ESPN.com: RECRUITING - Hodge: On the grind

SPORT SECTIONS

Monday, August 11

Four of nations best are becoming unavailable

By Bill Hodge
CollegeSports.com

The Missouri Tigers have pledged Top 100 forward Marshall Brown of Austin-LB Johnson, Tex., over Oklahoma, UCLA, Kentucky and Oregon; and Super Prospect forward/guard Glen Dandridge of Durham-Mt. Zion Academy, NC., over Virginia, Texas and Clemson, among many others.

Wisconsin has a pledge from Class 2004 Top 100 forward DeAaron Williams of Bartonville-Limestone, Ill., over offers from DePaul, Illinois, Indiana, Marquette and Missouri.

Top 100 Class 2004 guard Jamar Butler of Lima-Shawnee, Ohio, who decommitted from Cincinnati, is expected to announce for Ohio State on Monday (Aug. 11). Butler, who chose the Bearcats as a sophomore, averaged 30.1 points as a junior.

Vanderbilt has a pledge from Class 2004 guard Alex Gordon of Pensacola, Fla., who averaged 26.3 points as a junior. Gordon also considered Minnesota, Ohio State, Xavier, SMU, Florida State, St. Bonaventure and Arkansas State.

Penn State has a pledge from Class 2004 guard Danny Morrissey of Cleveland, Ohio/Bradenton-IMG Academy, Fla., over Clemson, Florida State, Xavier, Indiana, Ohio State, Dayton, Georgia Tech and Arkansas.

The San Diego State Aztecs have a pledge from Class 2004 guard Lorenzo Keeler of Escondido, Cal., who averaged 23 points as a junior.

College of Charleston has a pledge from Class 2004 guard Marcus Hammond of Memphis-East, Tenn/Brewster Academy, NH.

Fifty-five 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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