**First off, how about this loaded schedule that North Carolina has in the next couple of weeks? The defending NCAA champion Heels could play five ranked teams in an eight-game span.

They face No. 15 Ohio State Thursday in the Coaches vs. Cancer semis at MSG and could then face either unranked Syracuse or No. 13 Cal in Friday’s title game.

After two tilts against Gardner-Webb and Nevada at home, the Heels host No.2  Michigan State Dec. 1 and visit No. 4 Kentucky Dec. 5. After a home game with Presbyterian, the Heels play at No. 3 Texas Dec. 19.

“Perhaps I took one more game this year than I probably should have for this team,” Carolina coach Roy Williams said.

“You look at the poll and you have Michigan State, Texas, Kentucky 2, 3 or 4 and we’re playing all three of those and only one of them in the Smith Center. It is something that is difficult but the Texas game is the last one I took, but the idea of playing the first college basketball game in the Cowboys Stadium was intriguing to me. And looking back on it and looking at it as we get closer and closer, I said maybe I shouldn’t have done that but we’ll see how it works out.”

The Heels host Marshall, Rutgers and Albany before playing at the College of Charleston to close out the non-confernce. They begin ACC play Jan. 10 against Virginia Tech at home. 

Carolina hosts No. 9 Duke Feb. 10 and plays at Cameron Indoor to end the regular season March 6.

“We have played really good schedules but I think it’s important to be tested before you get into conference play because when you get into conference play I think you have to raise your play another level even over those big-time national games,” Williams said.

**Speaking of Duke and Carolina, I asked Strickland his thoughts on the recent commitments of former teammate Kyrie Irving (Duke) and Irving’s close friend Harrison Barnes (Carolina).

Strickland and Irving teamed up to lead Elizabeth (NJ) St. Patrick to the New Jersey Tournament of Champions crown in 2009, the program’s third in four years. This year the Celtics are ranked No. 1 in USA Today’s preseason poll and, with Irving, Michael Gilchrist, Derrick Gordon and Kevin Boyle Jr., are favored to win a fourth in five years.

Strickland on Irving’s decision: “I wasn’t surprised really because we’re close friends so we talked about it. I just told him before he picked to make the right decision and if you’re comfortable with it that’s a good school for you.”

He added: “I think it’s a good pick for him I just hope that that system doesn’t change who he is as a player. He’s a good scorer looking to score and I know Coach K is going to want to run the program and make him fit into the system. I told him to just to stay on top of your game and just focus and have a good time at Duke.”

 Strickland on Barnes’ decision to announce for North Carolina via Skype on ESPNU: “Honestly, everybody was surprised. Coach Williams was surprised himself. [Barnes] did a good job of keeping on a straight face and not letting anybody think he was going here or think he was going to another school.

“I was surpsried. When he called us on the Skype I was really surprised and I’m happy also.”

(Strickland Photo courtesy UNC Athletics)

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JayVaughn Pinkston, a 6-foot-6 forward from Bishop Loughlin considered the top prospect in the Big Apple, hasn’t picked a school yet and may or may not sign late.

“We cannot say definitively,” New Heights athletic director Kimani Young said Wednesday morning. “There’s still a possibility that he commits early.

“He’s still going through the recruiting process even as of this week to figure out if he’s decided 100 percent where he wants to go to.”

Pinkston, who recently led New Heights to the is8 championship by scoring a combined 59 points in the semis and finals, will choose from among Villanova, St. John’s, Seton Hall, Tennessee and Marquette.

Villanova appears to be the leader for his services.

“He’s thinking about it,” Young said of the recruiting process. “He’s not taking any more visits.”

***Doron Lamb, a 6-4 shooting guard from Queens who plays for Oak Hill (Va.) Academy, appears as if he will wait until the spring signing period. He has visited Oklahoma, Kansas and Kentucky and will visit UConn Nov. 15-16. He may also visit Arizona, but likely not until after the early signing period ends Nov. 18.

Pinkston and Lamb are among a group of elite 2010 prospects who may not sign until the spring. Guards Josh Selby and Brandon Knight and forwards Roscoe Smith, C.J. Leslie and Terrence Jones also may sign in the spring.

Selby will visit Indiana Nov. 14, while Knight will hit Florida Nov. 13. Leslie is also planning a visit to Florida, but no date has yet been set.

