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Monday, August 4

Top forward Clark selects Cyclones

By Bill Hodge
CollegeSports.com

Top 100 forward Rahshon Clark of Far Rockaway-Beach Channel, NY/Bridgton Academy, Maine, has picked Iowa State over Virginia, Virginia Tech, Richmond, Kent and St. John's.

Class 2004 forward Ousmane Konate of Senegal/Laurinburg Institute, NC., has decommitted from Missouri. He is drawing interest from Arizona, Charlotte and Xavier, among others.

Mississippi has a pledge from Class 2004 guard/forward Brandon Patterson of Altheimer, Ark., over an offer from Arkansas State. The Rebels recently gained guard/forward Robert Clark of Jackson-Lanier, Miss., over interest from Iowa State, Mississippi State, Western Kentucky and Arkansas.

Sophomore 6-8 forward Evan Burns of Los Angeles-Fairfax, Cal., has been dismissed from the San Diego State basketball program for failure to meet academic responsibilities, coach Steve Fisher announced. Burns, the 2002-03 Mountain West Conference Freshman of the Year, averaged 9.2 points and 5.1 rebounds in 26 games last season. The former Top 100 prospect and McDonald's All-American originally signed with UCLA, but was released after the NCAA questioned his minimum core classes as a prep. Burns was admitted to SDSU as a nonqualifier, but the Aztecs won an appeal that made him eligible. He underwent knee surgery in May and was expected to play by mid-December.

Fresno State pledged Class 2004 guard Tyrone Jackson of Fresno-Clovis West, Cal/Fresno CC, Cal., over Gonzaga, UNLV, San Jose State, St. Mary's, Cal Poly and Utah State.

Western Illinois has a pledge from Class 2004 forward/center Kyle Lasek of Moline, Ill.

Forty-six prospects on the early Class 2004 Top 100 have already made commitments.

Texas, Indiana and Alabama lead the very early 2004 Top Classes. Florida State led the 2003 Top Classes.

Class 2004 Basketball Database
* Search the early list of Prospects/Commitments/Schools and Conferences
* Early list of Top 100 Prospects/Commitments/Remaining Top 100 Prospects.
* More players projected to make an impact: Super Prospects.
*Bssketball Signing Periods: Early (Nov. 12-19) and Regular (Apr. 15-May 19).

* Texas, Indiana and Alabama lead the very early 2004 Top Classes.

Class 2003 Basketball Database
* Search the list of Prospects/Commitments/Signed/Schools and Conferences.
* List of Top 100 Prospects/Commitments/Remaining Top 100 Prospects/Super Prospects/Top 100 JC Prospects. Remaining committed/unsigned Top 100 Prospects (2): C-Jackie Butler (MissState); F-Marquis Kately (Cal).

* Florida State led the 2003 Top Classes.

2003 NBA Draft:
The most heralded high school player in years, high school forward LeBron James was chosen No. 1 by the NBA. All four other preps were selected, while three junior college prospects were not picked: Forward LeBron James of Akron/St. Vincent-St. Mary, Ohio, top pick in first round by Cleveland; forward Travis Outlaw of Starkville, Miss., 23rd pick in first round by Portland; forward Ndudi Ebi of Houston-Westbury Christian, Tex., 26th pick in first round by Minnesota; center Kendrick Perkins of Beaumont-Ozen, Tex., 27th pick in first round by Memphis, then traded to Boston; center James Lang of Birmingham-Central Park Christian, Ala., 19th pick in second round by New Orleans (not guaranteed contract). Forward Charlie Villanueva of Blairstown-Blair Academy, NJ., and center/forward Sani Ibrahim of Southern Idaho CC, Id., withdrew from draft. (List).

2002 NBA Draft:
The NBA selected only one high school and a single junior college prospect: Center/forward Amare Stoudemire of Orlando-Cypress Creek, Fla., was taken 9th in the first round by Phoenix, while Portland took forward Qyntel Woods of Northeast Mississippi CC, Miss., at No. 21 in the first round. The NBA passed on three other high school/prep school prospects and seven JC players (List).

2003 McDonald's All-American Game
LeBron James scored 27 points in leading the East over the West, 122-107, in the 26th annual McDonald's All-American high school basketball game in Cleveland, Ohio. McDonald's All-American Game stories/Rosters for 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000.

2003 Parade All-America Boys Basketball Team
LeBron James heads roster.

Basketball Commitments/Signings:
OCSN: Main Recruiting Page.
Class 2004 Men: Database/Top 100.
Class 2003 Men: Database/Top 100/Top Classes.
Class 2002 Men: Database/Top 100/Top Classes/Women: Database.
Class 2001 Men: Database/Top 100/Top Classes/Women: Database.
Class 2000 Men: Database/Top 100/Top Classes/Women: Database.
Class 1999 Men: Database/Women: Database.
Class 1998 Men: Database/ Top Classes/Women: Database.
*McDonald's All-American Game stories/Rosters for 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000
*USA Men's Junior National Team.

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.

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