It's never too early for the Answer Man to focus on the future. Andy Katz answers a few questions he receives from ESPN.com users each week.

Any updates on the possible transfers to Boston College like (Virginia's) J.C. Mathis?
James
New York City

The Eagles backed off of Mathis, but have Marquette transfer Odartey Blankson coming in this week and could lock him up if he's willing to commit. They feel he's more ready to contribute to their team in two seasons and would fit in their plans better than Mathis.

Your article on Memphis (June 15) was amusing. Woods, Stoudamire and Wagner somehow believe that they would have been an unstoppable force in college ball together. I grant you, they are good players and Memphis would have been a tough team to play with them all, but I would worry more about Arizona this coming season. It takes more than talent to win, and these guys would be new teammates and young players. The Fab Five, even after playing together for a couple years, couldn't quite get it done. That Duke team in 1998-99 (Which did have three lottery picks in 1999 draft.) came up short, too -- though they were awfully good.

What do you think? Would Memphis, with all three, really be considered the top team in the country next season? Would they even be a consensus pick for the Final Four?
Jeremy Mario
Chapel Hill, N.C.

I don't see how the three could have co-existed and I don't mean simply by position. All three could have physically played on the same team, but the egos would have been very hard for John Calipari to manage. And getting enough touches for each one of them would have been trouble. Getting the maximum defensive effort out of Stoudemire and Woods could have also been trouble, considering Calipari wasn't putting up with a weak effort on D. They would have been a top 15 preseason pick, just like last season but not a consensus Final Four selection.

Can you please explain the 5/8 (or is it temporarily 5/9) scholarship rule? Please include what year(s) it affects and when it will be reviewed. Thanks.
Neil Messing
Chicago

Neil, the rule stated that schools could recruit five players in a given recruiting class, no more than nine in two classes for the 2001 and '02 classes. The rule goes back to a five-eight setup for 2003 and '04.

Andy, why is there such a lack of coverage and enthusiasm for Oklahoma PF Aaron McGhee? Don't say because he is undersized, he has proved he can play with the best (putting up 30-plus point games). Jared Jeffries is getting all this hype and now Ryan Humphrey? Come on. Ask Jared how he liked having to guard Aaron in the Final Four.
Griffin Parker
Tulsa, Okla.

Griffin,
I'm not going to say he's undersized, but pro scouts do. McGhee was the MVP in Portsmouth and did well, but not outstanding, in Chicago. Scouts don't even compare him to Jeffries because of Jeffries' height advantage over McGhee and his perimeter skills, which do dwarf McGhee's. McGhee will be in the second round, Jeffries in the lottery. That's the reality. We'll see what happens in the NBA.

"But the assumption is that Gonzaga-Tulsa would likely be a matchup that would feature two potential NCAA Tournament teams and Gonzaga gives the event a marquee team."

In saying this, do you mean that Tulsa is not a "marquee" team? Why distinguish Gonzaga? Why not show the already scheduled TU-Gonzaga game, and then schedule TU and Gonzaga to separate games? Then ESPN could have three games of interest.

All of these questions stem from the idea that IF the TU-Gonzaga game is picked up for the Bracket Buster event, you wouldn't really be helping their RPI any more than both schools already have.

Maria
Paynesville

First off, we got another email about referring to Gonzaga as a "marquee" team and not using the same adjective for Tulsa, and the reason is very simple -- Gonzaga has been a more national team than Tulsa. Yes, Tulsa got to the Elite Eight in 2000 and has made its Sweet 16 appearances just like Gonzaga. But to the national media, Gonzaga's name has stuck more because of the Cinderella tag it got in its first Elite Eight run. Now, for your question, no decisions have been made on the Bracket Buster idea just yet. Because it's still developing, the thinking was that Tulsa-Gonzaga could be used as one of the games next season since it's already on the schedule. That would alleviate some scheduling concerns at this late date. But Gonzaga isn't thrilled with this and neither is Tulsa. Tulsa doesn't want to play the game in February. Both schools would be interested in keeping their game and then adding another Bracket Buster matchup to be televised by ESPN.

What's the deal w/Jason Capel in reference to his draft status and how good of a player do you think he can be in the NBA? Even though I thought I once heard you say that he was the Carolina equivalent of UConn's Albert Mourning. I know Ed Cota can play in the NBA, so why isn't Capel there?
Ausar
Montclair, N.J.

There is absolutely no buzz about Capel. He wasn't invited to Chicago after Portsmouth. That doesn't mean he won't go in the second round or get a summer camp invite. The Mourning comparison was in reference to a player who was thrust into a leadership, go-to rule when in reality he was better served to be a third or fourth option. Cota didn't get drafted and the size and lack of consistent perimeter shooting seemed to knock his stock down.

