Props to my boy Chris Chaney, the former Patterson (NC) School coach, who predicted del Potro earlier Monday (maybe before that). Someday I plan to cover Wimbledon and maybe even the Australian Open. So stay tuned for that…

Anyway, here are the hoops highlights of the night:

**Dallas Episcopal point guard Phil Pressey confirmed to me via text tonight that he committed to Missouri.

“Yes, I did,” he said.

The 5-foot-10 Pressey is ranked No. 13 among point guards in the Class of 2010. He chose Mizzou over LSU, Baylor, UCLA and Arizona.

“After I played with the guys and saw the campus and the football game and interacted with all the players, I thought Missouri was the place,” Pressey told Powermizzou.com . “I pretty much knew where I wanted to go. With the family atmosphere and knowing I had a chance to play right away, I just felt like there was no point in taking any other visits.”

Pressey averaged 18.3 points, 9.8 assists, 5.3 rebounds and five steals per game as a junior while earning all-state honors from the Southwest Preparatory Conference.

**Kansas head coach Bill Self met Monday night with the parents of Oak Hill (Va.) guard Doron Lamb, a Queens native.

“It was good,” Calvin Lamb, Doron’s dad, said by text. “He talked about how Kansas will be a good fit for Doron.”

Self had previously met with Doron himself last week at Oak Hill.

Arizona head coach Sean Miller and Kentucky coach John Calipari have also visited with Calvin Lamb. Oklahoma coach Jeff Capel is due in on Tuesday.

**Texas A&M head coach Mark Turgeon had an in-home with Elizabeth (NJ) St. Patrick coach Kyrie Irving.

“Texas a and m in home was splendid,” Tweeted Kyrie, who now has more than 2,000 followers.

A&M associate head coach Scott Spinelli played college ball with Dred Irving at BU, so don’t count out the Aggies.

Kyrie will trip to Duke officially Sept. 25, Indiana Oct. 2 and A&M Oct. 9.

UConn, Seton Hall, Georgia Tech and Kentucky are also in the mix for the supremely talented PG whom Celtics coach Kevin Boyle told me will be the best guard ever to come out of the Garden State.

**The Tobias Harris Sweepstakes continues and UConn is still in the mix. Jim Calhoun and the UConn coaches met with Tobias at his school last week.

“We met earlier in the week and had a good visit,” Torrel Harris said by text.

**Tobias also had a home visit Monday with Oklahoma’s Capel that went very well. You can bet that Oklahoma mentions that Blake Griffin was the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft in every home visit.

“Oklahoma visit was awesome,” Torrel said by text. “We really like the presentation from Jeff Capel and his staff. We like the direction Coach Capel is leading his team to the next level and winning. He spoke about academics, his basketball program, development workouts and getting his players better.

“His basketball staff is strong and understands helping players improve their skill level. Very impressed by the future. Three years at Oklahoma, three first-round draft picks. Many NBA prospects to follow from his program.”

**6-8 Concord (Mass.) Middlesex wing Rod Odom had breakfast with Harvard coach Tommy Amaker and his wife and then dinner with Vandy coach Kevin Stallings and his staff Sunday night at the school. Stallings and company had an in-home with the Odoms Monday night.

New York Panthers AAU coach Gary Charles previously said Odom “loved the fact that Vandy had a pre-law and medical building plus immediate playing time.”

**Harrison Barnes, the wing out of Ames (Iowa) High ranked No. 2 in the Class of 2010, says he won’t release his in-home visit but is slated to visit Duke Oct. 23.

**Seton Hall Prep junior PG Sterling Gibbs visited Maryland unofficially over the weekend and had a good talk with Gary Williams.

“The visit went real well,” Gibbs said by text. “I was able to sit down with Coach Williams and all of the assistant coaches and talk about my future if I were to come to Maryland and then we took a tour around the campus and met with the academic director and later on in the night we went to the football game with the players.”

Gibbs, whose brother, Ashton Gibbs, plays at Pitt, may also visit Notre Dame Oct. 19 for the football game.

He previously said Villanova was his leader.

**Jesse Morgan, a 6-4 postgrad shooting guard at South Kent, has interest from UConn, Florida, Seton Hall, Temple, UMass, Georgia and Pittsburgh, according to South Kent coach Kelvin Jefferson.

