As reported in Tuesday’s Journal-World, former Kansas forward Drew Gooden has signed with BDA Sports Management  Bill Duffy’s powerful company based in Walnut Creek, Calif.

Turns out the 6-foot-10 Richmond, Calif., native was one of six players to sign with BDA on Monday.

The others: Kareem Rush and Clarence Gilbert, Missouri; Tayshaun Prince, Kentucky; and Freddie Jones and Chris Christoffersen, Oregon. Earlier, Duke’s Jason Williams signed with BDA.

“I feel BDA will offer me the kind of personal relationship that I am comfortable with,” Gooden said, noting his agent with the company will be his AAU coach, Calvin Andrews, who was hired by BDA recently.

“I have a very trusting relationship with Calvin and I know that going with Calvin and BDA is the right decision for me. I am going through a big transition in my life so I need to surround myself with people I can trust.”

Like Gooden, Andrews played basketball at El Cerrito High. Andrews played college ball at Montana State University, where he earned a business degree. Before joining BDA, he worked for the Xerox Corporation in marketing.

“I’ve been a mentor to (Gooden) since he was a freshman in high school (in El Cerrito Calif.),” Andrews told the Contra Costa (Calif.) Times. “I really helped him with the basketball, but also just being there as a mentor, showing him how to deal with things in life.”

Gooden today will work out for the Golden State Warriors, who own the third overall pick in the draft. He has workouts scheduled later this week with Houston, which owns the top pick and Chicago, which picks second. He also will work out for New York (seventh pick), Memphis (fourth) and Denver (fifth).

“Our strategy is to say, ‘If you want Drew Gooden, you better have one of the first three picks,”” Andrews said. “We’re going to Houston guns blazing, to woo and wow them.

“I think Drew and Kareem are going to be the two guys that far exceed everyone’s expectations once they are established in the NBA,” added Andrews, who will also represent Rush. “Once people are aware of their character, work-ethic and multi-faceted talents, everyone will be amazed.”

No college player who signs with an agent can change his mind and return to college. That’s been a moot point for Gooden, who several weeks after the season announced he was turning pro. Once he made that decision he never intended to look back.