**UPDATE: The Sun Sentinel is reporting that Knight has cut Miami from his list and has added Syracuse.**

Brandon Knight’s parents would like him to attend Kentucky while Knight himself is more inclined to stay local, multiple sources close to the situation said.

“The parents like UK. Brandon likes the idea of staying local, but he’s definitely not opposed to going away,” one source said.

A second source with direct knowledge of the situation went so far as to say Knight’s parents had already made up their mind in favor of Kentucky.

“You’re right,” the source said. “Do I think they made up their mind already? Yes, I do. It’s hard for me to believe they’ll stay locally.”

Added the first source: “Kentucky is probably where he ends up.”

The 6-3, 185-pound Knight is now considering Kentucky, Kansas, Florida, UConn and Syracuse. Miami is now out.

“I’m pretty ready,” Knight told Gainesville.com on Tuesday. “I’m not bothered or anything. I want to make a decision.

“It’s my future.”

The first source said Knight’s parents liked Kentucky coach John Calipari’s “no-nonsense” style and his track record of sending players to the pros.

“They are going program and where he can be an impact player with the ball in hand, and get better to play in the NBA,” the source said.

6-9 power forward Patric Young of Jacksonville has committed to Florida and could try to sway Knight when the two play together in the McDonald’s All-American Game and the Nike Hoop Summit in Portland, Ore.

“He would mean a great deal to Florida,” Young told Gainesville.com. “He’s a great player who would make a big difference as a freshman. He’s a gym rat who loves the game and always works to get better. He’s also going to be great in the pros.

“I’ve been trying a little bit [to convince Knight to be a Gator], but I don’t push. He’s got to do what he wants to do.”

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‘No, no he hasn’t committed to Kentucky,” Efrem Knight said Sunday afternoon by phone. “Everything’s still the same.”

Asked when Brandon might make a decision, Efrem said, “Probably in a couple of weeks.”

The 6-foot-4 Knight lists Florida, Kentucky, Kansas, UConn, and Miami as his final five.

One assistant coach of a school recruiting Knight told me that, “They [Kentucky] are leading.”

Efrem said the family would decide over the next few weeks and that Brandon had no plans to take additional visits.

“No visits,” he said. “We’re done with that. We might watch some conference tournaments.”

Knight scored 18 points Thursday but his Fort Lauderdale Pine Crest team lost to Tallahassee Rickards 70-46 in the Class 3A Florida boys basketball final.

With his season done, Knight is committed to play in the McDonald’s All-American Game (March 31) and the Jordan Brand Classic (April 17), as well as at the Nike Hoop Summit April 10 at the Rose Garden in Portland, Ore.

“It’s over,” Efrem said of his son’s regular season. “[We have] McDonald’s and Jordan and USA Basketball.”

He once again said Brandon had not committed

“There is no commitment,” he said.

GILCHRIST VISITS UK

Michael Gilchrist, the 6-7 junior wing from Elizabeth (N.J.) St. Patrick ranked No. 1 in his class, attended the Florida-Kentucky game Sunday.

Gilchrist’s season ended prematurely when St. Patrick was banned from the New Jersey state tournament because head coach Kevin Boyle admitted to holding six out-of-season practices.

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Brandon Knight’s

“Nobody’s leading. Brandon can flourish at any one of the schools that he’s going to,” Efrem Knight said by phone. “It still where it’s been. He’s considering all the same schools.”

The elder Knight said his son is still considering Kansas, Kentucky, Miami, Florida, UConn and Syracuse.

The 6-foot-3 Knight will play against Florida commit Austin Rivers Friday night when Fort Lauderdale Pine Crest faces Winter Park on ESPN2 (7 p.m.).

Several sources had previously told me that Knight will likely land at either Kentucky or one of the Florida schools. Kentucky coach John Calipari flew last night to watch Knight perform at the Flyin’ to the Hoop event in Dayton.

If Knight ended up at Kentucky, he would follow John Wall, the likely No. 1 pick in the 2010 NBA Draft, as the latest elite guard to play for Calipari. The coach previously sent Derrick Rose and Tyreke Evans to the lottery during his time at Memphis.

One source close to Knight also said there was “pressure” on Knight to stay home and play for Miami or Florida, but his father denied there was any such pressure.

“No pressure at all. That’s just stuff you’re hearing in the streets,” he said.

Both Efrem and Pine Crest coach Dave Beckerman have said Knight will make an informed decision after the season ends.

