Three hoops recruits in this weekend

By Jim Baker     Apr 26, 2002

Two of the top high school junior guards in the country and one of the best big men will be on Kansas University’s campus for official men’s basketball recruiting visits this weekend.

They are: David Padgett, 6-foot-11 from Reno, Nev.; Omar Wilkes, 6-2 from Los Angeles; and J.R. Giddens, 6-5 from Oklahoma City.

Padgett and Wilkes, who are good friends, both compete in the summer for adidas Pump N Run out of Los Angeles.

The 240-pound Padgett, who averaged 23 points and 15 rebounds last season at Reno High, also has visited Arizona and Stanford and plans to visit North Carolina this spring or next fall.

Padgett, who scored 44 points in one game and 41 in another, missed the season’s last eight games because of a dislocated knee.

“He’s one of the best post prospects in the junior class a strong kid who is aggressive, yet mobile,” said Mark Mayamura, recruiting analyst for Recruiting USA. “He is well schooled by his dad (Pete, Reno High coach), who was an All-American at Nevada-Reno. Last year he was able to run the floor like (Nick) Collison until he came down with the injury. He’s fundamentally strong and tough. He can shoot, block shots. He’s one of the top five prospects in the junior class.”

Pete Padgett told CarolinaBlue.com that distance isn’t a major factor in his son’s college choice.

“I don’t think going that far would be a problem,” Pete Padgett said. “With television the way it is, we will be able to see almost all his games wherever he goes. He will go where he feels best about, first, academics, and, second, the basketball program. I am serious when I say that.”

Wilkes is a smooth-shooting 170-pound off-guard who averaged 20.0 points a game last year for Loyola High in Los Angeles.

“He’s a very talented finesse ballplayer,” Mayamura said. “He’s a good outside shooter who can put it on the floor a bit. His strength is shooting ability. He has some quickness, but his main thing is catch and shoot. He has a quick release.”

Wilkes, the son of former UCLA standout Jamaal Wilkes, is considering KU, Arizona, Stanford, UCLA, USC, Cal, Duke, Kentucky, Florida and Maryland.

“He’ll be recruited by all the Pac-10,” Mayamura said. “He’s long, a kid who has not filled out yet. He will be a fine, finesse player.”

Wilkes, who hit better than 50 percent of his floor shots, is known as a hard worker.

“I shot almost 200 jump-shots a day,” Wilkes told the LA Times of his summer workouts. “I have this weird feeling when I’m not playing, someone else is getting better than me. I’m more confident. I was never a terrible shooter. Now when I shoot, I expect to make it.”

Giddens, a 170-pound guard from John Marshall High, is the top prep prospect in Oklahoma. He is quite familiar with KU. He attended last year’s Late Night With Roy Williams and the KU-Baylor game last February.

“He is a very athletic player and definitely a high-major Big 12-caliber athlete who will likely stay in the region,” Mayamura said of Giddens, who is considering KU, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Purdue and Illinois.

Giddens averaged 25.0 points and 7.2 rebounds a game last season. He also is a high jumper.

Three hoops recruits in this weekend

By Jim Baker     Apr 26, 2002

Two of the top high school junior guards in the country and one of the best big men will be on Kansas University’s campus for official men’s basketball recruiting visits this weekend.

They are: David Padgett, 6-foot-11 from Reno, Nev.; Omar Wilkes, 6-2 from Los Angeles; and J.R. Giddens, 6-5 from Oklahoma City.

Padgett and Wilkes, who are good friends, both compete in the summer for adidas Pump N Run out of Los Angeles.

The 240-pound Padgett, who averaged 23 points and 15 rebounds last season at Reno High, also has visited Arizona and Stanford and plans to visit North Carolina this spring or next fall.

Padgett, who scored 44 points in one game and 41 in another, missed the season’s last eight games because of a dislocated knee.

“He’s one of the best post prospects in the junior class a strong kid who is aggressive, yet mobile,” said Mark Mayamura, recruiting analyst for Recruiting USA. “He is well schooled by his dad (Pete, Reno High coach), who was an All-American at Nevada-Reno. Last year he was able to run the floor like (Nick) Collison until he came down with the injury. He’s fundamentally strong and tough. He can shoot, block shots. He’s one of the top five prospects in the junior class.”

