Aaron Brooks didn't see it, nor would he have wanted to witness the displays in airports from Magarita Island to the capital of Venezuela in Caracas, and back to Miami International Airport. But it showed the lengths to which at least one Pac-10 coach was willing to take in making sure the Seattle-prep point guard knew he was coveted in Southern California.

What Brooks missed was the commitment shown by UCLA coach Steve Lavin. What he didn't see, thankfully, was Lavin earning his stripes as a recruiter, getting violently ill on his return from Venezuela after watching Brooks play for the USA Men's Junior World Championship Qualifying team.

	“	No one had napkins in the Caracas airport, but some nice business guy opened up his brief case and gave me some paper to wipe off my face. I just kept diving out of the lines and hitting the garbage cans. ”
		— Steve Lavin, UCLA head coach

Before we get into the gory details of Lavin's return from South America, it should be clear Brooks isn't just any rising senior. He averaged 18.7 points, 4.5 rebounds, 7.5 assists and 2.7 steals a game last season at Franklin High School. Playing on a USA team with incoming freshmen points like Dee Brown, Deron Williams and Daniel Horton, it was clear Brooks will be an impact player in 2003-04.

That's why Lavin wasn't the only college coach to make the trek to South America last week. Instead of going to the Las Vegas Big Time Tournament, or the Nike Super Showcase or AAU Nationals in Orlando, Fla., last week, Washington coach Lorenzo Romar and North Carolina's Matt Doherty also made the trip to Caracas. UNC assistant Doug Wojcik and Arizona assistant Rodney Tention were also there, each also focusing on Brooks' teammate center David Padgett of Reno, Nev.

The men were hard to miss in the cozy, but boisterous gyms. And, the good news was Lavin got a full evaluation of the Franklin High guard, who also has Oregon and Washington more than a little interested in his services. What Lavin didn't envision, however, was his health taking a sudden turn for the worse on his return trip to the states.

"The last day, I woke up that morning and was just sick," said a drained but recuperating Lavin from his Southern California home. "It must have been something I ate or an ice cube or something.

"If I were in the U.S., I would have stayed in a hotel or just gone to a hospital. I knew I could make it if the connecting flights were OK."

Lavin's stomach had other ideas.

Able to go no more than about two hours between getting ill, Lavin was searching for a trash can or a men's room in the two airports and on board the plane en route to Miami. Apparently, the American Airlines reps kept an eye on Lavin as did two NBA scouts from the Wizards and Heat who were also traveling back to Miami.

"No one had napkins in the Caracas airport but some nice business guy opened up his brief case and gave me some paper to wipe off my face," said Lavin as he painted a not so pretty picture. "I just kept diving out of the lines and hitting the garbage cans."

Oh, to make matters worse, Lavin's cell phone was stolen out of his bag when nature forced him to duck out of yet another check-in line.

When the plane finally landed in Miami, Lavin was spent and didn't even consider trying to make his next connection across the U.S. to Los Angeles. In fact, he was taken by ambulance, and on a stretcher, to a Miami hospital where he spent Monday night getting fluids pumped into his system through an IV.

Lavin was suffering from a fever when he was admitted to the hospital, but his body finally calmed down by 6 a.m. Tuesday when he was released. His scouting colleagues made a return trip to escort him from the hospital to the airport. Lavin finally arrived safely in Los Angeles on Tuesday afternoon.

	Lavin was willing to travel to South American to watch Aaron Brooks play for Team USA.

"But I saw every game," said Lavin, who has also scouted Brooks, like the other coaches, in Seattle and in Miami prior to going to Venezuela.

Lavin can't comment on Brooks or any recruits. Neither can any other coach under NCAA rules. But they can discuss the uniqueness of following players to another continent, especially when they're American and everyone else in their business is hoping around the U.S. to the Nike and adidas-sponsored events.

"It's very rare," said Tention, who also saw Arizona incoming freshman Andre Iguodala play for the U.S. squad. "We had identified priority recruits and made sure we had to see them. I went to Miami and Venezuela, but I wasn't there to do any sightseeing. I just stayed in my room until game time. I didn't drink any water, just 7-Up or a Coke. The second day I didn't even eat.

"I didn't get sick like 'Lav'. But I've been there before (sick) when I did a clinic in Mexico City."

The consensus among the coaches was that Oregon's Ernie Kent, the head coach of the U.S. national team, didn't necessarily have an unfair advantage. Coaching a prospective recruit, and Oregon is recruiting Brooks and Padgett, can work both ways if the player doesn't like playing for the coach during a three-week stint in the summer. But it is a rare loophole in the NCAA's recruiting system that a Division I college coach gets a chance to have direct one-to-one contact with a prospective recruit for three weeks.

