Kansas University senior Kirk Hinrich, who is expected to be a lottery pick in the 2003 NBA draft, has signed with an agent.

The 6-foot-3 guard from Sioux City, Iowa, will be represented by Jeff Austin of Octagon Sports Management. Some of Octagon’s clients include NBA players David Robinson and Brendan Haywood, major league baseball players Tom Glavine and David Wells and NFL quarterback Michael Vick.

KU senior Nick Collison earlier this week hired Mike Higgins of SFX Sports Group.

Look for Collison to be included on the roster of Team USA, which will play in this summer’s Olympic qualifying tournament Aug. 20-31 in Puerto Rico.

ESPN.com Wednesday indicated Collison, plus NBA players Elton Brand and Richard Jefferson, would be extended invitations to join the Dream Team for this summer’s qualifying tourney. Collison and Brand would be among five big men on the team, joining Tim Duncan, Karl Malone and Jermaine O’Neal.

Former KU coach Larry Brown is U.S. Olympic head coach, with former KU coach Roy Williams an assistant.

• Self on new U of I coach: KU coach Bill Self is a big fan of his successor at Illinois — Bruce Weber — who compiled a 103-54 record the last five seasons at Southern Illinois.

“Illinois has made a great choice for its basketball coach. Bruce Weber is a tremendous coach and someone I have a great deal of respect for,” Self said Wednesday. “We competed against his teams at both Tulsa and Illinois. We split those games and were lucky to do so. Based on what I’ve seen from afar, he is a players’ coach, and Illinois’ returnees will benefit greatly from his appointment.

“He will have a similar philosophy to what we did at Illinois — his teams are always very tough and hard-nosed, yet they have freedom offensively. I’m very pleased for the school and for the players. Bruce will do a great job in Champaign.”

¢ 6Sports video: Collison invited to join USA Basketball