Known as the quickest of Kansas UniversityâÂÂs four incoming basketball prospects, J.R. Giddens is the slowest to sign on the dotted line.

Giddens, a 6-foot-5 guard from John Marshall High in Oklahoma City, didnâÂÂt sign a national letter of intent with KU on Wednesday, the first day of the early week-long signing period.

HeâÂÂll join Jeremy Case, Omar Wilkes and David Padgett as official KU signees at 1:30 p.m. next Tuesday when he and teammate Adam Liberty hold a joint signing ceremony in the Marshall gym.

Liberty is headed to Wichita State; Giddens, who averaged 25.0 points and 7.2 rebounds as a junior, has been firmly committed to KU since April.

âÂÂAdam and J.R. are teammates and it will be proper for them to do it together,â said Giddensâ mom, Dianna, who said several news outlets in Oklahoma had requested interviews.

âÂÂJ.R. is so impressed with Kansasâ program and with Roy Williamsâ attitude toward the players. He loves Lawrence, Kansas. HeâÂÂs elated. He would have signed it today if he could,â she said.

Case, a 6-foot guard from McAlester (Okla.) High, signed his letter with KU at 11 a.m. Wednesday at his school before 25 family members and friends. He averaged 25.7 points per game last year.

âÂÂEverybody is happy and proud of Jeremy that heâÂÂs able to go to a Division One program like that,â said CaseâÂÂs stepdad, Danny Kemp. âÂÂHe was relieved getting it all taken care of. He wants to hurry up and get to KU.

âÂÂAll other schools honored his (oral) commitment,â Kemp said. âÂÂThe only letters heâÂÂs been getting are from KU.âÂÂ

Case was to send his letter to KU via Federal Express on Wednesday. Padgett, a 6-11 forward/center who averaged 22.4 points and 14.3 rebounds last year at Reno (Nev.) High, sent his letter to KU via United Parcel Service after inking at a 3 p.m. ceremony in his high school gym.

About 40 friends, teachers, family and media members watched the Padgett signing.

âÂÂItâÂÂs a relief to get it over with, finally,â Padgett said. âÂÂIâÂÂm just really happy to be going to Kansas. Monday is our first practice and IâÂÂm really looking forward to the season.âÂÂ

Wilkes, 6-4 from Loyola High in Los Angeles, said he signed and mailed his letter on Wednesday without fanfare.

âÂÂItâÂÂs good to get everything down on paper,â he said. âÂÂIâÂÂm going to have such an easier time focusing on my senior season now that everything is officially done.âÂÂ

If he has received the letters of intent, Kansas coach Roy Williams will comment on his signees today.

â¢

Hawkins is OK: Jeff Hawkins, who had some chest pains and shortness of breath during TuesdayâÂÂs 101-66 exhibition win against Washburn, apparently is OK. He had some precautionary medical tests taken Wednesday that came out normal.

â¢

Missed dunk: KU players couldnâÂÂt help but needle sophomore guard Aaron Miles, who missed a dunk on Tuesday.

âÂÂWeâÂÂll work on that at practice. IâÂÂll show him how to put it down,â sophomore Keith Langford grinned. âÂÂThis dated back to last season when we played Oregon âÂÂ:quot; he missed a dunk. He even missed one in practice not too long ago. We were on him pretty bad. I donâÂÂt want him to stop trying.

âÂÂI looked at coach and he wasnâÂÂt mad. HeâÂÂs like, âÂÂ’This is a glorified practice.â When the real games come, I donâÂÂt think he wants to ever give up two points.âÂÂ