For Kansas University basketball coach Bill Self, the July recruiting-evaluation period began with trips to Nike and Reebok camps in Indianapolis and Teaneck, N.J., and ended at the Price Chopper tournament in Shawnee.

But in between, Self and his assistants ventured to Las Vegas, Augusta, Ga., and many other locales to find solid hoops talent.

“We were all over the map,” said Self, who realizes recruiting is a highly competitive business and does not “like to say everywhere we (coaches) were.”

“I think it’s too early to say how productive it was. All it was, was evaluating. We had a chance to see a lot of good players. The next two classes we are limited in numbers on paper, so you’ve got to make sure the pieces fit.”

Self already has received a verbal commitment from Dwight Lewis, a 6-foot-5 guard from Metairie, La. The Jayhawks, who have three remaining scholarships to give, are in the hunt for a pair of high school senior blue-chippers – Darrell Arthur, 6-9 from Dallas, and Sherron Collins, 5-11, of Chicago.

“I don’t anticipate us having a lot of campus visits (this September), at least the number we sign,”

Self said. “I don’t know if it’ll be five, six, how many. We have only limited scholarships to give.”

In fact, if KU filled all four of its vacancies this year, it would have no scholarships to give to players in the Class of 2007. KU is recruiting two of the top ’07 players – 6-10 Cole Aldrich of Bloomington, Minn., and 6-2 Derrick Rose of Chicago.

“I don’t know,” Self said, asked if he would save a scholarship or two for next year. “We’ll have to wait and see.”

Recruiting analyst Shay Wildeboor of rivals.com says KU’s recruiting class has a chance to be special.

“If you get Lewis, plus Arthur, the number-two forward in the class, and Collins, the number-two point guard in the class … if coach Self brings in that type of class again, give the man a raise,” Wildeboor said.

“If you don’t get Collins, you could see them hold it for ’07. If they can get the guys they want I expect them to (receive commitments from at least two more). I don’t expect them to fall back two or three guys with all the guys they are in on in ’07.”

¢ Schedule talk: Add two more games to KU’s 2005-06 men’s basketball schedule, which is about ready for release. KU will play Kansas State on Jan. 14 at Allen Fieldhouse, then March 4 in their Big 12 Conference finale in Manhattan.