**Marist men’s basketball head coach Chuck Martin will host the 2009 Hudson Valley Coaches Clinic on Sept. 26 at the McCann Center. Coaches who will speak at the event include Kentucky’s John Calipari, Drexel’s Bruiser Flint, UMass’ Derek Kellogg and Norm Roberts of St. John’s.

The pre-registration fee, which must be received by Sept. 23, is $70. A flat rate of $200 will be charged for three coaches from the same school who attend. A free gift from Anaconda Sports will be given to those who pre-register. The walk-up registration fee is $85.

The clinic includes breakfast and lunch. Registration is scheduled to begin at 8:15 a.m., and the program is scheduled to end at 3 p.m. The schedule for the clinic goes as follows:

8:15 a.m.: Registration
9-10 a.m.: Norm Roberts – Ballscreen Options
10:10 -11:10 a.m.: Bruiser Flint – Pressure Defense
12:30 -1:30 p.m.: John Calipari – Dribble Drive
1:40 – 2:40 p.m.: Derek Kellogg – Transition Offense

(Photos courtesy Rivals / Kelly Kline, Nike)

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NEW YORK –

Leslie, a 6-foot-8 small forward out of Raleigh (N.C.) Word of God Academy, listed North Carolina, Kentucky, Florida and Maryland as the schools recruiting him the hardest.

“I haven’t made [any] dates” to visit yet,” said Leslie, the No. 14 player in the Class of 2010.

“I’ve been to UNC a couple of times because they’re right in my back yard. I haven’t been to Florida or Kentucky yet,” he said.

Asked if he had a favorite, Leslie said, “No, I don’t.”

What kind of player will he be?

“A lot of energy,” he said. “Somebody that can push the ball, can do a little bit of everything.”

SELBY WIDE OPEN

The 6-foot-1 Selby, out of Baltimore (Md.) Lake Clifton, recently decommitted from Tennessee and his mother says about 15 schools are in the mix.

UConn, Syracuse, Texas, Oregon, Kentucky and Kansas are among those in contention.

Selby, the No. 4 prospect in the Class of 2010, visited UConn recently and enjoyed it.

“The UConn visit went very well,” he said. “We met Coach [Jim] Calhoun, he was a great guy. The assistant coaches were great. The players that I met were very cool, so my visit up there was very good.”

What about Kentucky?

“Kentucky is just like any other school,” he said. “They’re recruiting me and I’m looking at them. I’m looking at them the same way I’m looking at other schools. There’s no difference because it’s Kentucky and Coach [John] Calipari. NOthing went on [with William Wesley], so it’s no different.”

Selby and his mother are finalizing a schedule for other in-home and official visits after the Boost Mobile.

“There’s no schools really sticking out,” Selby said. “Every school is on the same level. I”m wide open and giving everybody a chance.”

SMITH TO CUT LIST

Roscoe Smith, a 6-7 SF out of Oak Hill (Va.) Academy, also has a long list.

He mentioned UConn, Duke, Florida, Kentucky and LSU and said he planned to take several unofficials before school starts.

Smith’s Rivals page lists a slew of other offers as well: Kansas, Kentucky, Memphis, Georgetown, Tennessee, Texas, Florida and Florida STate, among others.

“After Friday I will be making some unofficial visits,” he said. “I’m going to pick out the school that I’m going to commit to going on the middle of my Oak Hill season.”

He said he transferred to Oak Hill to improve and prepare for college.

“I just wanted to be around great players,” he said. ”I think me going to Oak Hill will step my game up more and get me ready for college life.

“I just want to try and win a national championship for Steve Smith and other Oak Hill alumni.” 

PRESSEY HAS TOP FIVE

Phil Pressey, a 5-11, 160-pound PG from Dallas Episcopal, said his final five were UCLA, Baylor, Missouri, Arizona and LSU.

“When I get back I’ll probably visit a couple schools,” he said.

Pressey is the son of former NBA player Paul Pressey.

“He knows a lot of the coaches. He gets information about the coaches, that helps me out,” he said. “I take it as an advantage. I like it. He helps me out in whatever I do.”

