A final growth spurt is not out of the question for future Kansas University basketball center Cole Aldrich, a 6-foot-11, 250-pound high school junior from Bloomington, Minn.
Aldrich, who orally committed to coach Bill Self on Monday, this week reminded a reporter from the Minneapolis Star-
Tribune he had grown an inch and gained 20 pounds in the past year.
“Hopefully, I’ve got another inch or so to go. I always like to think positive,” said Aldrich, the No. 9 player nationally in the Class of 2007 as ranked by rivals.com.
Aldrich, who spoke to Kansas reporters Wednesday, also was asked by the hometown media about choosing KU over in-state school Minnesota, plus North Carolina.
“When I go down there, it’s only an eight-hour drive. So on a long weekend I can come home,” Aldrich told the Star-Tribune. “It’s also far enough away to get away from my parents and other things.”
Bloomington Jefferson High coach Jeff Evens, who figures to see his prize pupil improve on his sophomore averages of 15 points, 11 rebounds and five blocks per game, spoke of Aldrich’s potential.
“He’s still growing and he’s more advanced than some other big kids. He’s pretty agile and a good athlete,” Evens said. “A lot of colleges recruit on that potential.
“He’s much stronger (this year),” Evens added. “And he’s become a lot more aggressive and more confident. Like any big kid out there, his best basketball is still ahead of him starting when he reaches 19, 20 years of age.”
¢ Local tourney helpful: It appears the Jayhawk Invitational AAU basketball tournament, held at Allen Fieldhouse and Horejsi Center the past five years, is starting to reap some benefits for KU recruiting.
Aldrich admitted he was impressed by all the KU fans who attended his Minnesota Magic games last April.
“I expected to see some parents of the players there,” Aldrich told the Journal-World, “but I was definitely surprised at all the KU fans who knew who I was and came to watch my team play.”
¢ Two more years: Aldrich says he’s looking forward to playing two more seasons in high school.
“I love high school,” he said. “I think physically and mentally and ability wise I am ready for college, if not now, by next year, but it’s a fact you deal with it and enjoy playing and trying to improve. I’ll get in the weight room and keep working on my game.”
He said he hoped to stay in college at least until he reached his goal of winning a national title.
¢ Cole’s take: Aldrich on his favorite current KU players. “They are all really nice,” he said, “but I’ve got to go with C.J. (Giles) or Brandon Rush. Brandon is quite a character.”
¢ Recruiting a hassle: Here’s one reason some high school players like Aldrich try to get recruiting out of the way as soon as they can:
“The last few nights I probably had 50 phone calls. I just said, ‘We’ll talk after finals (exams at school),'” he said.
¢ Arthur undecided: The Jayhawks, who will sign Brady Morningstar (6-4 from Lawrence, currently at New Hampton Prep School) and Sherron Collins (5-11, Chicago) are hoping to land one other player during the week-long early signing period.
Darrell Arthur, a 6-9 senior from Dallas South Oak Cliff High, however, may not be ready to commit to a school until spring.
“Well, he’s not going to make a decision, an early decision,” South Oak Cliff coach James Mays told rivals.com. “He’s going to wait. That way he can get a better feel for the schools, and who’s really interested in him and things like that. So he’s going to wait now, and whenever he feels it he’ll make a decision.”
The No. 19 prospect in the Class of 2006, who visited Baylor last weekend after making trips to KU, SMU, Indiana and North Carolina, has eliminated UNC. He might make an unofficial visit to Texas in the future.
“Basically we (family members plus AAU coach Jazzy Hartwell) just came to the conclusion that until he feels comfortable or certain of where he wants to be then basically he’s just going to wait,” Mays said.
KU has just three scholarships to award in the next two recruiting classes. KU coach Bill Self, however, has said in the past he’s not against “oversigning” players in the new era of basketball in which players are leaving earlier than ever for the NBA, as well as transferring.