Pete Padgett told CarolinaBlue.com that distance isn’t a major factor in his son’s college choice.

“I don’t think going that far would be a problem,” Pete Padgett said. “With television the way it is, we will be able to see almost all his games wherever he goes. He will go where he feels best about, first, academics, and, second, the basketball program. I am serious when I say that.”

Wilkes is a smooth-shooting 170-pound off-guard who averaged 20.0 points a game last year for Loyola High in Los Angeles.

“He’s a very talented finesse ballplayer,” Mayamura said. “He’s a good outside shooter who can put it on the floor a bit. His strength is shooting ability. He has some quickness, but his main thing is catch and shoot. He has a quick release.”

Wilkes, the son of former UCLA standout Jamaal Wilkes, is considering KU, Arizona, Stanford, UCLA, USC, Cal, Duke, Kentucky, Florida and Maryland.

“He’ll be recruited by all the Pac-10,” Mayamura said. “He’s long, a kid who has not filled out yet. He will be a fine, finesse player.”

Wilkes, who hit better than 50 percent of his floor shots, is known as a hard worker.

“I shot almost 200 jump-shots a day,” Wilkes told the LA Times of his summer workouts. “I have this weird feeling when I’m not playing, someone else is getting better than me. I’m more confident. I was never a terrible shooter. Now when I shoot, I expect to make it.”

Giddens, a 170-pound guard from John Marshall High, is the top prep prospect in Oklahoma. He is quite familiar with KU. He attended last year’s Late Night With Roy Williams and the KU-Baylor game last February.

“He is a very athletic player and definitely a high-major Big 12-caliber athlete who will likely stay in the region,” Mayamura said of Giddens, who is considering KU, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Purdue and Illinois.

Giddens averaged 25.0 points and 7.2 rebounds a game last season. He also is a high jumper.

Three hoops recruits in this weekend

By Jim Baker     Apr 26, 2002

Two of the top high school junior guards in the country and one of the best big men will be on Kansas University’s campus for official men’s basketball recruiting visits this weekend.

They are: David Padgett, 6-foot-11 from Reno, Nev.; Omar Wilkes, 6-2 from Los Angeles; and J.R. Giddens, 6-5 from Oklahoma City.

Padgett and Wilkes, who are good friends, both compete in the summer for adidas Pump N Run out of Los Angeles.

The 240-pound Padgett, who averaged 23 points and 15 rebounds last season at Reno High, also has visited Arizona and Stanford and plans to visit North Carolina this spring or next fall.

Padgett, who scored 44 points in one game and 41 in another, missed the season’s last eight games because of a dislocated knee.

“He’s one of the best post prospects in the junior class a strong kid who is aggressive, yet mobile,” said Mark Mayamura, recruiting analyst for Recruiting USA. “He is well schooled by his dad (Pete, Reno High coach), who was an All-American at Nevada-Reno. Last year he was able to run the floor like (Nick) Collison until he came down with the injury. He’s fundamentally strong and tough. He can shoot, block shots. He’s one of the top five prospects in the junior class.”

Pete Padgett told CarolinaBlue.com that distance isn’t a major factor in his son’s college choice.

“I don’t think going that far would be a problem,” Pete Padgett said. “With television the way it is, we will be able to see almost all his games wherever he goes. He will go where he feels best about, first, academics, and, second, the basketball program. I am serious when I say that.”

Wilkes is a smooth-shooting 170-pound off-guard who averaged 20.0 points a game last year for Loyola High in Los Angeles.

“He’s a very talented finesse ballplayer,” Mayamura said. “He’s a good outside shooter who can put it on the floor a bit. His strength is shooting ability. He has some quickness, but his main thing is catch and shoot. He has a quick release.”

Wilkes, the son of former UCLA standout Jamaal Wilkes, is considering KU, Arizona, Stanford, UCLA, USC, Cal, Duke, Kentucky, Florida and Maryland.