TEAGUE TO VISIT KENTUCKY THIS WEEKEND

Marquis Teague, one of the top prospects in the Class of 2011, will visit Kentucky unofficially on Saturday, per Jody Demling of the Louisville Courier Journal.

“We haven’t had the opportunity to go there,” Shawn Teague, Marquis’ father, told Demling. “We want to keep our eyes open and absorb the conversation and see what it’s all about.”

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Attorneys for both sides huddled briefly before Judge Alexander Jeong said, “We will meet on July 15.”

Jeong had previously adjourned the case once, to Monday from May 19.

“It’s a process,” said Alberto Ebanks, Stephenson’s attorney.

Stephenson and Ellis are alleged to have groped a 17-year-old girl outside Lincoln High School last fall. If convicted, Stephenson could face up to 90 days in jail and a $1,000 fine.

Ebanks has maintained his client’s innocence throughout.

“[Stephenson] is 100 percent innocent,” he told me last month. “Just apply logic to the situation. At 2:50 p.m. as school is letting out, this God-awful incident goes on across the street from the school and no one sees anything? No one? Not one school safety officer, not one member of the administration, not one fellow classmate? Come on.

“It’s just a shame.”

Neither Stephenson nor his father, Lance Sr., spoke to the media Monday.

Lance and his family were coming off a weekend official visit to the University of Cincinnati and one Big East assistant coach said he expected Lance to make a verbal commitment to the school on Tuesday.

Yet it seems unlikely that any school would take a commitment until the groping case is resolved, which now has been pushed back.

The 6-foot-5 Stephenson is the all-time leading scorer in New York State history and he led Lincoln High School to four straight PSAL championships.

He has taken official visits to Kansas, Maryland and St. John’s and would have one remaining if the Cincinnati visit was an official.

Other potential schools in the mix include Memphis, Missouri, Pittsburgh and UNC-Charlotte, according to a source close to the Stephensons.

Florida, Florida International, Kansas, Maryland and St. John’s have already bowed out.

“We are going through the process of picking a school,” Lance Sr. wrote Sunday in a text. “Things are going well with the schools we are talking to. We look forward to announcing in the weeks to come.”

“He got here yesterday [Friday],” said a player on the team. “We just got through playing open gym. [He played] with the whole team and a couple old players.

“He was doing good. I guarded him. He played good. We could use him. If we get him we’ll be good.”

This is Stephenson’s fourth official visit. He has visited Kansas, Maryland and St. John’s and Lance Stephenson Sr. recently said his son would take two more.

Memphis and Arizona may still be involved, but no visits have been set, as far as we know.

Other potential schools in the mix include Missouri, Pittsburgh and UNC-Charlotte, according to a source.

Cincinnati returns a solid core including guards Deonta Vaughn and Rashad Bishop and forward Yancy Gates. Point guard Cashmere Wright also becomes eligible this year after sitting out last season with an injury. The Bearcats are bringing in big man Ibrahima Thomas and guards Sean Kilpatrick and  Jaquon Parker. Kilpatrick is a White Plains, N.Y. native.

The 6-foot-5 Stephenson is the all-time leading scorer in New York State history and a McDonald’s All-American.

He is due in Brooklyn Criminal Court on Monday to face sexual assault charges because he is alleged to have groped a girl outside Lincoln High School in Brooklyn last fall.

Until this point, several schools, including Kansas, Florida, Florida International, Maryland and St. John’s have bowed out of the Lance Sweepstakes.

(Photo courtesy Daily News)

The story was first reported by the New York Post.

“For 26 years I was the coach of this team and an ambassador for this university,” Green told the newspaper. “I called this place home. For them to treat me this way shows a complete lack of respect for me as a person, as a coach and as a loyal employee.”

He also told The Bergen Record: “This decision kills my career. To get fired in June of year 26 kills a career. I’d hoped to coach another five or six years before I even thought about retiring,” Green said. “It not only affects me, but I’ve got three assistant coaches and two of them have families. There are no Division I college basketball head coaching jobs available in June.”

Green posted a career mark of 407-351, including four NCAA and two NIT appearances. The Knights finished 7-23 last season and were 6-12 in the NEC conference.

“Coach Green is no longer our coach and I can’t say anything else beyond that,” FDU athletic director David Langford told The Record. “Coach Green has worked for FDU for 26 years and done a lot of good things, and helped the university with its visibility and we’re very thankful to him for that.”