While that group may wait, several elite area players are poised to sign early.

***Tobias Harris, a 6-8 forward from Dix Hills (N.Y.) Half Hollow Hills West, says he will announce on Nov. 19.

Harris has visited Syracuse, Tennessee, Kentucky, Louisville and West Virginia and will visit Maryland (Nov. 13-14) and Georgia Tech (Nov. 16-17) due up in the next week.

“When we finish all the visits, Tobias will decide,” Torrel Harris, his father, said recently. “Right now all of them are equal. Every one is better and better.”

***J.J. Moore, a 6-5 wing from Brentwood, N.Y., who plays at South Kent (Conn.), could announce at any time. He will choose from among Pittsburgh, Louisville and St. John’s.

**Russell Smith, a 6-2 shooting guard from The Bronx who also plays at South Kent, will visit Louisville this weekend and is expected to sign with the Cardinals once he receives a formal scholarship offer.

“They love him,” Russell Smith Sr. said. “That’s a good thing. Rick [Pitino's] been following him for a while, watching him play. They said they definitely want him.”

***Rod Odom, a 6-8 wing from Long Island who plays at Concord (Mass.) Middlesex, will sign with Vanderbilt Wednesday. He initially committed to Arizona and then changed his plans.

***Fuquan Edwin, a 6-6 wing from Paterson (N.J.) Catholic, signed with Seton Hall Tuesday night and faxed in his papers Wednesday morning.

**Rutgers recruit Austin Carroll says he will sign Thursday. Was too busy Wednesday with classes and road game 3 hours away.

**Ashton Pankey, a 6-9, 225-pound forward from New York who plays at St. Anthony, will visit Houston this weekend and will then decide between Houston and Maryland, which he visited last weekend.

“He really liked Maryland and I know he wants to be able to compare Maryland to another school,” St. Anthony coach Bob Hurley said.

“He’ll make a decision right after his visit,” Young added.

**Three other St. Anthony players have already committed and are expected to sign early: Devon Collier (Oregon State), Derrick Williams (Richmond) and Eli Carter (St. Bonaventure).

Hurley said the school likely will host a signing event for all four players next Tuesday.

**St. Patrick senior guard Kyrie Irving  signed Wednesday with Duke and his teammate, Derrick Gordon, chose Western Kentucky.

**St. Benedict’s senior guard Aaron Brown will sign with Temple Wednesday, while his 6-8 teammate Gil Biruta will visit Rutgers this weekend.

**As first reported here, Rice senior guard Shane Southwell has committed to Kansas State and will sign Wednesday.

“I just received my papers,” he wrote by text.

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On Sunday, Nov. 8, New York City legends Kenny Smith, Kenny Anderson and a host of others NYC basketball personalities will participate in the Sharette Dixon Classic, a showcase of the top talent from New York and New Jersey.

Duke commit Kyrie Irving and uncommitted standouts Jayvaughn Pinkston and Tobias Harris are expected to participate. Harris is visiting West Virginia this weekend and may or may not return in time for the event.

“Sharette was a wonderful mother and a talented professor,” said Smith, who etched his name in New York City basketball lore before going on to a successful career as both an NBA player and television analyst. “This event is really a celebration of her life and the values that she stood for.”

Anderson will serve a host for the event, which will feature some of New York and New Jersey’s most promising players. The event will take place at Bishop Ford HS in Brooklyn and will begin with a Girls’ showcase at 4 pm, followed by a Boys’ showcase at 6 pm.

Anderson, who is still considered one of the finest point guards ever to come out of New York City, said that participating in the event was an easy choice.

“When you have hard times, the first place you look for support is your family,” said Anderson. “Kimani and I have been friends for more than 20 years.  Here in New York, the basketball community is like one giant family and we look out for each other.  Anything I can do for Kimani and his kids I will do.”

True to Dixon’s nature, the event will recognize players who have excelled academically as well. One player from each participating team will receive the Sharette Dixon Academic Excellence Award, which is given to players who have maintained a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or better throughout their high school career.

The Sharette Dixon Memorial Classic will take place on Sunday, Nov. 8, at Bishop Ford High School in Brooklyn (500 19^th Street, Brooklyn, NY, 11215). The girls game is at 4 and the boys game at 6.

