Gary Bedore’s KU basketball notebook: Spring recruiting begins today

The biggest news of college basketball’s month-long spring signing period will be revealed at 6:30 p.m. today, when Shabazz Muhammad, the No. 1-ranked player in the Class of 2012, announces plans to attend either Duke, Kentucky or UCLA during a live telecast on ESPNU, ESPN3 and WatchESPN.com.

Muhammad, a 6-foot-6 senior from Las Vegas’ Bishop Gorman High, who attended the Kansas-Missouri game on Feb. 25 as part of an official recruiting visit, has since eliminated KU.

As far as recruiting news involving the Jayhawks, KU is in line to pick up at least two signed letters-of-intent in coming days/weeks.

Andrew White, a 6-6, 210-pound guard/forward from Miller School in Chester, Va., who committed to KU in December, has received his scholarship papers in the mail and will sign in a ceremony at his high school sometime early next week, his dad, Andrew White Sr., said Tuesday.

White, the No. 56-ranked player in the Class of 2012 by Rivals.com, averaged 22.9 points and 10 rebounds a game for 20-10 Miller School. He chose KU over North Carolina State, Virginia Tech, West Virginia, Richmond, Texas, Georgetown and others. He will play in the Capital Classic all-star game on April 21 in Alexandria, Va.

“Because of needs on the team he was on, he played some 5 (center) and 4 (power forward). His natural position is the 2 (shooting guard),” White’s dad said Tuesday. “His court vision is very good. We’ve been working hard on lateral foot movement so he can guard a smaller player with his length (6-11 wingspan). He’s working so much on defense. We’ve been watching Baylor games and K-State games to see how to defend some of the quick players and jump shooters in the league.”

KU in November received an oral commitment from unranked Anrio Adams, a 6-3 combo guard from Seattle’s Rainier Beach High, who averaged 19.8 points a game for Washington’s 27-3 state title team. Adams tells Rivals.com he will take the ACT test Saturday and visit KU the following weekend. It’s possible he may not sign his letter until scores of that test are tabulated. He tells Rivals.com he is still planning on “moving to Kansas for good on July 3.”

The Jayhawks are in the running for No. 33-ranked Tony Parker, a 6-9 senior center from Miller Grove High in Lithonia, Ga. Parker has a final list of KU, Duke, UCLA, Georgia, Ohio State, Memphis and Georgetown. Rivals.com’s Eric Bossi said, “He was expected to have a decision within the next few days, but the latest word is that his decision could drag out a bit longer. Each time it looks like he may be locking in on one program, rumors arise that it’s another.” Some analysts have said KU’s momentum slowed when assistant Danny Manning announced plans to leave for Tulsa. Parker will play in the Jordan Classic on Saturday in Charlotte, N.C.

The recruiting period lasts from today until May 16. KU currently has 14 scholarship players on next year’s projected roster. The NCAA limit for scholarships is 13. Sophomore Justin Wesley was on scholarship this past season after arriving as a walk-on.