May 20, 2004
Coach Bill Self has to be one happy camper in Lawrence, Kansas. Recently, I said that Kentucky and Texas had the best recruiting classes in America. Now Kansas must be added to that list.

	Bill Self

Yes, it has been an interesting offseason for the Jayhawks, with the departure of associate head coach Norm Roberts to St. John's (he was a good choice for the job) and freshman center David Padgett's decision to transfer.

The Jayhawks received plenty of good news on the recruiting front this week. Self added 6-11 CJ Giles from the Seattle area. Giles originally planned to attend Miami but shifted gears after Perry Clark was fired as head coach. The Hurricanes' loss is the Jayhawks' big-time gain!

Then came word that 6-7 Alex Galindo, from St. Benedict's Prep in New Jersey, decided on Kansas over Pittsburgh and some other schools. At St. Benedict's, Galindo has been a teammate of J.R. Smith, who is skipping college and attempting the jump from high school to the NBA.

Giles and Galindo join a Kansas recruiting class that includes 6-1 guard Russell Robinson of New York City, 6-11 Alexander "Sasha" Kaun and 6-8 Darnell Jackson. Also, 6-8 junior Micah Downs from the Washington state region has given Kansas a nonbinding verbal commitment.

When you think about the talent Self has returning -- with Wayne Simien up front along with guards Keith Langford, Aaron Miles and J.R. Giddens -- watch out in Big 12 country. It's going to be a great season for the "Rock, Chalk, Jayhawk" crew, baby!

Dick Vitale coached the Detroit Pistons and the University of Detroit in the 1970s before broadcasting ESPN's first college basketball game in 1979 (he has been an ESPN analyst ever since). Send a question for Vitale for possible use on ESPNEWS.