"If these (coaches) are doing their homework and their job then they would go (to Venezuela)," Kent said. "I would have disappointed, or should I say surprised, if they didn't go, knowing I was coaching the team."

Romar said heading to South America, or Europe like he did three years ago to follow a U.S. team, isn't unique when a coach is determined to recruit eligible players. Whether or not going to places like Magarita Island ends up being a clincher when it comes to a player's decision on schools won't be known until November during the early-signing period.

"This isn't going to determine whether or not you get the kid," Romar said. "But you have to make a decision (to go on a trip like this) and it shows someone that they are important to you."

Consider yourself very important, Mr. Brooks.

U.S. Juniors bronzed in Venezuela
The U.S. junior national team may have lacked the one player in Venezuela who could have taken them to the gold -- LeBron James. But James chose not to participate in the trials and neither did players like Villanova incoming freshman Jason Fraser.

Instead, the U.S. lost for the first time in the Men's Junior World Championship Qualifying Tournament, falling to the host Venezuelans 67-65 in the semifinals before beating Argentina 71-65 for the bronze.

	Dee Brown showed the leadership skills Illinois needs at the point.

"It was a successful trip and a big part of qualifying is to get ready for the World Championships and understand what type of team we needed to put together next year," Kent said.

Kent, an assistant on last summer's gold medal winning team coached by Syracuse's Jim Boeheim, will coach the U.S. in the World Championships for Young Men in Malaysia next summer. But that team becomes a 20-under, rather than 18-and-under squad and gives Kent more leeway to pick Division I players.

"We need to be stronger and we're hoping throughout the year that our players get more physical because that's what we saw," Kent said. "There would be shoving and tackling and no call. We've got to get tougher and get guys like we had last year in Reggie Evans, Carlos Boozer and Nick Collison.

"The other thing is shooting the basketball," Kent said. "The game we lost, we were 3 for 19 on 3s and every one of them was point blank. Teams that we'll play like Argentina will all add players and come back bigger and stronger."

So how did the players do on this trip?

Here's a breakdown:

Mohammed Abukar F, 6-9, 2003, Rancho Bernardo, Calif., (Georgia), 3 ppg, 42.9 FG: Abukar played in only two of the five games but was came out of the tourney with a rep as being a good shooter. He needs to add strength and pick up his intensity before he hits Athens in the fall of '03.

Carmelo Anthony F, 6-8, 2002, Oak Hill Academy, Va., (Syracuse), 15.6 ppg, 6.2 rpg: When he was on his game, he's very good. Should be an impact player for Syracuse, but needs to understand that he can compliment his players, too. He doesn't have to do everything.

Chris Bosh, 6-11, F, 2002, Lincoln HS, Dallas, Texas, (Georgia Tech), 10.2 ppg, 9.2 rpg: He left the tourney with a rep as a scorer around the block and from 17-feet in. He's a better shooter than people think for a guy his size. He's expected to have a major impact with the Yellow Jackets, and will need to now that Clarence Moore has quit the team.

Aaron Brooks 6-0, G, 2003, Franklin HS, Seattle, Wash., 8.8 ppg, 50 3-PT: Outstanding lead-guard skills, although he had 10 assists and 14 turnovers in five games. Left the experience with USA Basketball as a much better shooter than billed, but needs to be more vocal at the point.

Dee Brown 6-0, G, 2002, Proviso East HS, Maywood, Ill. (Illinois), 8.2 ppg, 35.7 3-PT: Was a savvy point and an outstanding leader. Was vocal, more so than Brooks. Should come in and be contributor at Illinois because of his confidence at the position.

Daniel Horton 6-3, G, 2002, Cedar Hill, Texas (Michigan), 8 ppg, 35 3-PT: The book on him out of the tourney was -- he needs to work on his shooting. Quickness and consistency were also issues. Not sure if he'll be an impact player as a freshman at Michigan, just yet.

Kris Humphries F, 6-8, 2003, Hopkins, Minn. (Duke), 9 ppg, 5 rpg: Humphries needs to bulk up his body and continue to work on his perimeter skills if he wants to be a shooting forward at Duke. But he ended up third on the team in scoring, not bad for one of the younger players on the team.

Andre Iguodala F, 6-6, 2002, Lanphier HS, Springfield, Ill. (Arizona), 3.8 ppg, 4 rpg: A big-time athlete who is being promoted as Richard Jefferson in training. He's a defender who needs to improve his offensive skills. He can finish on the break without a hitch, though.

Brian Johnson F, 6-9, 2004, Bishop O'Connell HS, Va., 1.8 ppg, 2.2 rpg: He was the youngest player, 15, to ever play for junior national team. As such, he was one of the lesser-known players on the team. But he is still billed as a big-time prospect who will land with a high-major program. He needs to get stronger and continue to work on his offensive game as a big man.

