Born and raised in Tomsk, Siberia, Alexander “Sasha” Kaun made his first trip to America’s heartland last weekend.

“I liked it a lot. It was very interesting, a lot different than I expected,” said Kaun, a 6-foot-11, 245-pound blue-chip basketball prospect out of Florida Air Academy, who made an official recruiting visit to Kansas University Friday through Sunday.

“A lot of people said, ‘When you go to Kansas, you’ll see boring country.’ It was not like that. I got there and said, ‘Wow.'”

Kaun, who is beginning his third year at the Melbourne, Fla., high school, not only liked what he saw of KU’s scenic campus, but also what he noticed on the court.

He attended individual workouts of KU’s big men Friday afternoon and watched a pick-up game Saturday.

“It was frustrating because I had to sit out,” said Kaun, who is recovering from a foot injury he incurred during the summer, “(but) I got to watch a lot of good players. I like Wayne (Simien). I think he will be real good.

“I am impressed with coach (Bill) Self. He is a big-guy coach. He does a lot of things with big men like the high-low (passing). Their big men touch the ball all the time. They are always involved.”

Kaun, who averaged 13.0 points and 7.0 rebounds last season, will visit Michigan State this weekend and Duke Sept. 27-28, then make a college choice.

“I liked it a lot, but I have nothing to compare it too. It’s all new to me,” Kaun said of the recruiting experience. “It was my first time being at a college (football) game. Now I will go to Michigan State and compare and have some idea of the differences.”

Kaun was joined on his trip by fellow McDonald’s All-America candidate A.J. Price, a 6-1 guard from Amityville, N.Y. Price, who flew out of Kansas City International Airport Sunday evening, also appeared to have a great visit, Kaun said.

Price, who averaged 25.4 points, 7.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists last year, will visit Syracuse this weekend, UConn Sept. 20 and St. John’s Sept. 27.

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Today’s the day: KU will release its 2003-04 men’s basketball schedule today. Nonconference highlights include home games against Michigan State (Nov. 25) and Villanova (Jan. 2), plus a meeting with Oregon (Dec. 13 in KC) and contest against Stanford (Dec. 6 in Anaheim, Calif.). UT Chattanooga, Fort Hays State, Richmond and Binghamton also will play in Allen, while KU will travel to TCU and play two games in Reno, Nev.