Cole Aldrich, a 16-year-old high school sophomore from Bloomington, Minn., couldn’t help but feel like a member of Kansas University’s basketball team Saturday at Allen Fieldhouse and Horejsi Center.

“I get the star treatment,” the 6-foot-11, 240-pound Minnesota Magic power forward said after scoring 17 points in a 69-67 morning loss to Houston’s Roundballers and 18 in an 88-66 afternoon victory over Kansas Diaper Dans at the Sport2Sport/Jayhawk Invitational.

“After our first game, two guys came up to me. I didn’t even know who they were. They were like, ‘Hey Cole, how’s it going?’ Some of ’em walk by and they say, ‘Oh, that’s Cole.’ It’s pretty cool walking around and people knowing my name. It’s kind of weird, but kind of cool.”

Aldrich is the hottest KU hoops recruit playing in this weekend’s youth tournament. His presence attracted a couple hundred fans, including many members of the current Jayhawk team, who hope the Jefferson High all-stater chooses KU over Minnesota, Kentucky, Michigan State, North Carolina and others.

Aldrich indicated KU was the leader at this early stage of his recruitment. He’s been in Lawrence four times — last year for Late Night in the Phog and the Texas game — as well as the KU-Chattanooga game two seasons ago.

“I think I know most of the main streets already. I’ve got to learn the back streets now,” said Aldrich, who cell-phones current KU sophomore J.R. Giddens from time to time.

“When I was here for the Texas game … ESPN Game Day was here. We sat in the second row. I’m like, ‘Do you know how much money this seat would cost?’ I was like, ‘Wow, real cool,”’ he said.

Though just now old enough to drive a car — “I turned 16 on Halloween, I’m one of the scary kids” — Aldrich on the court seems years older and wiser.

He hit nine of 13 shots in the afternoon game — most off dunks — and grabbed 10 boards.

Minnesota Magic player Cole Aldrich (55) unleashes a shot against the Houston Roundballers at the Sport2Sport/Jayhawk Invitational. Aldrich, a Kansas University recruit, played Saturday at Allen Fieldhouse.

“A lot. I can go on for days,” Aldrich said, asked what he needed to improve on. “I’d like to score a little more, get my jump hook down, get it dominant.”

After playing in about 70 AAU games this summer, Aldrich will take five official campus visits and choose a college. He’s still wide-eyed about the process right now, receiving his most recent scholarship offer from North Carolina coach Roy Williams on Thursday. KU offered long ago.

“He said, ‘You’ve got a scholarship here waiting for you.’ I said, ‘Dang,”’ Aldrich said of Williams. “Things (in recruiting) are definitely starting to get more hectic now.”

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Shattered backboard: Defending champion H-Squad of Southern California, which advances to today’s final round, beat K.C. Keys and Randolph Boys Club on Saturday.

H-Squad also was winning a practice game against Colorado Chaos when chaos broke loose at Horejsi Center.

Minnesota Magic player Cole Aldrich, a high school sophomore being recruited heavily by Kansas University, dunks against the Houston Roundballers at the Sport2Sport/Jayhawk Invitational. Aldrich played Saturday at Allen Fieldhouse.

Davon Jefferson (6-7 senior, Lynwood, Calif.), who combined for more than 70 points in both games, and sophomore sensation Tyrone Shelley (6-7, San Diego Crawford) put home a violent tip dunk, shattering a backboard.

Shelley, who has KU on his early list of schools, suffered a gash on his arm, making his second trip to the hospital in two days. He suffered a severely sprained wrist Friday night.

“If ever there’s been a tough, hard-nosed kid, it’s Tyrone,” H-Squad coach Rick Isaacs said. “I’d say he’ll play (today). Nothing stops that kid. If there’s a better sophomore on the West coast, I haven’t seen him.”

Of the shattered rim, Isaacs said: “I saw something like that 25 years ago. The force of the tip jam from two players like that just shattered the backboard. We were going to finish the game with another goal, but there was too much glass around. It was too dangerous for an exhibition game.”

Today’s 17-and-under finals are set for 1:30 p.m. at Allen Fieldhouse. Finals in the 15 and 16 age groups will tip at 12:15 with preliminary games starting at 8:30 a.m.

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Magic shot: Aldrich wasn’t the only standout on his Minnesota Magic team. Blake Hoffarber, a 6-3 sophomore from Hopkins High, in March tossed in an 18-footer from the seat of his pants, sending his Hopkins High team into a second overtime in a state-title victory over Eastview.

“That’s the shot they show on ESPN. He’s a national star,” Aldrich said. “We’ve been playing together four years now. He’s a great player.”

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Giles beefier: KU freshman C.J. Giles has started to bulk up. The Seattle native, who was listed at 220 this past season, said he now weighed 240.

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Good grub: Playing two to three AAU games in a day can make the 400 or so players in town mighty hungry. “We went to Cici’s … all-you-can-eat pizza, what more can a kid ask for?” Aldrich said with a big grin.