Mikael Hopkins, a 6-foot-8, 215-pound basketball power forward from tradition-rich DeMatha Catholic High School in Hyattsville, Md., this weekend will make his official recruiting visit to Kansas University.

Hopkins, who has visited Ohio State officially and Georgetown unofficially and has trips planned to Miami, West Virginia and Texas, will announce his college choice on Nov. 1.

“I am looking for a place where I can play, where we will win, a place that will develop me to become the best player I can be, and a place I can have fun,” Hopkins told Ohiostate.rivals.com.

Rivals.com’s No. 79-rated player is expected to move up the rankings as he continues to develop physically. He put on 15 pounds between the start of his sophomore and junior campaigns.

“The goal going into college … I want to be at least 225 pounds,” Hopkins told Georgetown.rivals.com. “I know with my body frame I’m not going to be a real big dude, but I just want to be tall and be able to hold my position.”

He is known as a player who runs the floor well, is an outstanding shot blocker and good shooter inside and out.

“Hopkins has added muscle to his long and athletic body. He is mobile and does a great job patrolling the lane,” ESPN.com writes on its official scouting report of Hopkins.

“He posts up well and provides the passer with an excellent target hand. He likes to score in the post and facing with spin moves in order to improve his scoring angles. Hopkins can hit open mid-range jumpers with time and space and displays excellent touch around the basket as well. He also is a good passer for his size.

“He has the size and talent to be an excellent power forward,” ESPN’s scouting report added. “He must work on his on court energy level to take his game to the next level in which he is very capable.”

A good friend of KU sophomore/Washington D.C. native Thomas Robinson, Hopkins plays summer ball for Team Takeover AAU.

“Kansas has been involved with Mikael for a very, very long time. I believe the staff has been recruiting him for two years. The biggest thing with Kansas has been the consistency,” Team Takeover coach Keith Stevens told Kansas.rivals.com.

“They’ve put in the effort and spent time getting to know him and his mom. The staff has also told Mikael he’ll have the opportunity to come in and play right away. If he works hard, he will have the opportunity to play from day one.”

Noted DeMatha coach Mike Jones to the Washington Post: “The good thing about him is even though he improved so much in the last year he didn’t stop working.”

Rivers chooses Duke: Austin Rivers, the No. 1-rated basketball player in the class of 2011, orally committed to Duke over Kansas and North Carolina on Thursday. Rivers had scheduled a visit to North Carolina, but had not yet scheduled an official visit to KU. The 6-foot-4 senior point guard attends Winter Park High School in Florida. He is the son of Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers.

Another Late Night visitor: Ishmael Wainright, a 6-5 sophomore from Raytown (Mo.) South High, will make an unofficial visit to KU for the Oct. 15 Late Night in the Phog, Rivals.com reports. Wainright also plays for KC Pump N Run.

Self, players to chat with students: KU coach Bill Self and the Jayhawk players will hold a question-and-answer session for members of the KU student body from 4 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 10, in Allen Fieldhouse. Doors will open at 3:30 p.m. Self sent an open letter to the student body inviting them to the Q-and-A session. The session is for KU students only.