ESPN.com: RECRUITING - Hodge: OSU lassos Baylor guard

Starting junior guard John Lucas III of Houston-Bellaire, Tex., has decided to transfer from Baylor to Oklahoma State after also considering Georgia, Rutgers and San Diego State. Lucas led the Bears in assists last season (4.4) and was the second leading scorer (13.8).

Four players have transfered from Baylor after former head coach Dave Bliss resigned amid major NCAA rules violations, including Lucas, starting junior guard Kenny Taylor of Sugar Land-Willowridge, Tex., who picked Texas, starting junior forward Lawrence Roberts of Houston-Lamar, Tex., who chose Mississippi State and Class 2003 Top 100 forward Tyrone Nelson of Hempstead, Tex., an incoming freshman, who signed with Prairie View A&M. Former Valparaiso coach Scott Drew was hired as Baylor's new head coach and all other players are expected to stay with the Bears: seniors R.T. Guinn, Matt Sayman and Terrance Thomas; junior Ellis Kidd Jr; and sophomore Tommy Swanson. Junior college forward Harvey Thomas and freshman guard Carl Marshall, plus sophomore walk-on Will Allen and freshman walk-on Turner Phipps form the Bears' nine-man roster.

Baylor's request that the NCAA waive its rule that transfers must sit out one academic year before playing for their new school was granted. The Big 12 ruled that Baylor players would be eligible immediately if they were to transfer within the conference and not lose a year of eligibility.

Outstanding Class 2004 basketball and football prospect Glen Davis of Baton Rouge-University Lab, La., is expected to announce on Thursday (Aug. 28) between LSU, North Carolina, Indiana, Georgia and Miami-Florida. He plans to concentrate on basketball.

Penn State has pledged Class 2004 guard Mike Walker of Camp Hill-Trinity, Pa., over Pittsburgh, Providence and Penn.

Center Nick LanderLaan of Sacramento, Cal/California-Berkeley, is transfering from Virginia to Concordia in Irvine, Cal. He started 14 games for the Cavs last season.

Butler has pledged Class 2004 guard Gary Patterson of Hammond-Bishop Noll, Ind.

Southern Illinois pledged Class 2004 guard Wesley Clemmons of Indianapolis-Northwest, Ind.

Fifty-seven 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.

* 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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