One name for FDU officials to consider is Seton Hall assistant Dermon Player, a top-notch recruiter in the New York area. Another excellent choice would be St. Patrick of Elizabeth coach Kevin Boyle, who has won five Tournament of Champions, perenially has a top-ranked national team and is one of the best high school coaches in the country.

Speaking of Seton Hall, 6-9 sophomore forward Brandon Walters is transferring.

“He’s going to transfer,” said Dwayne “Tiny” Morton, Walters’ coach at Lincoln High School in Brooklyn. “He talked to the coaching staff and everything went smoothly.”

Walters is due to visit Siena on Friday and Morton said he had also heard from Manhattan and Hofstra. He will have two years of eligibility left after he sits out a year.

Walters follows fellow big man Mike Davis out the door this offseason. Both saw the writing on the wall with the arrival this season of big men Herb Pope, Melvyn Oliver and Ferrakohn Hall.

“We wish Brandon the best of luck in his future endeavors,” Pirates coach Bobby Gonzalez said. “He worked hard for us in his two years at Seton Hall. By transferring he’ll have a greater opportunity to see an increase in playing time.”

***Thomas Jefferson sophomore point guard Davontay Grace will visit Marquette this weekend for its Elite Camp.

“Next week he’ll be going to the Nike Hoop Jamboree in St. Louis, Mo.,” said Hassani Stewart, Grace’s AAU Coach. “Missouri’s been trying to get ahold of his high school coaches to see if he can visit there.”

The 6-2 Grace has also visited St. John’s unofficially.

(Photos courtesy FDU and SHU)

“There didn’t have to be any smoothing over,” Westchester Community College coach Tyrone Mushatt, who also attended the meeting, told Greg Auman of the St. Petersburg Times. “There won’t be any confusion about this. He’s going to South Florida.”

WCC assistant Mickey Carey had previously said the 6-foot-11 Famous wanted to get out of his Letter of Intent because he hadn’t heard from Heath in some time and hadn’t been informed of the departure of assistants Dan Hipsher and Byron Samuels.

“I can only go by what Jarrid has told me, and the comments that were made [from Carey] were never comments that Jarrid made to me,” Heath told the St. Pete Times.

Famous, who did not answer his cell phone and is reportedly ill, averaged 25.2 points and 13.7 rebounds last year at WCC. He chose USF over Arizona, Missouri and Seton Hall. He is due to arrive at USF June 25.

‘‘ [The NCAA] thinks that [former Simeon player Kevin Johnson] took [the SAT test] for him,” Luther Topps, who coached Rose’s club basketball team with Derrick’s brother Reggie, told the newspaper.

Topps said he and Simeon coach Robert Smith don’t know anything firsthand.

‘‘[Smith and I] didn’t know anything about his test,’’ Topps said. ‘‘Reggie moved me and him out of the way long before that, as soon as the money got involved.’’

The Memphis Commercial Appeal reported Wednesday that the NCAA is investigating major violations at Memphis during the 2007-08 season, Rose’s only year at the school. Rose just finished his first season in the NBA with the Bulls. The player’s name is redacted throughout the NCAA letter, which you can read here.

The Commercial Appeal reported that the individual involved denied the charge through university personnel.

If the allegations are proven true, Memphis could forfeit its 38 wins and Final Four appearance from that season, marking the second time John Calipari would have had to do that. His 1996 Final Four with UMass was also forfeited.

Memphis head coach Josh Pastner and the current team reportedly face no repercussions, but you have to wonder how these charges might impact recruiting.  Will potential recruits shy away from Memphis given what has happened? Will Memphis be extra cautious when dealing with, say, Lance Stephenson, who has his own baggage to deal with?

Calipari, who led Memphis to the 2008 NCAA title game and then took the Kentucky job March 31, said he would cooperate with the investigation.

“Even though I’m not at risk, I will fully cooperate with the NCAA hearing. Beyond that, I concur with the statement from the University of Kentucky and will have no further comment,” he said.

FAMOUS SITUATION UP IN THE AIR

The appears to be some mixed signals coming out of the Jarrid Famous camp.

His father, Jerome, is on record saying that his son will play for South Florida next year.