“He wants to defend our district championship, then the regional championship, then the state championship. That will take us to about March 8. Then it will all be over,” Beckerman said in a recent interview.

Beckerman said Knight will also want to see “who’s going to declare for the NBA, who’s leaving, who’s coming in, who’s bringing in what players.”

“He’s very methodical,” Beckerman added. “He’s not going to be rushed.”

Still, Efrem said his son wouldn’t necessarily need to watch the teams he’s considering play in the NCAA tournament to make a decision.

“I think we’ve seen the teams play enough times this year,” he said.

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After Jack returned Friday night from an official trip to Arizona, he proceeded to lead Rice to the title at the 3rd annual SNY Invitational with back-to-back wins over Boys & Girls and Cardozo at LIU-Brooklyn.

Over the two games, Miami assistant Jorge Fernandez, Seton Hall assistant Scott Adubato, St. John’s assistant Fred Quartlebaum and Providence assistant Rodell  Davis were all on hand to watch Jack.

“I tell the coaches now that every day a new big-time coach is calling for him,” Hicks said. “And I tell them that his upside is great.”

And why not?

Jack, who spent 10 years of his childhood in Trinidad & Tobago, has only been playing ball for four years, yet he has tremendous upside. He’s a natural shot-blocker and rebounder and his ability to score around the basket is still improving. If he can develop a face-up game and improve his foul shooting, look out.

“Kadeem hasn’t been playing basketball for a long time,” Hicks said. “I think it’s a great thing because you can teach him. He doesn’t have the bad habits. As soon as you tell him to do something he does it right away. He’s a kid that loves to play and I think his upside is tremendous.”

***

If Jack opts to attend Arizona, he would join Westchester (Calif.) High School senior combo guard Jordin Mayes, who committed on Monday.

“Jordin always liked Arizona because he grew up watching Damon and Salim,” Darryel Mayes, Jordin’s father, told the Arizona Daily Star . “He understands a lot of guards did well at Arizona.”

Darryel played at UNLV and knows former Arizona players Damon and Salim Stoudemire.

With the addition of the 6-foot-1, 170-pound Mayes, it is unclear what is in store for Arizona’s recruiting.

The Daily Star reported that the Wildcats have just one scholarship remaining for 2010 and 2011, yet they are involved with Jack, Baltimore’s Josh Selby, New York’s Doron Lamb and Michigan’s Ray McCallum.

A source close to the Arizona program said Selby, Lamb and Jack remain the program’s “highest priorities.”

(Photo courtesy Daily News)

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After taking a two-day official visit to the Arizona campus, the 6-foot-9, 210-pound senior was on the basketball court at Long Island University-Brooklyn by 8 p.m.

He still had enough energy to throw down a monstrous two-handed dunk in the final minutes as Rice, the top Catholic League team in New York City, beat Boys & Girls, the top public school program, 56-44, in the 3rd Annual SNY Invitational.

“I’m exhausted,” said Jack, who put up 12 points, 12 rebounds, 3 steals and 2 blocks in front of assistant coaches from Miami and Providence. “I just had to come out and play my best and I think played better the second half.”

Read the full story here.

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A 6-foot-9, 210-pound senior big man from Manhattan Rice High School, Jack will visit Arizona Wednesday night and return Friday in time for the SNY Invitational beginning Friday at Long Island University in Brooklyn.

“I’m going to get back on Friday morning,” Jack said by phone.

Jack plays on a loaded Rice team that includes Kansas-State bound guard Shane Southwell and star junior Jermaine Sanders, who is being recruited by numerous Big East programs.

Jack only began playing hoops in the summer before ninth grade, yet he has quickly blossomed into one of the most exciting and accomplished big men in the nation.

He recently dropped 24 points and 20 boards on Villanova-bound forward JayVaughn Pinkston and Bishop Loughlin.

Jack said Providence, Miami, Florida, Seton Hall, St. John’s, UConn, Arkansas and Georgia were among the other schools recruiting him.

Asked if certain schools were showing the most love, Jack said: ”I wouldn’t say it’s one school. All of them showed me love. Each school has a different way to recruit players.”

As for his visit schedule, the remaining visits will have to wait until after Rice’s season ends.

“I’m taking this visit and the rest after the season’s over,” said Jack, who will have four officials remaining after the Arizona trip.

