Kevin Langford often asks his big brother, Keith, for advice about college basketball recruiting.

“Every time we talk,” says Kevin, a 6-foot-8, 220-pound senior forward from North Crowley (Texas) High, the alma mater of 6-4 Kansas University junior guard Keith Langford.

“He says to not worry about it, take my time.”

That’s what Kevin plans to do.

“I’m not sure right now, but I may wait until spring (to sign),” said Kevin Langford, who said Sunday he was considering offers from Texas Christian University and Houston.

Stanford and Virginia, two schools that once were high on Langford’s list, have received commitments from other players and no longer are recruiting him, Kevin indicated.

“I stay out of it pretty much, just answer questions when he asks,” Keith Langford said. “Kevin is really smart. He knows the ropes. He’s 17. He’s a senior in high school and is at the point in time he’s figuring things out on his own.

“If he asks me, I try to help him out, but it’s about what Kevin wants to do, not Keith. I think he has some good choices of schools. It shows he’s put in the hard work.”

On an off the court.

Kevin Langford, a perfect 4.0 student, averaged 17.7 points off 56.2 percent shooting his junior season. Projected as a power forward in college, he grabbed 7.1 rebounds and blocked 1.8 shots per game a year ago.

“It’s like I want him to be his own person,” Keith said of his brother, who was not recruited by KU. “Kevin is a versatile player. He can run the floor, handle the ball, pass it and shoot it. He is not a big banger down low. He is an inside player with face-up skills. He’s a very good player.”

Keith is confident his brother ultimately will make the right college selection. In the past, Kevin also heard from Georgia Tech, Auburn, Illinois, Kentucky and Wake Forest.

“It’s his choice,” Keith said. “He’s got to go to school, not me or my mom.”

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UNC recruiting: In an interesting development, North Carolina has received commitments from four players in the Class of 2004. That gives the Tar Heels 14 scholarship players for the 2004-05 season.

That’s one over the scholarship limit of 13 for a team that could lose one or more players to the NBA after this season.

First-year Carolina coach Roy Williams has received oral commitments from Quentin Thomas, a 6-2 point guard from Oakland Tech in Oakland, Calif.; J.R. Smith, a 6-5 shooting guard from St. Benedict High in Newark, N.J.; Marvin Williams, a 6-8 power forward from Bremerton, Wash.; and JamesOn Curry, a 6-1 combo guard from Eastern Alamance High in Mebane, N.C., who committed to former coach Matt Doherty in April of 2002.

Williams also has received an early commitment from junior wing guard Marcus Grinyard of Arlington, Va.

Thomas committed to the Tar Heels immediately after KU landed point guard Russell Robinson, the only point guard the Jayhawks figured to take in this class. Thomas also was recruited by KU.

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More on Collison: The Seattle Times reported that even if it is determined that SuperSonics rookie Nick Collison’s left shoulder injury initially was sustained in the Olympic qualifying tournament last summer, the Sonics still would be responsible for paying his $1.578 million salary.

USA Basketball — which sponsors Team USA — purchases insurance policies for its players in case of injury. The beneficiary of the policy is the player’s team. However, according to Ray Allen, Collison’s teammate on Team USA, the insurance policy only would apply if Collison had not been able to compete for a year after his injury. Once Collison demonstrated the ability to practice with the Sonics — he practiced Sept. 28-30 — it became their responsibility to cover his salary if he was injured, Allen said

“The fact that he was out on this court (at the Sonics’ practice facility) means that he could still play,” Allen told the Times. “Once an injury happens, I have to prove that I can’t play for a year before (insurance) pays for my expenses.”

Collison, who dislocated his shoulder eight days ago, will miss the entire season following surgery on both shoulders.