“He’s never complained about USF to me,” Jerome Famous told the Tampa Tribune.

Yet Westchester Community College assistant Mickey Carey says Famous wants to get out of his letter of intent because the staff lost two coaches after Famous committed and the situation is not “stable.”

“He’s still trying to get out of his letter of intent,” Carey said by phone. “His father believes he’s still going.

“Jarrid still has to speak with the AD at South Florida and hopefully that will be enough to resolve the matter.”

Asked when that might be, Carey said: “Before the end of the week for sure. We don’t have a lot of time.”

The 6-11 Famous averaged 25.2 points and 13.7 rebounds last year at WCC. He chose USF over Arizona, Seton Hall and Missouri and could end up at Arizona if he gets out. If he doesn’t get out and chooses not to attend South Florida, he’ll have to sit out the year and play somewhere beginning in 2010.

“If he gets out he’s going to explore his options,” Carey said. “Of course he’s going to look back at the schools that were already looking at  him. He’s looking for a stable situation and the South Florida situation is not stable. This young man only has two years.”

South Florida head coach Stan Heath will reportedly visit with Famous on Sunday. Famous has not returned messages left on his cell.

RUTGERS WINS IN SPAIN

Pat Jackson had 22 points and seven rebounds to lead Rutgers to a 72-61 victory over the Canarias Basketball Academy on Wednesday in the Canary Islands.

Hamady N’Diaye added 12 points and Greg Echenique had 10 points and nine rebounds. Mike Coburn dished out 10 assists and Florida transfer Jonathan Mitchell had nine points on 4-of-9 shooting in his first official Rutgers game.

Per FIBA rules, the teams played four 10-minute quarters and with a 24-second shot clock.

“It was a different style of play and I thought we responded well,” said head coach Fred Hill. “The 24-second shot clock and the way travelling is called is much, much different. The speed and quickness of the decision making was new and it showed early, but we adjusted very well. It was nice to get Jonathan (Mitchell) out there for the first time. We played everyone. It was different, but it was a great experience for our guys.”

The Knights are playing four games in four days on this trip.

(Photo courtesy Chicago Sun-Times)

Jarrid Famous

“Jarrid Famous is trying to get out of his letter,” one source with direct knowledge said.

The 6-foot-11 Famous chose South Florida last month over Arizona, Missouri and Seton Hall and could end up at one of those places if he gets out. Arizona appears to be a likely destination.

Famous’ father, however, told the St. Petersburg Times that his son would attend South Florida.

“Jarrid is going to South Florida. He’s not switching schools,” the father said. “He’s going to South Florida, no doubt about it.”

Famous is reportedly upset because he hasn’t heard from USF head coach Stan Heath. He also wasn’t notified of the coaching changes at USF which saw the departure of Byron Samuels, who helped recruit Famous, and of Dan Hipsher, now at Alabama.

Famous was not immediately available for comment.

Westchester assistant Mickey Carey told the Tampa Tribune Famous is in the process of contacting USF athletic director Doug Woolard to get his release.

“There seems to be a rift among the [Westchester] coaches wanting him to go to Arizona,” Heath told the paper. “The dad assured me the kid is coming. I spoke briefly with Jarrid today, and I am supposed to talk to him again later today.”

“Jarrid’s mind is made up,” Carey told the Tampa Tribune. “Last week, he got really fed up. It got to the point … Heath says I’m going to come see him on this day and then he says he can’t make it. After a while that gets old. I think the situation at USF doesn’t look good.

“I was concerned when you have half your staff leave in a week. Now a month and a half later and there’s still uncertainty who will be on staff. Plus Heath only has two years left [on his contract].

“Since Jarrid signed, he hasn’t seen Coach Heath, Coach Heath hasn’t called him. He doesn’t know anything about the coaching staff. He didn’t feel comfortable with the situation anymore. It seems to be very unstable.”

If Famous doesn’t get a release – a la Jio Fontan at Fordham -he would have to sit a year and then resurface somewhere for the 2010-11 season.

KENTUCKY LOSING THREE

Remember all the talk about John Calipari having 17 scholarship players at Kentucky?

It seems like ancient history now.

The Wildcats announced Tuesday that Jared Carter, A.J. Stewart and Donald Williams will not return for the 2009-10 season.