Proceeds from the event will support a family education and child care fund being established in Mrs. Dixon’s memory for her three children.

###

Featured participants in the Sharette Dixon Classic include:

Boys Game

Kyrie Irving (#6 rated Senior in the nation; committed to Duke)

JayVaughn Pinkston (#1 Senior in NYC; uncommitted)

Tobias Harris (#7 Senior in the nation; uncommitted)

Myck Kabongo (Top 25 Junior in the nation; committed to Texas)

Sterling Gibbs (member of USA Basketball 16/U team)

Kyle Anderson (member of USA Basketball 16/U team)

Girls Game

Jennifer O’Neal (#30 Senior in the nation; committed to Kentucky)

Bria Hartley (#14 Senior in the nation; committed to UConn)

Jaleah Sidney (#? Senior in the nation; committed to Syracuse)

Dasia Simmons (#42 Senior in the nation; committed to Rutgers)

Lauren Mincy (#23 Senior in the nation; committed to Maryland)

Briyona Canty (#9 Junior in the nation; uncommitted)

Bria Smith (#5 Junior in the nation; uncommitted)

Academic Excellence Awards:

Tobias Harris, Half Hollow Hills West

Kyrie Irving, St. Patrick’s

Hakeem Harris, Blair Academy

Omar Calhoun, Christ the King

Bria Hartley, North Babylon

Korin Robinson, Mary Louis

Ciarra Calhoun, JHS 51

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To Cincinnati.

“I think it’s great for all the best players in New York to get out of New York and come to Cincinnati,” Cronin said with a smile in an interview you can see in the Video Player at right. “We hope that everybody follows Lance.”

The 6-foot-5 Stephenson was voted the Big East preseason Rookie of the Year, but is still awaiting word from the NCAA Clearinghouse on his amateurism issues.

“We’re waiting,” Cronin said. “He’s cleared academically so we’re just waiting on the amateur thing. He’s not the only one waiting. A lot of the elite players [John Wall, Renardo Sidney] are going through it…Hopefully, it’s done before the first game, I know that.”

Cincinnati was picked No. 7 in the Big East preseason poll and the Bearcats figure to challenge for an NCAA Tournament bid.

They return three potential future NBA players in Stephenson, Deonta Vaughn and Yancy Gates, along with experienced juniors Rashad Bishop and Larry Davis. Redshirt freshman Cashmere Wright takes over at the point and freshman wing Sean Kilpatrick joins Stephenson in the recruiting class.

“You’ve got to have players,” Cronin said. “There’s no doubt we have some potential pros on our team. I think a couple guys are probably surefire pros. We’re going to play some freshman point guards, but we’re a team that has a chance this year.

“We have a little secret weapon that becomes eligible in December, Ibrahima Thomas, a 7-foot forward who can shoot the 3.”

HARRIS, IRVING HIGHLIGHT SHARETTE DIXON CLASSIC

The two most important things in Sharette Dixon’s life were her family and education.  Now that she has passed away, her husband Kimani Young and the NYC basketball community are banding together to make sure that her children get the support and education that they need in the future. On Sunday, Nov. 8, New York City legends Kenny Smith, Kenny Anderson and a host of others NYC basketball personalities will participate in the Sharette Dixon Classic, a showcase of the top talent from New York and New Jersey.

“Sharette was a wonderful mother and a talented professor,” said Kenny Smith, who etched his name in New York City basketball lore before going on to a successful career as both an NBA player and television analyst. “This event is really a celebration of her life and the values that she stood for.”

Former NYC legend and NJ Net Kenny Anderson will serve a host for the event, which will feature some of New York and New Jersey’s most promising players. The event will take place at Bishop Ford HS in Brooklyn and will begin with a Girls’ showcase at 4 pm, followed by a Boys’ showcase at 6 pm.

Anderson, who is still considered one of the finest point guards ever to come out of New York City, said that participating in the event was an easy choice.

“When you have hard times, the first place you look for support is your family,” said Anderson. “Kimani and I have been friends for more than 20 years.  Here in New York, the basketball community is like one giant family and we look out for each other.  Anything I can do for Kimani and his kids I will do.”

True to Dixon’s nature, the event will recognize players who have excelled academically as well. One player from each participating team will receive the Sharette Dixon Academic Excellence Award, which is given to players who have maintained a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or better throughout their high school career.

