Prep visitors: KU ‘great,’ ‘awesome’

Alex Galindo’s hectic tour of college campuses continues today as the 6-foot-6 senior guard from St. Benedict’s Prep in Newark, N.J., heads to Georgetown University for a trip to the Washington, D.C. school.

The Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, native spent Friday afternoon through Sunday morning on Kansas University’s campus after visiting Pitt and Rutgers the previous two weeks.

“Everything was great. I think the best part is, it was better than I thought it would be,” an enthusiastic Galindo said Sunday night in a phone interview. “Coming into the weekend, I knew Kansas was one of the best programs in the nation. Being there confirmed that statement for me.

“The people are friendly. The fieldhouse has a lot of tradition. Some of the best players in the history of basketball have played in there for Kansas.”

Galindo, who spent a lot of time with Wayne Simien on his trip, said he likely would need a couple of days after visiting Georgetown to make a decision.

“I’m going to need to sit down at least a couple of days to think about it. I just want to be happy,” he said about his criteria for a school.

Galindo signed with UTEP in November, but was released from his letter-of-intent when Miners’ coach Billy Gillispie left for Texas A&M. Galindo will have to appeal to the Collegiate Commissioners Assn. out of the Southeast Conference office to be eligible to play next season. If not granted an appeal, he would have to sit out a season in accordance with NCAA rules.

Such appeals, to the committee, however, normally are granted.

Like Galindo, 6-9 Tyler Hansbrough of Poplar Bluff, Mo., said he had a great time in Lawrence over the weekend.

“Everything about the visit was awesome. The visit went better than expected,” Hansbrough told Shay Wildeboor of rivals.com. “My dad and I had planned to visit North Carolina next weekend, but I do not know if that visit is going to happen.”

Hansbrough already has made an official visit to UNC, but was planning on showing his dad the Chapel Hill campus next weekend. He also has visited Kentucky, Florida and Missouri. Hansbrough hopes to pick a college in July.

C.J. Giles, 6-10 from Seattle, did not commit to Washington on his visit last weekend. He reportedly will be working on dates for a visit to Kansas this week. He also is considering Cincinnati and perhaps Gonzaga.

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Hairston saga continues: Malik Hairston, a 6-5 senior from Detroit’s Renaissance High, has narrowed his list to three schools, his mom said Sunday night. She indicated KU was one of the three finalists, but would not disclose the other two.

She said AAU coach Speedy Walker was unavailable to meet with the family for discussions because of commitments on Mother’s Day, so deliberations likely would continue today. No timetable was set for Hairston’s ultimate decision.

Entering Sunday, Hairston had KU, UCLA, Michigan, Ohio State, Oklahoma and Oregon on his list.

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Padgett in Bluegrass State: Former Kansas center David Padgett made a campus visit to the University of Louisville over the weekend. He is believed to be considering transferring to Louisville, UCLA or Stanford.

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KU-UK popular series: Mike Aresco, senior vice president for CBS Sports, tells the Lexington Herald-Leader he’s “thrilled” about the planned revival of the Kansas-Kentucky series.

KU likely will meet UK on Jan. 9 at Rupp Arena with the Wildcats returning to play in Allen Fieldhouse during the 2005-06 season.

“It’s a perfect matchup, one we thought we’d get in the (NCAA) tournament,” Aresco said of last year’s possible Sweet 16 matchup in St. Louis, wrecked by Alabama-Birmingham’s dumping of UK in the second round.