KU basketball No. 1 in Vitale’s rankings

ESPN’s Dick Vitale has tapped Kansas University’s basketball team preseason No. 1 in the country.

Vitale had this to say about the Jayhawks at ESPN.com: “Bill Self’s team is led by Cole Aldrich and Sherron Collins, two members of my All-Rolls-Royce first team. The Jayhawks are loaded with the Morris twins (Marcus and Markieff), Tyshawn Taylor and newcomer Xavier Henry.”

Vitale has Kentucky No. 2, Michigan State No. 3, Texas 4 and Duke No. 5.

He has Oklahoma No. 21, Oklahoma State 30, Texas A&M 32 and Kansas State No. 39. His top 40 list is available at ESPN.com.

Ellis to participate in Rucker Park event

Perry Ellis, a 6-foot-7 sophomore from Wichita Heights High School, will compete in the Boost Mobile Elite 24 basketball game at 7 p.m., EDT, on Aug. 21 at New York’s Rucker Park.

Other prospects on KU’s recruiting list who will compete: Harrison Barnes, 6-8, Ames (Iowa) High; Cory Joseph, 6-3, Findlay Prep, Henderson, Nev.; Doron Lamb, 6-4, Oak Hill Academy, Mouth of Wilson, Va.; Joe Jackson, 5-11, White Station High, Memphis; Josh Selby, 6-3, Lake Clifton High, Baltimore; Terrence Jones, 6-8, Jefferson High, Portland; Tony Wroten, 6-5, Garfield High, Seattle. The event will be televised at 6 p.m., CDT, Aug. 22 on ESPNU.

Meanwhile, Lamb of Oak Hill Academy tells Rivals.com he will visit KU and Oklahoma “as soon as I can.”

He has made an unofficial visit to Kentucky and also has scholarship offers from from Arizona, Georgia Tech, Louisville, Pitt, Rutgers, St. John’s and Xavier. Connecticut, Marquette, Seton Hall, Syracuse are also on his list.