David Padgett C, 6-11, 2003, Reno, Nev., 5.8 ppg, 4.8 rpg: His biggest issue was strength after having a knee operation. He needs to strengthen his trunk, or lower body. But he should end up as a big-time college player -- someone North Carolina and Arizona are desperately pursuing.

Deron Williams G, 6-3, 2002, The Colony HS, Texas, (Illinois), 5 ppg, 47.1 FG: A point guard like Dee Brown, which could cause problems for Illinois coach Bill Self. Williams needs to become a better shooter and continue his conditioning. But he should be a contributor for the Illini next season.

Antione Wright F, 6-7, 2002, Lawrence Academy, Ma. (Texas A&M), 6.8 ppg, 4.4 rpg: A big-time athlete who was a good defender with a decent shot. But he has to continue to work on his perimeter game (3 of 15 on 3s) if he's going to be a major impact player for the Aggies.

Bosh might have ended up having the best summer of all of these players, also getting a tour in during the Global Games in Dallas against some European pros. He was already expected to be a major contributor for the Yellow Jackets as they climb up in the ACC. Now with the surprising exit of junior forward Moore, the minutes are certainly there for Bosh to put up numbers down in the post.

"When I saw him in Miami before Venezuela, I told him he'll need to shut it down in August to get some rest," Georgia Tech coach Paul Hewitt said. "Being a part of this team and the Global Games gave him some intense situations for the ACC season.

"People don't have an appreciation for playing over there where the fans are revved up against the U.S. It's hostile and the experience will help him."

The alternative for Bosh would have been to stay in Atlanta for the summer session and workout with fellow newcomers Jarrett Jack and Theodis Tarver.

"Learning the campus and taking some prep classes would have helped. And after talking to Chris, I think he missed that but he'll get up to speed," Hewitt said. "But being on that team will help Chris."

Wooden Worthy -- also
Every time you do a top 50 list, someone or some team gets left off for various reasons. A few players got cut for my Preseason Wooden 50 last week for whatever reason (blank moment), but deserved just as much consideration as the 50 I went with last week:

Emeka Okafor, Connecticut: Okafor will be one of the top centers going into practice in October when the season really begins. He's the best shot-blocker returning in college and continues to develop his offensive post moves to become more of a complete player.
Ben Gordon, Connecticut: Gordon should be one of the better wings in the Big East. He played on a summer touring team to Italy and Turkey and tried to play the point, but he's really a scoring guard. He should average in the mid to upper teens for the Huskies.
Travis Watson, Virginia: The senior forward will be expected to carry a monster load for the Cavs in their attempt to get back to the NCAAs after a disastrous collapse that landed them in the NIT. He should be up to the task.
Antonio Gates, Kent State: New coach Jim Christian is raving about Gates' improved play this summer. He should replace Trevor Huffman as the go-to player on the Golden Flashes and is a MAC player of the year candidate.
Andre Emmett, Texas Tech: Bob Knight is billing Emmett as one of his best players -- ever. And Emmett has the potential to be a star for the Red Raiders. His role will increase with the departure of Andy Ellis.
Dahntay Jones, Duke: Jones is one of the better on-the-ball defenders for a big guard/small forward/power forward. He's a player who can play a myriad of positions -- except the point -- and should be a co-leader with Chris Duhon.
James Thomas, Texas: He has to be one of the most physical forwards in the game and should be a recipient of many fast-break passes from T.J. Ford. Thomas replaced Chris Owens admirably last season, but now the pressure is on Thomas to be the man on the boards from the outset of the season.

Bellars welcomes VMI Foreign Legion
VMI coach Bart Bellars wants to clarify one thing about the signing of Lithuanian Tedas Mankevicius -- not everyone at VMI goes into the U.S. Military. While Mankevicius is the first foreign basketball player on VMI, he's not the first foreigner at the school.

"Only 20 percent of the kid here go on to the military," Bellars said. "It's not like the Army or Navy. This is a leadership institution. We've had a lot of students from Korea, too."

Bellars said Mankevicius is already on campus for summer school and enjoying the atmosphere. Recruiting overseas is now going to be part of Bellars' norm. He went to Europe in the spring for his first recruiting trip and plans on including Poland on his next tour, along with Lithuania again.

"If I could get 10 kids from Lexington, Va., then that would be fine, too," said Bellars. "But the administration is supportive of recruiting overseas."

Meanwhile, rising sophomore Jason Conley, who averaged 29.3 points a game last season, is recovering from a broken right foot. Bellars said Conley, who is now a sergeant in the corp, should be ready for practice in October.

"In two years, he'll be a first round pick as a 6-5, 6-6 off guard," Bellars said. "The bigger the game, the better he played."

Conley scored 24 against Kentucky, 38 against Villanova.

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