But Wooten's 43-year career as head basketball coach at DeMatha High School in Hyattsville, Md., can be summed up with one stat that has nothing to do with points. Wootten has the unique distinction of having every DeMatha senior player receive a four-year college scholarship for the past 30 years. That includes one of this year's NCAA Championship heroes, Joe Forte of North Carolina.

"I'm sure I'll be chatting with him after the Final Four is over," says Wootten. We've managed to stay in touch and I'm just so proud of him."

Wootten chatted with ESPN.com users prior to the McDonald's All American High School basketball game for which he is the Chairman of the Selection Committee. In case you missed the March 28 chat, the following is an edited transcript.

bgltgr: Coach Wooten, who's going to win the Final Four?

Morgan Wootten: Well, I picked Michigan St. I had Michigan St. and Duke in the finals. But sentimentally, I have to root for Forte and the Tar Heels.

Terp Heaven: Coach Morgan, did you really know how good Forte and Bogins were going to be in college?

Morgan Wootten: By the time they had finished their sophomore year, it was very evident. As they progressed, it became evident they were going to be outstanding college players.

Mark: Hi Coach, what was it like coaching Adrian Dantley? Did he have those low-post power moves and pivots in high school? What was his record there? Was he the greatest player you ever coached? Thanks!

Morgan Wootten: Coaching Dantley was a pleasure. He was as dedicated to becoming the best player he could become. He did not have all those moves in the ninth grade but he worked to develop them and I've never seen a player with better low-post moves. I dedicate that to his eagerness to learn.

Brent Stocker: Mr. Wootten, I would like to know how you help your players in the recruiting process. Do you have team rules about being recruited?

Morgan Wootten: Well, we have extensive rules so the recruiting won't dominate their senior year. We want them to enjoy their senior year as students and athletes. We don't want it to overwhelm them. The rules have worked very well for us. It's important that the school, player and the family not let the process control them. They have to control the process.

Rockville: How has high school basketball changed since you started coaching 43 years ago?

Morgan Wootten: There are more players than ever before. Your great players now specialize and play basketball all year round as opposed to playing 2-3 sports. The popularity of the game has got more kids started at an earlier age, even the second grade, on organized teams. Weightlifting, diets, etc. have also helped.

Nate Lovato: Who is the best player that you have ever had at DeMatha High?

Morgan Wootten: I don't like to compare players or pick an All-DeMatha team. But I will say I've never had a better player than Adrian Dantley. I won't say that somebody can't tie him though! I'll leave that one open.

DocEwing: Your former assistant Mike Brey has done a terrific job here at the University of Delaware. Do you think he'll be back next year??

Morgan Wootten: I think that the chances of Mike being back are excellent. He has had many chances to move already but in my last conversation with him, it seemed he so thoroughly enjoys Delaware that I can't see him leaving. I think his intentions are to be back and I know he is very happy there.

Cory: Coach, did you ever consider taking jobs at the college or even professional level?

Morgan Wootten: I've been very honored to have some opportunities at both levels but I have always been very happy at the high school level. I came close on a couple occasions but I felt that I had found my niche and I have never regretted it.

Terps Maniac: Why don't more of your players go to the University of Maryland?

Morgan Wootten: Well, we've had more players go to Maryland than most schools in the country. If you go back through the years, we've had guys like Gary Ward, Adrian Branch, Dutch Morley, Steve Hood, Gerard Mustof, Dewayne Simpkins, and the list goes on. I think we've had over 200 guys gets scholarships and Maryland has gotten a majority of those. I'm a Maryland graduate so I love to see them go there. But I think kids like to go away from home. But we never try to influence their decision. We don't tell them who to marry or where to go to school. Matt Slanika is going to Maryland as well as many others but I can't name them all.

dagow: How competitive are tryouts at DeMatha?

Morgan Wootten: They're competitive because you have high school kids trying to make the JV or varsity teams. I think they are competitive at all the schools in our league and our area. Everyone has good players here.

Brent: Coach, who do you feel the top prospect is coming out of high school this year and next?

Morgan Wootten: I don't really know. I know that there are some good players at St. Marks and St. Gabriel but it is just typically a good class of guys. I didn't see many games so I can't really say.

Steve: Coach, how do you think the proposed NBA minor league will affect high school and college basketball?

Morgan Wootten: I'm certainly opposed to the league. There will be so many kids coming out who have no chance to play in the pros and will miss out on college. I don't see any redeeming features in the league at all. I don't think the NBA should even touch a kid until he's 20 or older. Every kid should be able to taste college at least for a little bit. There will be a lot of shattered dreams with this league when they find out they can't make it and they don't have an education. They will wonder what they are going to do with the rest of their life. It will be a classic example of letting basketball use you instead of using basketball in your life.

Nate Lovato: Coach, could you give me some advice on being a successful basketball coach?

Morgan Wootten: I think the most important thing is to be yourself. Then you want to work as hard and as smart as you can and learn as much as you can. Read books, attend clinics, make contacts, etc. Keep in mind it's not all X's and O's. It's a peoples game. Spend one-on-one time with your players.

NDogg: Having battled against Coach Meyers of Gonzaga, what is your feeling about him as a coach?

Morgan Wootten: I think he is an excellent coach. He certainly has established a wonderful program and he gets the most out of his material. I have all the respect in the world for him.

Coach Watkins: Coach, how well do your players adapt to your system or do you have to change any parts of your system to your players talents?

Morgan Wootten: Overall, my philosophy has been to adjust your system as much as possible to bring out the best in your players. I don't like to bend my players much. I have a basic system but players have to work hard at it and adjust to it as we fine tune it. Some players fit in better than others but the good ones always find a way to do it.

Bill: Coach, Is your victory against Lew Alcindor's Power Memorial team your favorite ever?

Morgan Wootten: Certainly it was one of our all-time most memorable victories. It did so much for our program and high school basketball in general. It was the first game covered nationally. From then on it became more of a national scene than just regional. It was a milestone game for our program.

Matt Ruddo: What was it like coaching against your son Joe this season?

Morgan Wootten: It was a new experience. It's really not the kind of thing you would want to consistently do. There isn't a lot of upside to that kind of relationship. Different, but I wouldn't want to do it much. Besides, he may beat me.

Andy: Coach, Have you had a chance to speak with Joseph Forte after his amazing performance against Tulsa?

Morgan Wootten: No I did not. But we are very proud of his year and everything he has done. I'm sure I'll be chatting with him after the Final Four is over. We've managed to stay in touch and I'm just so proud of him.

Charles Mullins: How did you become a basketball coach?

Morgan Wootten: My uncle asked me to coach an orphanage baseball team. I found out then that I really enjoyed working with young people. I went to college to became a teacher and coach and it all happened because of that baseball team. I went back and coached them in football and basketball and I really just developed a love for it.