J.R. Giddens’ transfer to a to-be-determined school means Kansas University’s men’s basketball team will have four scholarships to offer in recruiting this school year.

“I doubt we’d sign four,” KU coach Bill Self said Friday. “If we did that, we’d have zero (scholarships available) in the next class. I can’t believe we’d do that.”

Self envisions signing three players in the Class of 2006. One grant-in-aid already has been accepted by Dwight Lewis, a 6-foot-5 junior guard from Metairie, La.

“A ball-handling guard, and size,” Self said, asked what he’d be looking for during the July evaluation period.

The prime big-man target may be Darrell Arthur, 6-9, 220 pounds from Dallas.

Arthur, who now is likely to spend a year or so in college following the NBA’s passing of the new 19-year-old age limit, has KU, Texas, North Carolina and Oklahoma high on his list of schools.

Unable to comment on specific recruits, Self said the Jayhawks would recruit players who might stay in college just a year or two.

“Not all of them — not because we wouldn’t want to, but some of them are not involved with us,” Self said. “Certainly, some of those guys who may have that kind of potential we’ll recruit.”

As far as possibly bringing in somebody right now to replace Giddens, Self said: “I do not see us at this point in time adding any kids.”