As expected, Singler picks Duke over KU

By Gary Bedore     Oct 28, 2006

Kyle Singler had no last-minute change of heart.

The 6-foot-9 high school blue-chip basketball forward from South Medford (Ore.) High, who Thursday reportedly orally committed to Duke, on Friday made it official, announcing for the Blue Devils over Kansas University and Arizona in the Panthers’ packed gymnasium.

“It’s been a dream of mine to play for Duke,” said Singler, who indicated KU was his second choice. “I did have feelings for the other great schools that recruited me, but I knew it was time to make a decision.”

Singler’s ceremony proved to be first-class.

The country’s No. 4-rated player thanked coaches and family members, then after telling the audience how much he respected the coaches and the programs at his three finalists, said, “Next fall, I will be at Duke University.”

According to a Medford Mail-Tribune reporter, “Applause and hoots and hollers filled the gym.”

Singler averaged 20.5 points, 8.5 rebounds and 3.1 assists his junior season for the Class 4A state runner-up team. He is the school’s all-time leading scorer with 1,339 points.

“Duke has always been the school on top of his list,” Singler’s dad, Ed, told the Duke Chronicle. “Kansas gave him something to think about. It wasn’t a matter of a good program versus a bad program. They were all great programs.”

KU remains in the hunt for James Anderson, a 6-foot-6 guard/forward from Junction City, Ark., who has a final list of KU, Oklahoma State and Kentucky.

“James was thinking about taking a visit to Kentucky, but that’s been put on hold for now,” Junction City coach Joe Hammett told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. “He is just going to do some thinking and is hoping to pick a school when the early signing period arrives in November.”

The weeklong early signing period starts Nov. 8.

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Roe’s list: Delvon Roe, a 6-8 junior from St. Edward’s High in Cleveland, has a final five of KU, Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State and North Carolina.

“The plan now is for Delvon to play out the season and then revisit that five-team list at the end of the season,” St. Edward coach Eric Flannery told the Cleveland Plain-Dealer.

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More on No. 3 ranking: As reported Thursday, KU is ranked No. 3 in the country in the ESPN/USA Today coaches preseason poll. It marks the sixth time in the last seven seasons that KU has entered the coaches’ poll ranked seventh or higher. Two seasons ago, in 2004-05, the Jayhawks were ranked No. 1 in the preseason.

Highlighted by a Nov. 25 game against No. 1 Florida in the Las Vegas Invitational, Kansas will meet four teams ranked in the poll (No. 13 Texas A&M, No. 15 Boston College and No. 19 Texas).

It’s the 11th time since 1993 Kansas enters the coaches’ preseason poll ninth or higher.

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22228As expected, Singler picks Duke over KU