Carter, a 7-2 senior, will not seek a fifth year, after sitting out the majority of the 2006-07 season due to a shoulder injury.

“I’ve enjoyed my experience at UK and will remember all the people and players I’ve met along the way, especially Mr. Keightley,” said Carter. “I’m looking forward to moving on with my life and am excited to see what professional opportunities await me.”

Stewart (pictured) and Williams will both transfer.

Kentucky guard Jodie Meeks could still withdraw from the NBA Draft, leaving the ‘Cats with 13 players.

Some members of their star-studded incoming class could also fail to become eligible.

Speaking of Kentucky, former coach Billy Gillispie’s house is up for sale if anyone has a couple mill to blow in Lexington.

OGLESBY GOING TO EUROPE

One day after Nick Calathes of Florida announced he would play professionally in Greece, Clemson sophomore guard Terrence Oglesby said he will follow him to Europe.

Oglesby averaged 13.2 points and drained 92 3-pointers last season and was one of the Tiger’s top players.

“It’s a very good opportunity for me to go over there and be a professional and practice twice a day and work out six hours a day,” Oglesby told Jeff Goodman of FoxSports.com. “It was too much to pass up.”

Head coach Winston Nicholas passed away Monday morning after a long battle with cancer, according to assistant coach Mickey Carey.

“Coach Nicholas passed away this morning,” he said Monday by phone.

That news clearly overshadows the fact that 6-foot-11 center Jarrid Famous will play for South Florida head coach Stan Heath, picking that school over Arizona, Missouri, Pittsburgh and Seton Hall.

“It’s true,” Carey said of the commitment. “I think he felt comfortable with the situation. He likes coach Heath and Coach [Byron] Samuels. It’s the Big East. He wanted to play in the Big East.” [Samuels has since left the staff, although it's unclear if he was fired by Heath or left for his own reasons.]

The commitment news was first reported by Rivals, which noted that Famous also has several relatives who live in the Tampa area.

A Bronx native, Famous initially committed to Hartford out of Blessed Sacrament in New Rochelle and then decommitted after Larry Harrison was let go. He then went to Houston Inner City Academy with his teammate Curtis Dennis.

“He’s a guy who’s obviously made tremendous improvement in the last few years,” recruiting expert Tom Konchalski said. “He’s a very, very nice kid. He’s made a lot of progress and he’s moving in the right direction.”

Famous made his decision Sunday night after taking an official visit to Arizona, according to Carey.

Famous was supposed to make the official announcement Wednesday night at  a team dinner, but that will be postponed because of Nicholas’ passing.

South Florida has also landed 6-6 guard Mike Burwell, an East Brunswick, N.J.  native who prepped at South Kent; 6-6 guard Jordan Dumars of Detroit; and 6-4 guard Shaun Noriega of North Port, Fla.

The 6-foot-10, 260-pound center from Oklahoma City (OK) Bishop McGuinness said Thursday at the Jordan Brand Classic practice that he would remain at Kentucky despite the recent coaching change.

“I’m still at Kentucky, I’m still at Kentucky,” said Orton, the No. 4 center in the Class of 2009. “I’m going to stay here.”

When asked if he ever considered leaving after John Calipari took over for the fired Billy Gillispie, Orton said, “There was that time that from when Coach G got fired, I was little frustrated with everything. There was a thought of having to go back through the recruiting process, which is a little stressful. But I just kind of dealt with it all.”

In the end, he opted to stay with Calipari: “Coach Cal’s a great guy and he just seems like a great coach,” Orton said.

In related news, Calipari announced that he had added former Kentucky stars Tony Delk and Scott Padgett to the staff, according to reports.

At Kentucky Orton will play alongside DeMarcus Cousins, the 6-10, 270-pound Kentucky signee from LeFlore (Ala.) High.  Cousins initially verballed to Memphis and then picked Kentucky after Calipari changed jobs.

Calipari will have no shortage of quality big men, especially if Patrick Patterson does not leave for the NBA. He is testing the waters but has not signed with an agent. Somehow the coach will have to find minutes for all these big guys, but Orton says he’s not worried.

“I figure you can’t go wrong, two good players,” Orton said. “I am [excited about playing with DeMarcus]. It’s going to be fun, especially if Patrick Patterson stays, which I think he will.”