Arizona assistant Book Richardson helped bring New Yorkers Lamont “Momo” Jones and Kevin Parrom to the desert, and now he’s targeting fellow New Yorkers Jack and 6-4 guard Doron Lamb of Oak Hill (Va.) Academy. Richardson coached with the New York Gauchos before leaving for college and Jack plays for the Gauchos now.

“I don’t know him that well at all,” Jack said of Richardson. ”I just started speaking to him. A lot of people have told me he’s a great guy.”

He also said he likes coach Sean Miller’s style of play.

“They play the same offense that I like to run. the open floor. Everybody’s running. I like that about Sean Miller,” he said.

Ultimately, Jack said he wants to play both forward spots wherever he lands.

“I’m looking for a school that I can play the four/three and a school that’s looking to develop me and I can play right away, not 2 -3 minutes a game,” Jack said.

Considering he’s only been playing ball for four years, Jack said it’s still surprising to him how highly he’s being recruited.

“Yeah, it feels kind of strange where I was before,” he said. “Everything is just hitting me now.”

(Photo courtesy Daily News).

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**Cory Joseph — Despite published reports that the Findlay Prep guard is down to UConn and Villanova, Joseph insists he’s still also considering Minnesota, Texas and UNLV.

“No, I still have all five schools,” Joseph wrote in a text.

Asked if he had a timetable on deciding, he said: “No timetable, just whenever I feel 100 percent about it.”

Joseph posted 23 points, 9 rebounds and 3 assists against St. Patrick Monday in a 71-70 victory to earn Most Outstanding Player honors at the Hoophall Classic.

**Josh Selby — Kansas and Arizona lead for the talented 6-3 guard from Baltimore (Md.) Lake Clifton, sources close to the situation said.

Selby recently visited Arizona. Next up are trips to Kansas (Feb. 13-14), UConn (Feb. 28) and Kentucky (March 7-8).

Syracuse and Indiana are also in the mix.

**Brandon Knight — Kentucky coach John Calipari was on hand Monday when Knight dropped 39 points, 10 rebounds and 3 assists as Fort Lauderdale Pine Crest downed Cincinnati Jefferson, 68-61, in Dayton.

Michigan State-bound Adreian Payne had 16 points and 13 boards for Jefferson.

Knight lists Kentucky, Kansas, Florida, Miami and UConn and will sign in the spring.

“Those schools are still in the mix,” Knight told Jody Demling of the Louisville Courier Journal. “They’re still pretty even.”

He has one visit left and is expected to visit Miami.

“He does have one visit left. I do believe he will take a visit to Miami,” Beckerman said.

Pine Crest coach Dave Beckerman said Knight was in no hurry to decide and that it was a bad idea to consider Knight a “replacement” for John Wall at Kentucky.

USA JUNIOR NATIONAL TEAM CHOSEN

Serving as head coach for the USA will be Bob Cimmino, who has been the head coach at Mount Vernon High School (N.Y.) since 1994, compiling a 324-57 overall record.

(Photo courtesy Courier Journal)

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Knight, the top-rated recruit in the Class of 2010, and his Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) Pine Crest teammates are in Dayton, Ohio at the Flyin’  to the Hoop event.

“We’re only 45 minutes from the University of Kentucky. The early rumor is that all of Kentucky’s staff is coming down. They’re going to do whatever they can do,” Pine Crest coach Dave Beckerman said by phone.

The 6-foot-3 Knight dropped 36 points and hit the game-winning 3-pointer from NBA range with 3 seconds left Saturday to lift Pine Crest to a 64-61 win over Princeton (Ohio).

Ohio State-bound 6-4 guard Jordan Sibert finished with 16 points for Princeton.

On Monday Knight and company face 6-10 Michigan State-bound big man Adreian Payne and Cincinnati Jefferson.

Knight lists Kentucky, Kansas, Florida, Miami and UConn and will sign in the spring.

“Those schools are still in the mix,” Knight told Jody Demling of the Louisville Courier Journal. “They’re still pretty even.”

He has one visit left and is expected to visit Miami.

“He does have one visit left. I do believe he will take a visit to Miami,” Beckerman said.

As previously reported here, Knight could be next in line for Calipari, who will have sent three straight point guards to the lottery after this year — John Wall, Tyreke Evans and Derrick Rose.

Knight visited Kentucky in September and enjoyed it.

“It’s a basketball school, and their players right now are getting better,” he told the Louisville Courier Journal. “That’s a plus.”