The Sharette Dixon Memorial Classic will take place on Sunday, Nov. 8, at Bishop Ford High School in Brooklyn (500 19^th Street, Brooklyn, NY, 11215). The girls game is at 4 and the boys game at 6.

Proceeds from the event will support a family education and child care fund being established in Mrs. Dixon’s memory for her three children.

###

Featured participants in the Sharette Dixon Classic include:

Boys Game

Kyrie Irving (#6 rated Senior in the nation; committed to Duke)

JayVaughn Pinkston (#1 Senior in NYC; uncommitted)

Tobias Harris (#7 Senior in the nation; uncommitted)

Myck Kabongo (Top 25 Junior in the nation; committed to Texas)

Sterling Gibbs (member of USA Basketball 16/U team)

Kyle Anderson (member of USA Basketball 16/U team)

Girls Game

Jennifer O’Neal (#30 Senior in the nation; committed to Kentucky)

Bria Hartley (#14 Senior in the nation; committed to UConn)

Jaleah Sidney (#? Senior in the nation; committed to Syracuse)

Dasia Simmons (#42 Senior in the nation; committed to Rutgers)

Lauren Mincy (#23 Senior in the nation; committed to Maryland)

Briyona Canty (#9 Junior in the nation; uncommitted)

Bria Smith (#5 Junior in the nation; uncommitted)

Academic Excellence Awards:

Kyrie Irving, St. Patrick’s

Hakeem Harris, Blair Academy

Omar Calhoun, Christ the King

Bria Hartley, North Babylon

Korin Robinson, Mary Louis

Ciarra Calhoun, JHS 51

OUT ON THE WEEKEND

Seton Hall hosts Devon Collier of St. Anthony and Fuquan Edwin of Paterson Catholic on official visits this weekend. Collier is deciding from among Seton Hall, St. John’s, Providence and Oregon State, while Edwin already committed to the Pirates…St. John’s hosts J.J. Moore of South Kent (Conn.) on an unofficial and Ronald Roberts of St. Peter’s Prep on an official.

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Pinkston, a 6-foot-6 forward from Bishop Loughlin, and Collier, a 6-8 forward out of St. Anthony (N.J.), are slated to be on hand when Seton Hall plays Carleton University in an exhibition at Walsh Gym.

2010 Seton Hall commit Fuquan Edwin of Paterson Catholic is also scheduled to attend.

Pinkston and Collier were both at St. John’s this weekend, Pinkston for Midnight Madness, Collier for an official visit.

Pinkston, the top player in New York City, is considering Villanova, St. John’s, Seton Hall, Marquette and Tennessee.

Kimani Young of New Heights said that after the Seton Hall visit Pinkston will either decide to sign somewhere in the fall or wait until the spring.

He said the other day on SNY.tv that Villanova might be the perfect fit for Pinkston and other kids.

As for Collier, he has now visited Oregon State, Providence and St. John’s, and taken an unofficial to Seton Hall.

Collier will huddle with his father, Red, and New Heights coach Adam Berkowitz after the Seton Hall visit to decide his next move.

BARNES TO JOIN IRVING AT DUKE?

(Photo courtesy Chuck Liddy, newsobserver.com)

Harrison Barnes, the 6-6 forward out of Ames (Iowa) High ranked No. 2 nationally in the Class of 2010, took his official visit to Duke this weekend.

The photo above, courtesy newsobserver.com, shows fans with a lifesize cutout of Barnes in a Duke uniform during a scrimmage Saturday at Cameron Indoor. Security guards reportedly collected the cutouts before the scrimmage began because they posed a potential NCAA violation.

“If you’ve got one of these, I’ve got to have it,” a security man said, according to Ken Tysiac of newsobserver.com. “I’ve got to have all of them.”

Could Barnes end up following his close friend Kyrie Irving of St. Patrick to Blue Devil country?

“The process for him has been very methodical,” Ames High coach Vance Downs told charlotteobserver.com. “He’s just very patient, takes his time, looks at all his options and then will eventually find the right fit for him.”

Barnes has already visited North Carolina, Oklahoma and Kansas and is slated to see UCLA next weekend and take an unofficial to Iowa State.

Downs told charlotteobserver.com Barnes plans to announce by the start of the season Nov. 16.

