Bradley Beal tried to squeeze several caps onto a podium Monday morning in the St. Louis Chaminade High School library.
The Kansas University hat was the only one that kept falling off.
“KU just got eliminated,” a media member joked as the caps from finalists Florida, Illinois, Missouri, Duke and Ohio State remained in place.
Sure enough, the omen proved true. Beal, Rivals.com’s No. 7-rated player in the Class of 2011, placed a Florida cap atop his head a few minutes into his news conference, the 6-foot-3 shooting guard picking the Gators just before the start of his junior season.
“Probably next, it would most definitely be Kansas,” Beal said, indicating the Jayhawks were his runner-up selection. “That’s a great school. I love coach (Bill) Self. I just really like Florida, just a little bit more than I like Kansas.”
Beal visited with Self for a final time Saturday and Florida coach Billy Donovan on Sunday in St. Louis. Beal told Donovan of his decision Sunday.
“He came to practice last night and said, ‘Kelvin, I’m going to take care of your boy,’’’ Chaminade coach Kelvin Lee said of Donovan. “I said, ‘That’s all I want ... for Bradley to be happy.”
Beal said he spoke to Chaminade grad David Lee, a former Florida player who plays in the NBA, in the recruiting process.
“David ... he helped me with the decision. He told me some pros and cons about Florida,” Beal said. “He told me I couldn’t go wrong with the decision. I tried to choose the school that would fit me best.”
Chaminade coach Lee is no relation to David Lee.
“David really didn’t have anything to do with it, but having David there helped sway it. We’re proud of that,” coach Lee said.
Beal, who averaged 23.5 points a game his sophomore season, can’t sign a letter of intent until November of 2010.
KU targets: KU, which has signed combo guard Royce Woolridge, will try to ink two more players in the recruiting Class of 2010, Self said on Monday’s Hawk Talk radio show.
“We know we lose Sherron (Collins, senior) and I don’t want to say we know for sure, but Cole (Aldrich, junior) is not going to be here more than likely,” Self said. “The situation becomes, ‘Will we lose anybody else?’ The answer is obviously definitely more than likely. We’ve got to sign a couple difference-makers, guys who can impact the program immediately. We need a little guard, a guy who can come in and handle heat and help us win games. That’s my priority and then the next best player.”
No. 1-ranked Brandon Knight, a 6-3 point guard from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., has a list of KU, Kentucky, Florida, UConn and Miami. No. 4-ranked Josh Selby, a 6-2 point guard from Baltimore, has a list of KU, Indiana, Kentucky, Miami and Syracuse. No. 21-ranked Doron Lamb, a 6-4 shooting guard from Oak Hill Academy in Mouth of Wilson, Va., has a list of KU, Kentucky, Oklahoma, UConn and Arizona. Maurice Walker, a 6-10 center from Brewster Academy in Wolfeboro, N.H., will visit KU Dec. 18-19.
Milt Newton attends Roy’s 600th win: Roy Williams singled out a special guest in the stands after earning his 600th victory as a college coach on Sunday in Chapel Hill, N.C. That person was former KU player Milt Newton, now vice president of player personnel of the Washington Wizards.
“Son. You were there for No. 1,” North Carolina coach Williams told Newton after a win over Nevada, as reported by carolinablue.com.
Indeed, Newton played for Williams in 1988-89. Williams went 418-101 in 15 years at KU.
Williams is wearing a sling after undergoing surgery last Tuesday for a torn labrum in his left shoulder. He slipped on the stairs at a charity golf event in October.
Withey returns: Jeff Withey (stress fracture, knee) was cleared to shoot at practice Monday. Self hopes Withey “will be able to impact our team by conference play.”
Comments
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LeBo (anonymous) says…
He should have though about the long commute home. Lawrence is a comfortable driving distance from the Lou. Plus, you get to play MU 2-3 times per year. {Nothing like the Border War} Also, Kansas is the Mecca of college hoops!
Ignorant_Yokel (anonymous) says…
Best of luck to Bradley Beal!
KU is just fine without him.
just_another_bozo_on_this_bus (anonymous) says…
KU will still be loaded at the guard positions next year. I expect he'll see more playing time at Florida than he would here.
jonas_opines (anonymous) says…
Whatever the program prestige (and Florida does not score too badly), there's no comparison between the schools when it comes to weather and climate.
just_another_bozo_on_this_bus (anonymous) says…
My bad. But I expect that KU will still be loaded in two years.
KEITHMILES05 (anonymous) says…
He speaks with David Lee but not Mario Chalmers, Darrell Arthur, Darnell Jackson, Paul Pierce, Nick Collison, Kirk Hinrich, Drew Gooden, ????
LOL
He needed validation and that is the only reason to speak with Lee.
onetime97 (anonymous) says…
Most top 10 recruits have aspirations beyond college basketball...you gotta go play where that can develop and grow...not on a team with fellow talent...
puddleglum (anonymous) says…
well, at least at florida he can go swimming alot.
newmedia (anonymous) says…
"Probably next it would most definitely be Kansas,"
Last time I checked there was no "probably next". You are either in or you are out. Many more fish in the sea and the Jayhawks will continue to get their share...
jkilgore (anonymous) says…
Recruiting is almost as fun when you don't get the guy. I can't imagine that if we get a top 30 kid or so that it will matter much. Look at the Morris twins. If they had been Top 10 kinds of kids, they and NBA scouts might have coaxed them out based on "up side." Right. Now, since that isn't a possibility yet, look at the frames these two have carved out for themselves!! I don't know many 18 year old kids who would want any part of that pair, so missing out on Top 10 kids might be a blessing in disguise. And it's true: we're loaded.
nbnozzy (anonymous) says…
KU is over loaded with talent. How many transferred in the last few years because they knew their playing time would be limited? The #1 recruit has Kansas on his list, let's hope we land him.
oh, and you bums go out and support the womens team. They have dollar specials. Take the family. Heck, treat the family next door to you. I enjoy the lady Jayhawks b-ball games.