“He’ll be recruited by all the Pac-10,” Mayamura said. “He’s long, a kid who has not filled out yet. He will be a fine, finesse player.”

Wilkes, who hit better than 50 percent of his floor shots, is known as a hard worker.

“I shot almost 200 jump-shots a day,” Wilkes told the LA Times of his summer workouts. “I have this weird feeling when I’m not playing, someone else is getting better than me. I’m more confident. I was never a terrible shooter. Now when I shoot, I expect to make it.”

Giddens, a 170-pound guard from John Marshall High, is the top prep prospect in Oklahoma. He is quite familiar with KU. He attended last year’s Late Night With Roy Williams and the KU-Baylor game last February.

“He is a very athletic player and definitely a high-major Big 12-caliber athlete who will likely stay in the region,” Mayamura said of Giddens, who is considering KU, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Purdue and Illinois.

Giddens averaged 25.0 points and 7.2 rebounds a game last season. He also is a high jumper.

Three hoops recruits in this weekend

By Jim Baker     Apr 26, 2002

Two of the top high school junior guards in the country and one of the best big men will be on Kansas University’s campus for official men’s basketball recruiting visits this weekend.

They are: David Padgett, 6-foot-11 from Reno, Nev.; Omar Wilkes, 6-2 from Los Angeles; and J.R. Giddens, 6-5 from Oklahoma City.

Padgett and Wilkes, who are good friends, both compete in the summer for adidas Pump N Run out of Los Angeles.

The 240-pound Padgett, who averaged 23 points and 15 rebounds last season at Reno High, also has visited Arizona and Stanford and plans to visit North Carolina this spring or next fall.

Padgett, who scored 44 points in one game and 41 in another, missed the season’s last eight games because of a dislocated knee.

“He’s one of the best post prospects in the junior class a strong kid who is aggressive, yet mobile,” said Mark Mayamura, recruiting analyst for Recruiting USA. “He is well schooled by his dad (Pete, Reno High coach), who was an All-American at Nevada-Reno. Last year he was able to run the floor like (Nick) Collison until he came down with the injury. He’s fundamentally strong and tough. He can shoot, block shots. He’s one of the top five prospects in the junior class.”

Pete Padgett told CarolinaBlue.com that distance isn’t a major factor in his son’s college choice.

“I don’t think going that far would be a problem,” Pete Padgett said. “With television the way it is, we will be able to see almost all his games wherever he goes. He will go where he feels best about, first, academics, and, second, the basketball program. I am serious when I say that.”

Wilkes is a smooth-shooting 170-pound off-guard who averaged 20.0 points a game last year for Loyola High in Los Angeles.

“He’s a very talented finesse ballplayer,” Mayamura said. “He’s a good outside shooter who can put it on the floor a bit. His strength is shooting ability. He has some quickness, but his main thing is catch and shoot. He has a quick release.”

Wilkes, the son of former UCLA standout Jamaal Wilkes, is considering KU, Arizona, Stanford, UCLA, USC, Cal, Duke, Kentucky, Florida and Maryland.

“He’ll be recruited by all the Pac-10,” Mayamura said. “He’s long, a kid who has not filled out yet. He will be a fine, finesse player.”

Wilkes, who hit better than 50 percent of his floor shots, is known as a hard worker.

“I shot almost 200 jump-shots a day,” Wilkes told the LA Times of his summer workouts. “I have this weird feeling when I’m not playing, someone else is getting better than me. I’m more confident. I was never a terrible shooter. Now when I shoot, I expect to make it.”

Giddens, a 170-pound guard from John Marshall High, is the top prep prospect in Oklahoma. He is quite familiar with KU. He attended last year’s Late Night With Roy Williams and the KU-Baylor game last February.

“He is a very athletic player and definitely a high-major Big 12-caliber athlete who will likely stay in the region,” Mayamura said of Giddens, who is considering KU, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Purdue and Illinois.

Giddens averaged 25.0 points and 7.2 rebounds a game last season. He also is a high jumper.

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