“Harrison, he’s like a big brother to me, and we talk all the time,” Irving told ESPNU. “Mainly, it’s not about Duke. He’s his own man, and he’s going to make his own decision, and whatever decision he makes, I’m going to be happy for him.”

NOVA DRAWS RECRUITS FOR ‘HOOPS MANIA’

According to the Villanova blog VUhoops.com, the Wildcats had several elite prospects on campus Friday night for its ‘Hoops Mania.’ The group included newly minted 2011 commit Achraf Yacoubou of Long Island Lutheran; 2010 commit James Bell; 2011 St. Patrick wing Michael Gilchrist; 2011 Seattle Garfield guard Tony Wroten Jr.; and 2010 guard Cory Joseph of Findlay (Nev.) Prep.

The Philly Inquirer also reported that Gilchrist, Yacoubou and 2010 commit Markus Kennedy of The Winchendon (Mass.) School attended Villanova’s 36-7 football victory Saturday over Rhode Island.

HARRIS HITTING LOUISVILLE NEXT

Tobias Harris and his Unique All-Stars lost to the New Jersey Playaz Juniors 69-63 on Saturday in the is8 playoffs, according to NYCHoops.net.

Harris, who scored 19 points in a losing cause, still plans to visit Louisville next weekend, followed by visits to West Virginia, Georgia Tech and Maryland.

He has already seen Syracuse, Tennessee and Kentucky.

Harris plans to announce on Nov. 19.

(Photos courtesy Rivals.com & GoAZCats.com)

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Kyrie Irving made it official on ESPNU Thursday night, putting on a blue Duke baseball hat and announcing his intention to play for the Blue Devils.

A senior at Elizabeth (N.J.) St. Patrick, Irving chose Duke over Texas A&M and Kentucky, both of which he took official visits to. He canceled visits to Georgia Tech and Seton Hall after deciding to announce.

“I”m pleased to announce that I will be committing to Duke University,” he said. “I will be a Blue Devil next year.”

The 6-foot-2, 175-pound Irving is the No. 4 point guard in the Class of 2010 and the No. 9 overall player, according to Rivals.com.

He joins 6-8 power forward Josh Hairston of Spotslvania, Va., and 6-2 point guard Tyler Thornton of Washington, D.C., in Duke’s 2010 recruiting haul.

Irving said his “relationship with [Coach Mike Krzyzewski] and the whole entire coaching staff” was key to his decision.

“I have a great relationship with everybody, the players, everybody,” he said. “When I went on my official visit [Sept. 25] it felt like home and it’s the place for me.”

Irving’s friend Harrison Barnes, a 6-6 wing from Ames (Iowa) High ranked No. 2 in the Class of 2010, reportedly began his visit to Duke Thursday and it has been no secret that the two would love to play together.

“I’ll let the Duke coaching staff handle that,” Irving said. “Harrison’s like a big brother to me. We talk all the time, but mainly it’s not about Duke. He’s his own man and he’s going to make his own decision and whatever decision he makes I’m going to be happy for him.”

Barnes is also considering North Carolina, Oklahoma, UCLA, Kansas and Iowa State.

As for Irving, Duke desperately needed a quality point guard going forward and they got their man.

“Kyrie Irving, when it’s all said and done, he will arguably be as good as any guard who’s played in New Jersey,” St. Patrick coach Kevin Boyle told me last season. “Any guard. Ever. Ever. DaJuan Wagner, Bobby Hurley, Shaheen Holloway. You’re talking about a guy who’s a great shooter, a great finisher. He’s going to be as good as anybody who’s played in New Jersey.”

One Big East assistant said without pausing: “He’s a pro.”

Tom Konchalski, the longtime New York recruiting analyst, said Irving could potentially follow in the footsteps of Jersey point guards Bobby Hurley and Jason Williams in leading Duke to a national title.

“I think he would probably be Mike Krzyzewski’s best point guard since Jason Williams,” Konchalski said.

(Photos courtesy Irving Family & AP)

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The 6-foot-2, 175-pound Irving is the No. 4 point guard in the Class of 2010 and the No. 9 overall player, according to Rivals.com.

“He’s definitely going to Duke and if he doesn’t announce it tomorrow [Wednesday] he’ll probably announce it Thursday,” said one Division 1 assistant coach involved in Irving’s recruitment.