Cousins is actively working on both Xavier Henry and John Wall to join them at Kentucky. Both players are among the top five in the nation and have yet to settle on a final school.

“Theyr’e just laughing at everything we say, not taking anything too serious,” Orton said of Wall and Henry.

“It’s stressful,” Orton said of the recruiting process. “I’ve been through the process before. Going through it again, I couldn’t imagine. For Xavier and John Wall, they’ve been through it all, I wouldn’t’ even want to be in [their] shoes right now.”

How good can Kentucky be with Orton and Cousins, and potentially Patterson, Jodie Meeks and maybe even Henry or Wall?

“Final Four contenders,” Cousins said emphatically. “We’ll beat Duke and North Carolina.”

“There’s no telling right now,” Orton added. “Just wait and see.”

ST. JOHN’S LOSING WAIT, YOUNG

St. John’s coach Norm Roberts announced that first-year center Phil Wait plans to transfer and that head team manager/video coordinator Kimani Young has resigned from his position for family reasons.

“We wish Phil the best as he continues his collegiate career,” said Roberts. “We support him in his decision to find a situation where he can attain more minutes on the court.”

Wait played in 11 games as a rookie big man in 2008-09, averaging 1.3 rebounds in 5.1 minutes. Though a first-year player and considered a freshman academically this past season, Wait will have two years of eligibility remaining following his transfer. Prior to 2008-09, the NCAA granted him three years of eligibility because of his participation in organized competition at Gran Canaria Academy (Spain) in 2007-08, after reaching 21 years of age.

Young, the father of three children between the ages of two and six years of age, resigned his post after one season following a family tragedy. Young’s wife, Sharette Dixon, passed away on March 23 at the age of 38.

“I never thought I would ever leave such a great University and historic basketball program as St. John’s,” said Young. “As a result of the tragic events my family has endured this past month, I have to take a step back professionally to evaluate my goals, with the care of my children being the primary focus and deciding factors.”

“I’d like to thank Coach Roberts, the staff and the entire St. John’s family for allowing me the opportunity of pursuing my dream, and for the unprecedented love and support that has been extended to me and my family during this difficult time,” Young continued.

Young will return to his old position as the athletic director of the New Heights AAU program.

SYRACUSE’S FLYNN SIGNS WITH AGENT

Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim said sophomore guard Jonny Flynn has signed with an agent and won’t return for his junior year. Flynn signed with Leon Rose, also LeBron James’ agent.

“Jonny Flynn has signed with an agent and will enter the NBA Draft,” Boeheim said. “He had a tremendous two years at Syracuse. Jonny helped to elevate our program as much as any player we have ever had. We wish him the best of luck as he pursues a career in professional basketball. I expect Jonny will be an outstanding pro player.”

Eric Devendorf and Paul Harris have already said they will leave Syracuse for the pros.

Draftexpress.com and NBAdraft.net both have Flynn going No. 15 to the Detroit Pistons.

That leaves Andy Rautins, Mookie Jones and Scoop Jardine as the lone returning guards at Syracuse. Those three, along with Brandon Triche, the Co-Mr. New York Basketball with Lance Stephenson, will lead the backcourt.

ODDS & ENDS

Sherrod Wright of Mount Vernon (N.Y.) will decide this week from among George Mason, UCF, Kansas State and Hofstra, a source said….Memphis coach Josh Pastner reached out to Jarrid Famous, but Famous will not visit or consider Memphis.  New Florida International coach Isiah Thomas also called, but it was a no go. The 6-11 Famous is set to visit Arizona this weekend and then announce his choice next Wednesday at Westchester (N.Y.) Community College. Seton Hall, South Florida, UConn, Missouri and Villanova are also in the mix…Former Rice head coach Willis Wilson and former Kentucky assistant Glynn Cyprien were on the Memphis campus interviewing Tuesday, according to Gary Parrish of CBS Sports…Oak Hill point guard Lamont “Momo” Jones said he enjoyed his visit to USC this past weekend but has no timetable for announcing. Oak Hill coach Steve Smith said Arizona is the only other possibility for Jones, but no visit has been planned…Oklahoma freshman guard Willie Warren will return for his sophomore year, according to multiple reports. Warren averaged 14.6 points and 3.1 assists.