Derrick Favors, the No. 1 big man in the Class of 2009, will announce his decision Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. at the ESPN Zone in Buckhead, Ga.

“I just feel a relief about it,” Favors told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “I’m happy to get it over with so I don’t have nothing else to think about.”

“I’m pretty sure his mind’s made up. That’s why he’s ready to announce it now,” Hulio Smith, Favors’ AAU coach, said by text.

The 6-foot-9, 220-pound Favors recently cut his list to Georgia Tech, Georgia and N.C. State.

He recently told Alex Schwartz of the Northstar Basketball Blog that “Being able to play in front of my friends and family” was a major factor in his decision.

Our guess is Georgia Tech, but we’ll have to wait and see. Paul Hewitt was in attendance Tuesday night when Favors scored 30 points in South Atlanta’s blowout victory.

On Thursday night, Favors and South Atlanta will play against Mobile (Ala.) LeFlore, whose team features top power forward DeMarcus Cousins. Tip-off is set for 9 p.m. on ESPN2.

Lance Stephenson is the No. 1 senior basketball player in the nation.

Pittsburgh is the No. 1 college team in the land.

Could the two be destined for a match?

Pitt associate head coach Tom Herrion watched Stephenson drop 37 points last week on Brooklyn Boys & Girls in a loss and a source close to the situation says Stephenson has “interest” in the Panthers. (more…)

Below are some highlights from today’s Hoop Group Tip-Off Classic at Seton Hall. I’m told the following coaches / schools were on hand to watch the action: Bob Huggins and Billy Hahn of West Virginia, Fred Hill and Jim Carr of Rutgers, David Cox of Georgetown, Scott Adubato and Dermon Player of Seton Hall, Jared Grasso of Fordham, Mike Rice and Andy Toole of Robert Morris, Steve Sauers of Iona, Horace Owens from La Salle, Geoff Arnold from St. Joe’s, and assistants from Rider and NYU….

***Behind 24 points from junior guard Isaiah Epps, Plainfield beat Paterson Catholic, 73-61, marking the second year in a row Plainfield has downed the Cougars.

Epps, Anthony Baskerville (21 points) and Tyrone Johnson (16 points) combined for 61 of Plainfield’s points. Epps scored 13 in the fourth period. (more…)

Great job by Alex Schwartz of Northstar Basketball getting this update on Derrick Favors of South Atlanta High. Favors told Schwartz he has eliminated Florida State from his list and is down to Georgia, Georgia Tech, Memphis and N.C. State.

The 6-foot-9 Favors did not sign in the early signing period and will now wait to sign in the spring. He has taken officials to N.C. State and the two Georgia schools, but his recent visit to Memphis was cancelled because his mother was ill.

He told Schwartz that he won’t necessarily pick one of the in-state schools. (more…)

Count Derrick Favors and Latavious Williams among the elite prospects who may wait until the spring to choose a college.

The NCAA early signing period begins Wednesday.

The 6-foot-9, 220-pound Favors, the No. 3 prospect in the Class of 2009 according to Rivals, is down to Georgia, Georgia Tech and N.C. State.

Hulio Smith, one of Favors’ AAU coaches with the Atlanta Celtics, sent me a text message Monday night saying that Favors would “probably [sign] in the late period.” (more…)

Derrick Favors could decide on a school “any day now,” according to Hulio Smith, one of Favors’ AAU coaches with the Atlanta Celtics.

“Looks like he may go in the early period now,” Smith wrote in a text message Tuesday morning. “Hopefully any day now. Everyone will find out at the same time as he will do it live on ESPNU.”

The 6-foot-9, 270-pound Favors out of South Atlanta High is the No. 1 center in the Class of 2009. He will choose from among Georgia, Georgia Tech and N.C. State, Smith said.

Memphis and Florida State are apparently no longer in the mix. Favors had planned to visit Memphis but that visit did not take place. (more…)

Derrick Favors will not visit Memphis this weekend as planned, according to a source close to the Memphis program.

Michael Reddick, Favors’ coach at South Atlanta High, told me yesterday that it was uncertain if the 6-foot-9, 220-pound Favors would make the trip.

“I’m not sure [if Favors will visit Memphis this weekend],” Reddick said Friday morning. “He might not be able to go. I’m not sure yet whether it’s going to be this week or the following or the week after.” (more…)

Derrick Favors, the No. 1 center in the Class of 2009 out of South Atlanta High, is down to five schools and could make a decision this fall.

The 6-foot-9, 220-pound Favors will choose from among Georgia, Georgia Tech, Memphis, N.C. State and Florida State. Favors will visit N.C. State this weekend and could trip to Memphis the weekend of Oct. 24. He is on record saying he may wait to commit until during the season, but his coach wants him to choose a school by the early signing period next month.

“It just depends on how comfortable he feels after he takes these visits,” South Atlanta coach Michael Reddick said Wednesday by phone. “I would prefer he would get it done by the signing date in November. That’s what’s preferable.

“It would take a way a little more of the distraction and speculation. He would have that over with.” (more…)

Tobias Harris will be very busy for the next few weekends.

The 6-foot-8 junior combo forward from Long Island Lutheran will visit West Virginia this weekend. After that he goes to Maryland for Midnight Madness Oct. 17, Georgetown (Oct. 18), Marquette for Midnight Madness (Oct 24 & 25), Georgia Tech (Nov. 1) and Georgia (Nov. 2). (more…)

Derrick Favors, a 6-foot-9 forward from South Atlanta High ranked the No. 1 center in the Class of 2009 by Rivals, has a final six of Georgia, Georgia Tech, UConn, Memphis, Kentucky and Florida State.

“When you have two outstanding in-state programs, it is always in your best interests to take a close look at them, and that’s what Derrick is doing,” South Atlanta coach Michael Reddick told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Favors will visit Georgia Tech this weekend after visiting Georgia two weeks ago.

“Georgia Tech, of course, is right here in the city, and that’s always a great thing,” Reddick said. “It would allow people around here, such as his family and his friends, the opportunity to see him play in person. And Georgia Tech has a great tradition of putting players in the NBA on a regular basis. Derrick is excited about this weekend.” (more…)