“He has committed. I heard that from [a Duke assistant],” said a second coach who recruited Irving.

A third source close to yet another assistant coach recruiting Irving confirmed that he had committed to the Blue Devils.

“He told me it’s a done deal,” the source said.

Phone messages left for Kyrie and Drederick Irving were not immediately returned Tuesday night.

But Kyrie posted this on his Twitter feed after I initially wrote this blog: “I don’t know what’s going on with all these supposed sources but I have not commited to Duke.”

Irving took his first official to Duke the weekend of Sept. 25 and saw the Blue Devils beat N.C. Central 49-14 in football and watched as last year’s basketball team was honored for winning the 2009 ACC title.

He was greeted with numerous signs around campus heralding his arrival.

“Duke official was great! I enjoyed every single second…everything there fits me and is right for me…you never know what will happen,” Irving said then on his Twitter feed.

His father also indicated that Duke was his favorite.

“It is very appealing what they offer,” Drederick told me last month.

“It’s a great academic institution that offers great athletics. You get the best of both worlds. That reflects what I represent and what Kyrie represents but we’re still trying to be objective about it because there are still other elite schools that offer that academic excellence.”

After eliminating Indiana from the process, Irving still took officials to Texas A&M Oct. 9 and to Kentucky this past weekend for Big Blue Madness.

Irving visited Kentucky with St. Patrick teammate Michael Gilchrist, as well as Long Island stars Tobias Harris and Achraf Yacoubou. By all accounts, Irving enjoyed the visit to the school where his Godfather, Rod Strickland, serves as an assistant to John Calipari. 

He was slated to visit Georgia Tech this coming weekend and Seton Hall Oct. 30. Obviously, if he announces this week those visits would be off.

Even before the Kentucky visit, Irving told Dime Magazine he was leaning toward Duke.

“I guess you could say that I’m leaning toward Duke,” he said. “I’m just not ready to commit. It was my first visit and of course I’m really high on them and like I said I have that feeling, but I think it’s only smart to compare it to something.”

He added: “Well, I’ve got that feeling with Duke, but I want to go on a few more visits to compare it all. I’m not ready to commit yet. I just want to make sure everything is right. Duke and Indiana were my top two schools, and Duke is up there, but I like the other schools too.”

Kevin Boyle, Irving’s coach at St. Patrick, told me last year that Irving could end up being the best guard ever to come out of New Jersey. That’s high praise considering that group includes Bobby Hurley, Dajuan Wagner and Jason Williams, among others. Boyle indicated in August that Duke and Indiana were the favorites but then Indiana was surprisingly eliminated during the process.

“I would not be surprised if he went to Duke,” Boyle said. “Any time you’re being recruited hard by the guy who’s the current and last Olympic coach [Mike Krzyzewski], it’s going to definitely be a concern for any [other] school when Duke’s recruiting you.”

Tom Konchalski, the longtime New York recruiting analyst, said Irving could potentially follow in the footsteps of Jersey point guards Hurley and Williams in leading Duke to a national title.

“I think he would probably be Mike Krzyzewski’s best point guard since Jason Williams,” Konchalski said.

(Photos courtesy Irving Family & Duke Athletics)

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Tobias Harris

Imagine what a dangerous tandem that would be for some lucky college program.

It could happen if both seniors choose the same school.

But at this point the two stars would have to both select Kentucky, which they visited this weekend for Big Blue Madness, or Georgia Tech, which both will visit in the coming weeks.

“We talked about that but both of us don’t have a leader in this process and the only schools recruiting us both are Kentucky and Georgia Tech,” the 6-foot-8 Harris from Dix Hills (N.Y.) Half Hollow Hills West, second from right in the above photo, said Sunday night by text.

After watching more than 23,000 fans turn out for Big Blue Madness, Harris said his favorite part of the visit was “the fans and how they support their basketball team.”

And first-year coach John Calipari put on the fullcourt press with Harris by telling him he was a player who could “come in and score and play many positions.”

Tobias and his father, Torrel, went to three practices in two days.

“Calipari is such a good teacher,” Torrel. “He’s going to bring that program back to the good days. That’s what he wants to do, bring them back to the glory days of Kentucky basketball.”

