just the best fit, it felt the best out of all my visits - it came down to a gut feeling, and my gut told me that Kansas was the best place for me."
Wilkes said he had been sitting on this decision for awhile, but UCLA and Cal both came on strong late. As to questions on whether or not he was a package deal to KU with center David Padgett, Wilkes said no, but he had spoken with Padgett last night and is excited to get a chance to play at Kansas with Padgett, who committed to the Jayhawks earlier in the day.
Student Sports' No. 73 ranked prospect in the nation, Wilkes averaged 22 points per game as a junior.
* As mentioned earlier, center David Padgett of Reno (Nev.), Student Sports' No. 23 prospect in the Class of 2003, has committed to Kansas over Arizona and North Carolina. The 6-11, 235 pounder averaged 23 points, 14 rebounds and eight blocks as a junior.
* Another Student Sports Hot 100 selection, No. 26 ranked prospect Gary Forbes , a 6-6, 190 pound forward/guard from Brooklyn (N.Y.) Bannaker Academy, picked Virginia over Georgia Tech. Forbes, who averaged 25 points and 11 boards per game as a junior, also considered UConn, Cincinnati and Mississippi State, among others.
Other Basketball Commitments:
* Iowa State has a pledge from 6-2, 205 pound guard Curtis Stinson of Bronx (N.Y.) Regional, and also Winchendon School, (Mass.), over offers from Drexel and Northeastern.
* St. Bonaventure of the Atlantic-10 Conference, received a commitment from 6-5, 205 pound swingman Dan Cage of Indianapolis (Ind.) Bishop Chatard, over Furman, UNC-Wilmington and Wright State.
* 6-2 guard John Ziri of Tempe (Ariz.) Marcos de Niza, has chosen Loyola Marymount over Furman, Southern Utah, Northern Arizona, UNC-Wilmington, and Montana.
Football Commitments:
* Student Sports Hot 100 prospect Will Paul of Ballwin (Mo.) Parkway West, committed to the Michigan Wolverines last night. The 6-3, 250 pound tight end/defensive lineman chose the Wolverines over offers from UCLA, Oregon, Nebraska, LSU, Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan State, Clemson and Georgia Tech to name a few.
Paul, who ran a 4.60 in the 40 and benched 16 reps at the Nike Camp in Michigan, narrowed his list down to Michigan, Wisconsin and Illinois before making his decision.
"It was a lot of things both athletically and academically," Will's father, Dave Paul, told Student Sports. "They (UM) have a great football program and Will really liked the coaches and felt comfortable there."
* The Auburn Tigers received a commitment from 6-4, 220 pound defensive end Viciente DeLoach of Columbus (Miss.). DeLoach chose the Tigers over offers from Florida, Mississippi State and Vanderbilt.
* 6-2, 255 pound defensive lineman Alex Wilcox of West Des Moines (Iowa) Valley has committed to Iowa over an offer from Northern Iowa.