More than 500 youths filled the north bleachers of Horejsi Center and spilled out onto the floor, all eyes on Kansas University basketball coach Bill Self on Sunday during an orientation session for his four-day camp.

“The main thing is to have fun,” Self said, after first outlining a batch of rules and regulations designed with the safety of the campers in mind.

“Camp is great, unfortunately Mother Nature is not cooperating quite as well,” Self said after a hard downpour forced camp counselors to bring in buses to drive the students to their dorm.

“Numbers are great. I know we are close to full capacity. We’ll do different things, have different speakers in the afternoons. Our guys (Jayhawks) will work out for them, and we’ll have a camp game on Wednesday.”

¢ Kansas assistant praised: Rivals.com has named KU assistant coach Joe Dooley one of the top 25 recruiters in the nation. The other Big 12 Conference assistants mentioned were Texas Tech’s Pat Knight, Oklahoma State’s Sean Sutton and Baylor’s Mark Morefield.

“Kansas landed a stellar class with three McDonald’s All-Americans coming to Lawrence,” rivals.com wrote. “Dooley identified Mario Chalmers and Micah Downs early on and worked the two Pacific Northwest prospects until they committed to the Jayhawks.”

Kansas University basketball coach Bill Self speaks to a campers during the first day of his basketball camp. Former and current players will be on hand this week working with youngsters to improve their basketball skills. More than 500 students were on hand during opening day Sunday afternoon at Horejsi Center.

¢ Trade talk: Former KU forward Paul Pierce might be shopped this offseason. The Boston Globe reported that Portland would like to acquire the Celtics’ All-Star guard for Nick Van Exel and the Blazers’ No. 3 pick in the draft.

“Paul will not play for the Trail Blazers,” a source close to Pierce told the Globe. “He would not report to Portland and would accept any penalties or fines that resulted.”

Celts’ director of basketball operations Danny Ainge called that trade “ludicrous.”

Pierce told reporters he only would go to a team with a shot at winning a championship. He does not want to play for a team that is rebuilding or has a new coach. Portland is looking for a coach.

¢ Rush likes two, NBA: Kansas Citian Brandon Rush, who played last year at Mt. Zion Academy in Durham, N.C., said at last week’s NBA draft camp he either would play at Illinois or Oklahoma : if he doesn’t enter the draft.

“I’m just trying to get into the league,” Rush said.