The 6-2 Irving out of Elizabeth (N.J.) St. Patrick has now visited Duke, Texas A&M and Kentucky and will visit Georgia Tech next weekend and then Seton Hall Oct. 30.

“Yes, I plan to,” Irving said by text Saturday night after returning from Kentucky. “All the places that are on my list I can see myself playing at.”

Harris, meantime, has the is8 playoffs next weekend in Queens and will also visit Louisville, West Virginia, Georgia Tech and Maryland. The semis and finals of is8 are Oct. 31-Nov. 1, so if the Unique All-Stars advance that far, Harris would visit Louisville Nov. 1 right after the is8 game. If he loses beforehand, he would go earlier.

Harris has already visited Syracuse, Tennessee and Kentucky.

“I’m just looking for a school with a great atmosphere and good character guys I can get along with,” Harris said.

LESLIE MISSES UK VISIT

Raleigh (N.C.) Word of God forward C.J. Leslie did not make the trip to Kentucky for Big Blue Madness, according to his brother. I hope to have an update Monday.

Leslie had in-home visits this fall with Kentucky, Florida, Maryland, Oregon, Georgia Tech, Georgetown, Seton Hall, N.C. State and Florida International, according to newsobserver.com.

His former Word of God teammate John Wall is a freshman point guard at Kentucky, but Leslie insists he’s open.

“It would be fun to play with him at point guard in college, but I’m still gathering information,” Leslie told newsobserver.com. “I really am wide open.”

BLUE TO MARQUETTE

Madison (Wisc.) Memorial combo guard Vander Blue committed to Marquette Sunday after he had initially committed to Wisconsin as a sophomore.

The 6-4 Blue chose the Golden Eagles over Wisconsin, Arizona, Florida and UCLA.

“It was tough, decommitting from Wisconsin and then turning around and committing to Marquette,” Blue told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. “That’s like me going from Duke to North Carolina. You know there’s going to be some tensions, regardless. But at the end of the day, I’ve got to do what’s best for me and my family, and that’s what it was.”

Blue visited Marquette over the weekend for Midnight Madness.

“I love the Marquette culture, have a real good connection with Buzz [Williams], and I feel like it was a great fit for me,” he said. “Their style of play is my style, it’s close to home, my mom can come see me play anytime. I feel like it was a good decision for me, and that’s where I want to pursue my college career.”

Blue is the third Madison Memorial products to pick Marquette over the last four years, following Wesley Matthews and Jeronne Maymon, according to the Journal Sentinel. Blue joins 6-6 wing Jamail Jones of Montverde (Fla.) Academy in Marquette’s recruiting class.

The Eagles have two scholarships left.

(Photos courtesy Torrel Harris, AP, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

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Kyrie Irving and Tobias Harris have been remarkably consistent throughout their recruiting processes.

Both high school seniors have insisted they will take all of their college visits before deciding.

Duke still looks like the leader for Irving, and Syracuse would appear to lead for Harris.

But both plan on finishing their visits despite having a great time at Kentucky’s “Big Blue Madness.”

“Yes, I plan to,” Irving said by text Saturday night after returning from Kentucky. “All the places that are on my list I can see myself playing at.”

That is good news for Georgia Tech and Seton Hall fans. The 6-2 Irving, out of Elizabeth (N.J.) St. Patrick, is set to visit Georgia Tech next weekend and Seton Hall Oct. 30 for its Midnight Madness event.

Irving has already visited Duke and Texas A&M.

As for the Kentucky visit in which he was joined by Harris, Gilchrist and Yacoubou, Irving said: “It was good. I had a really good time.”

Asked if he was still leaning toward Duke, Irving said: “I’m not leaning toward any school.”

The 6-8 Harris from Dix Hills (N.Y.) Half Hollow Hills West also had a great time hanging with Irving and the others.

“It’s been very good,” he wrote by text.

Harris has now seen Syracuse, Tennessee and Kentucky and still plans to visit Louisville, West Virginia, Georgia Tech and Maryland.

“I’m just looking for a school with a great atmosphere and good character guys I can get along with,” Harris said.

As for the 6-7 Michael Gilchrist and the 6-4 Achraf Yacoubou, who also visited Kentucky, both plan to visit Villanova next weekend for “Hoops Mania.”