Why do you dismiss totally the possibility of Roger Mason Jr. being a first-round pick? Other publications have him in the first round. Also he has an "NBA" body at 6-5, can handle the ball and score inside and out. Not sure why you're so down on him.
Michael
New York

Michael,
I'm not dismissing Roger Mason Jr.'s ability, but rather his stock as a first-round pick. He has the tools to be in the first round and probably would have been had he not gotten hurt and missed Chicago. But he's out of sight, out of mind right now with the teams. He needed to get in front of some teams to feel more secure about his draft status.

Love your insight on ESPN and ESPN.com. I think you and Jay Bilas are the best around.

Now, riddle me this ...

What is it that keeps a player in the draft when he's not projected to be a lock for the first round, or even get drafted at all? (i.e. Marcus Taylor) Can you explain that to me? For the life of me I just don't understand sacrificing a future big payday by coming out when the consensus is that you aren't ready.
Chad Swindall
Chicago

Chad, I don't get it either.

Someone is telling Taylor that he will be a first-round pick. Someone. Not sure who. But Taylor doesn't really care. He thinks he's ready for the NBA and doesn't mind having to go through the second round. He is confident that he'll make a roster and then earn his money the hard way. If he's right then he'll get to his goal faster. But it's ironic that Taylor is leaving early, considering he was one of the rare elite players who wasn't involved in any of the summer league circus.

Andy, you have to be kidding me. People say that if Dunleavy goes, he'll be higher than Caron Butler! That is unbelievable! Caron has a stronger body, better rebounder, and in my opinion a better shooter. Andy, who do you think will be a higher pick (if Dunleavy goes).
Ryan Carbone
Bristol, Conn.

Ryan,
You're right on all counts. But Dunleavy is viewed as having a better "upside" because he's still growing and is a better 3-point shooter. The thinking is he's 6-10 and still filling out and NBA teams love to go bigger. Butler could end up as the better player but he will go lower in the draft.

Katz,
You are one of the only guys in college basketball who tells it like it is. That said, as an huge Georgetown Hoya basketball fan, I was struck by how you reported the news that Harvey Thomas is transfering to JUCO for one season. Come on, is there really any shot that he will return to Georgetown? What is really going on? Could he be waiting for a coaching change? Also, while I'm at it, how do you like the Hoyas chances this year? Sweetney is the real deal. Please don't dodge these tough questions. Thanks.
Patrick McGinley
London

I'm reporting what was being told to me by the parties involved -- the staff and Thomas' family. They say there was a difference of opinion and that the two sides needed a season apart. Georgetown has used Daytona CC before with Lee Scruggs, so it's not a reach to think they placed Thomas at the school. We'll just have to see if he returns in a season. He is a recruitable athlete and could transfer to any school in 2003. As for Georgetown, they should be a contender in the Big East West Division if Wesley Wilson can compliment Michael Sweetney and Drew Hall and Tony Bethel make perimeter shots. They will be able to drive-and-dish to create scoring opportunities for Sweetney and Wilson. But they can't ignore those two inside, which happened too often last season.

I am a Hawkeye fan that wants to know why Luke Recker and Reggie Evans have been getting absolutely zero press when it comes to the draft. I can understand why Luke might not be as highly touted, but Reggie? He has the "NBA" body. One might compare him to former all-star Dale Davis. What are your thoughts?
Russ Greene
Indianapolis

Evans does have an "NBA'' body, but he doesn't possess enough moves to keep everyone excited about his game. He's a tremendous rebounder and finisher -- but he's got to do more to impress. He'll be in the second round and could stick in the league, but his lack of offensive moves and the "too short'' to be a power forward label pushed him out of the first round.

What is your take on Ronald "Flip" Murray from Shaw University?
Terrence
Philadelphia

Murray helped himself in Chicago and could become a pure point in the NBA. But scouts were upset that he wasn't given enough minutes at the point during the pre-draft camp. They actually went down a few times to tell the coaches to put him at the point more often. Scouts love to find a hidden gem and Murray is this season's sleeper.

What's the word on Longhorn Chris Owens? No one has mentioned him for the draft and there has been no word from the NCAA on a sixth year of eligibility? If he's healthy, he definitely has the athleticism to play pro ball.
Alan
Champaign, Ill.

Still no word from the NCAA on whether or not he got the sixth season, but Owens has no plans on withdrawing from the NBA draft. He's got a good shot to go in the second round.

Hi,
I'm 12 years old and I have a few questions for you:
Why do you think the 76ers will pick Kareem Rush?
Have you heard anything about Clarence Gilbert?
Tom
Kansas City, Mo.

The Sixers do like Rush and will likely take him if he's still on the board at No. 16. Rush is in a middle group of players in the first round, on the border of the lottery. There has been no talk about Gilbert. That doesn't mean he won't get drafted, but his chances are slim.