Beckerman said the team hopes to play into early March and that Knight won’t make any decisions until then.

“This kid is a very, very, very focused kid. He does his homework, he does his practice,” the coach said. “He does everything methodically.

“He wants to defend our district championship, then the regional championship, then the state championship. That will take us to about March 8. Then it will all be over.”

Beckerman said Knight will also want to see “who’s going to declare for the NBA, who’s leaving, who’s coming in, who’s bringing in what players.”

“He’s very methodical,” Beckerman added. “He’s not going to be rushed.”

MILK DRAWING LOOKS

Matt Milk, a 6-9 forward from Long Island playing at Pine Crest, is also drawing looks.

Milk posted 11 rebounds and 2 blocks against Princeton and has interest from Hartford, Stony Brook, Dartmouth and FIU.

“He’s going to be a real steal,” Beckerman said. “Somebody’s going to get something more than they bargained for.

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The 6-foot-1 former St. Anthony standout tripped to Miami this past weekend for his first visit since receiving a conditional release from Fordham that prohibits him from playing in the Atlantic 10 or in the tri-state area.

“The visit was great,” said Jorge Fontan, Jio’s dad. “The coaches were real professional. We spent pretty much all day [Saturday] touring campus, checking out classrooms, speaking to academic people. We got the full works on the tour.”

Fontan led Fordham in scoring (15.3 ppg) and assists (132) last season. He will have to sit out until  December 2010 after transferring.

Next up is a trip to USC, followed by a visit to Tennessee.

In a strange twist of fate, the Trojans will host the Vols Saturday afternoon at the Galen Center.

“He’ll be leaving on the 18th [for USC],” Jorge said. “That’s already set. I think he’s going to Tennessee right after that.”

Jorge said no date had yet been set for the Tennessee visit. The Vols have been actively recruiting New York-area players in recent months, landing Long Island forward Tobias Harris and also recruiting Bishop Loughlin forward JayVaughn Pinkston, who ultimately committed to Villanova.

Jorge said Kansas State and Oklahoma State are also involved but no visits have been set.

“If we have time we’re trying to visit whoever we got,” JOrge said. “We’re going to go out there and see what everybody has to offer.”

FREE THROWS

Penn coach Glen Miller was fired after an 0-7 start and replaced on an interim basis by former Penn standout Jerome Allen. Miller compiled a 45-52 record after taking over for Fran Dunphy in 2006. “This really is about a sense of direction and leadership,” Penn athletic director Steve Bilsky told the Philly Inquirer. “Where we were at this point indicated it was time to make a change and this was the best time to do it.”… Rutgers, Seton Hall, Pittsburgh and Notre Dame are the four Big East teams who weren’t in this year’s SEC/Big East Invitational. The event has one year left on its contract.

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The guy’s been the interim head coach at Fordham for about a week and he’s already landed not one, but two commitments.

One day after landing point guard Rayner Moquete, Fordham picked up a verbal commitment from 6-foot-8 sophomore power forward Amadou Sidibe of Cardinal Hayes in The Bronx.

“He just did it, I’m excited for Jared,” Hayes coach Joe Lods said Friday by phone.

Sidibe won’t be able to sign with Fordham until the fall of 2011.

“I think he’s going to be a great player,” Lods said. “He’s 6-8 already. He’s 15 years old. He projects higher than that [Fordham] but Jared got it done.”

During his freshman season at Hayes, Sidibe averaged 12 points, 10 rebounds and seven blocks for a freshman team that went 22-2. They lost in the A-League Catholic championship game because Sidibe couldn’t play after suffering a hairline fracture in his leg.

Grasso was the first coach to offer him a scholarship when he was an assistant under Dereck Whittenburg and Sidibe visited Fordham in late September.

Now that Grasso is the head man, Sidibe pulled the trigger. 

“Jared does a good job of staying on the kids,” Lods said. “He’s been to my gym a bunch of times. As long as Jared is there, he [Sidibe] is there.”

FONTAN VISITS MIAMI

Former Fordham point guard Jio Fontan will visit Miami Saturday-Monday for his first trip since getting a conditional release from the A-10 school.

“We’re going to Miami until Monday,” said Jorge Fontan, Jio’s father.

Next weekend the 6-1 guard plans to visit USC.

Kansas State, Oklahoma State and Tennessee are also involved, but Indiana is now out of the mix.

(Photo courtesy of Justin Simon, Hayes)

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