Yacoubou says his top three are UConn, Kentucky and Villanova in no particular order, while Gilchrist, the top player in the nation regardless of class, is said to favor Kentucky and Villanova.

He has also visited Michigan and Rutgers in recent weeks.

(Photo courtesy Kelly Kline)

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UCONN

Some 9,000 fans turned out at Gampel Pavillion to support the Huskies on First Night.

6-8 Oak Hill (Va.) forward Roscoe Smith is considering Duke, UConn and Georgetown. He has already visited Georgetown and was at UConn on Friday.

“I’m a versatile-type player. I can do it all,” Smith told David Borges of The New Haven Register. “Anything the coach needs of me, I can do.”

Smith said he liked UConn and its history of producing talented big men.

“The main thing about UConn is coach Jim Calhoun. And also, the legacy of the players that played here, like Rudy Gay, Ben Gordon, etc.”

Also slated to be at UConn were Findlay (Nev.) Prep Cory Joseph (2010), Winchendon wing Angel Martinez of New York and Maurice Harkless of Queens, both Class of 2011.

Borges also reported that UConn shooting guard Jerome Dyson, who missed the last 12 games of last season after undergoing knee surgery, has been sitting out of practices and drills, but did compete in Friday night’s dunk contest.

“He wouldn’t miss the chance to show off,” said Calhoun. “Jerome has instant recuperative powers when there are 2,000-3,000 co-eds looking at him.”

KANSAS

The No. 1 team in the preseason polls returns all five starters, including, Sherron Collins and Cole Aldrich, as well as a banner recruiting class that includes Xavier and C.J. Henry.

During the freshmen skits for “Late Night in the Phog,” The Kansas City Star reported that Xavier had to wear an afro and super tight Kansas game shorts from the 1980s while dancing to rapper Lil’ Flip’s “The way we ball.”

“They made us do some goofy stuff tonight,” Xavier told the paper. “We stressed over it the whole week. We practiced earlier [Friday], made sure we got it down. It was good. I enjoyed it while we were out there.”

Markieff Morris was 6-of-7 from the field for 15 points and Travis Releford was 6-of-6 for 15  in the scrimmage at Allen Fieldhouse, according to the Topeka Capital Journal. Xavier scored eight points.

New Jersey guard Tyshawn Taylor, who suffered a dislocated right thumb that required surgery in the recent fight with members of the football team, played nine minutes. He did not score but dished five assists.

“I feel good,” Taylor told Jeff Goodman of FoxSports.com. “My shot is like I never left. I don’t even think about it when I play.”

Several elite recruits were on hand, but neither Harrison Barnes of Ames, Iowa, nor Doron Lamb of Oak Hill (Va.) played, Goodman reported. Barnes, who still has to visit Duke and UCLA, was resting his body. Josh Selby took an unofficial and did run with the team.

KENTUCKY

John Calipari officially launched the 2009-10 campaign by addressing some 24,000 fans in the Bluegrass State.

Many expect the Wildcats to challenge for a Final Four run after the additions of freshmen John Wall, Eric Bledsoe, DeMarcus Cousins and Daniel Orton to a team that already included Patrick Patterson, Darius Miller and DeAndre Liggins.

“I look at this team behind me and the passion in front of me and I see the foundation for my vision for our program,” Calipari said, according to reports. “It’s a vision where we are the gold standard not just for college basketball but for all college athletics.”

Kentucky hosted a slew of elite recruits, including the New York/New Jersey quartet of Tobias Harris, Kyrie Irving, Michael Gilchrist and Achraf Yacoubou.

Irving and Harris both Tweeted that they were “chillin” with each other.

UPCOMING MADNESS EVENTS:

Oct 22 – St. John’s

Oct. 23 – Villanova

Oct. 30 – Seton Hall 

POWELL TO STANFORD

Dwight Powell, a 6-9, 215-pound forward from Bradenton IMG Academy, verbally committed to Stanford over Harvard and Georgia Tech.

“It was a tough decision but the combination of world class academics and world class athletics confirmed in my mind Stanford was the place for me,” Powell wrote in a text message. “Coach [Johnny] Dawkins has a great vision for me and for the program, which is exciting.”

A five-star prospect, Powell is ranked No. 23 overall and No. 7 among forwards.

(Photos courtesy Rivals, Kansas City Star, US Presswire)