What has happened to Josh Davis? He didn't attend the pre-draft camp? I saw that Uche's name was on the list, but I'm just wondering what is going on with Davis?
Jeff
Laramie, Wy.

Josh Davis dropped off the planet. No teams are talking about him. That doesn't mean he can't get into the second round, but Davis probably has to play his way to the pros through the NBDL. He hasn't done enough to distinguish himself outside of his decent play in the NCAA Tournament.

If you were Curtis Borchardt, what would you do? If he stays one more year then maybe Casey Jacobsen stays too, and together, they make Stanford a force in the Pac-10 with a good shot in the NCAAs. I also hear that he has a very pretty girlfriend who will be at Stanford for a few more years. He's also one year away from a Stanford degree that would help a lot in case something unspeakable happens and basketball doesn't work out. It seems to me like one of the most difficult questions that you could ask a person to make. What whould you do?
Otter
Stanford, Calif.

Otter, if I were Curtis I would stay in the draft. He has had two foot injuries and he's finally healthy. He's going in the top 15, possibly the lottery. That's enough to feel good about leaving. He can come back to finish his degree and he's engaged so he doesn't have to worry about leaving his personal affairs unfinished. I'd be surprised if his family and bride-to-be would vote against him staying in the draft. Players have to take advantage when they're a lock for the top 15.

Has the Bob Knight/Steve Alford meeting taken place yet in Lubbock as Alford promised last spring? What will Alford try and gain in this meeting?
Jason
Kansas City

Jason,
You must have missed the Daily Word item on this two weeks ago. The meeting will take place in August after Knight is through with his book tour and both coaches are done with the July recruiting period.

Andy: (hope you respond this this question, I'm still O-fer with getting a response)
A couple of questions: Who gave advice to Jamal Sampson to enter the draft and what is the likelihood of him returning to Cal? If he is truly gone and Winston was allowed to leave, who fills the big man role for Ben Braun? Speaking of Ben Braun, I don't think he has solid connection with his big men (note all the PFs and Cs who have left Cal during his coaching tenure. Plus, Cal big men never get enough touches).
Ray Deebejay
Pleasanton, Calif.

Ray,
Good to see you were persistent. Not sure who advised Sampson, but he's a borderline first-round pick. He's most likely at the top of the second round and only because he's big. The big man void is a question for the Bears. They are trying to land Israeli Yaniv Green to be a power forward, recruiting against UCLA and Connecticut for him this summer. Amit Tamir will have to get inside more often next season if the Bears want to be a factor in the Pac-10.

In the latest ESPN The Magazine, you claim that Bill Self is going to let Brian Cook play out on the perimeter more. Where are you getting this information? Brian has floated around the perimeter for three years now, all the while tantalizing Illini fans who want him to play inside more. Yes, Brian's got a nice outside shot, but shouldn't he be using his size and strength to dominate more on the inside? I don't see Coach Self pushing Brian to shoot more 3s, if anything, I see Self working Cook to pound inside and show the NBA scouts he isn't soft. Do you have real information that Cook is going to play out on the wing?
Ryan Christie
Washington D.C.

Sorry Ryan, but that's what the Illinois staff told me. He won't play inside more because they don't think the experiment worked. They see Brian Cook as a shooting forward with him causing more matchup problems by dragging defenders to the perimeter. But Cook has to get more physical on the defensive end where he'll have to be in the paint.

Hey, please answer this question. I read your bit on Boston College recruit Johnnie Jackson, and being a season-ticket holder of BC, I'm excited. I had heard things about him before, but not too much. Is this guy as good as you say he is? Would he take away some PT from Jermaine Watson? Also, where do you see BC next year in the Big East. I think the Big East East division is weak next year, but I think the Eagles can pull it out. Thanks.
Jon Pastuszek
Newton, Mass.

If Johnnie Jackson is as good as advertised then he will take away time, but it might not be from Watson. Jackson is more of a small forward, big guard. If anyone takes time away from Watson, it will likely be Louis Hinnant. The newcomer is more of a point guard and is being billed as one of the first players off the bench and the future point guard. The Eagles will be in the mix for the East Division title with Connecticut, Miami, St. John's and Villanova. It should be one of the best races in recent memory.

Andy,
With Darryl Hill signing with St. John's what is Mike Jarvis going to do in terms of splitting time with Elijah Ingram and Hill? What happens to Willie Shaw's minutes since Marcus Hatten will now move to the shooting guard?
Shaun
New York

Shaw's minutes will diminish with the likelihood of a three-guard lineup of Ingram, Hill and Hatten. Hatten will play strictly shooting guard with the arrival of Hill and Ingram. Look for Ingram to get the early nod with Hill providing more offense off the bench.

Andy Katz is a senior writer at ESPN.com. He answers questions on college basketball weekly.