It appears Michigan is back in, and Kansas University is out in the Alex Legion recruiting sweepstakes.
Legion, a 6-foot-5 senior guard out of Oak Hill Academy in Mouth of Wilson, Va., who visited the University of Kentucky from Thursday through Saturday, told Rivals.com he’s down to Kentucky, UCLA and Michigan.
Sources told the Journal-World that Legion was unwilling to wait for KU’s scholarship situation to clear. Sophomore guard Brandon Rush has until midnight Sunday to declare for the NBA Draft or elect to return to KU for his junior season.
He has said if he declares he would not sign with an agent and thus would be able to withdraw from the draft by June 18 and retain his college eligibility. What that means is Rush’s status may be in doubt up until mid-June.
“Those are my three choices right now,” Legion told Rivals, adding, “I’m going to try to visit UCLA and Michigan again before I decide.”
It should be noted that schools have reappeared on Legion’s list after getting sliced.
Legion, who hails from Detroit, was granted a release from his letter of intent from Michigan a week ago. Yet the Wolverines and new coach John Beilein now will get a visit.
“With UCLA, I’ve always been a fan,” Legion said. “I always thought it would be nice to play there. They have great tradition like Kentucky. With Michigan, it’s still home. I’m still going to give them a shot. I just don’t know how I’d fit in with what coach (John) Beilein wants to do. I was excited about playing for coach Amaker (Tommy, new coach at Harvard), so that kind of changed my feelings about Michigan.
“I’m real comfortable with Kentucky right now. It’s only five hours from home, not too far at all.”
As far as KU’s Rush, his plan has been to wait and see how the first round shapes up before making a decision. He has said he’d like to be assured of being picked “somewhere near” the top 20.
Self, who was in Houston recruiting at the Kingwood Classic all weekend, has said he planned to meet with Rush later this week.
Draftexpress.com, which has Rush at No. 21 in the first round, reports that North Carolina freshman Brandon Wright today will declare for the draft. Other players who could declare this week according to Draftexpress.com include Thaddeus Young, Javaris Crittendon, Rodney Stuckey, Chris Lofton, Sean Williams, James Davis and Hasheem Thabeet. Marquette’s Dominic James also may declare for the draft this week
NBAdraft.net currently has Rush being tapped No. 26 (there are 30 first-round picks) in the 2008 Draft, not the 2007 Draft. Various NBA officials and agents seem have described Rush as a possible late first-round, early second round pick in this year’s draft.