Earlier announcing for the draft were Tony Key, a 6-10 center from Compton-Centennial, Calif. (unsigned); Sagana Diop, a 7-0 center from Senegal/Oak Hill Academy, Va. (unsigned); forward Ousmane Cisse of Montgomery-St. Jude, Ala. (unsigned); center Eddy Curry of South Holland-Thornwood, Ill. (DePaul); and Tyson Chandler, a 7-1 center/forward from Compton-Dominguez, Calif. (unsigned).

The decisions of Brown, Key, Diop, Chandler, Curry and Cisse break the record of four preps deciding to bypass college. Al Harrington, Rashard Lewis, Ellis Richardson and Korleone Young declared for the 1998 draft. Forward Darius Miles and guard DeShawn Stevenson declared in 2000 as did forward Jonathan Bender in 1999.

Forward Kedrick Brown of Okaloosa-Walton CC, Fla., who signed with LSU, was the first junior college player to declare for the draft this year. Center Ernest Brown (Miami Heat) and guard/forward Cory Hightower (LA Lakers), both from Indian Hills CC, Iowa, were picked in the second round in 2000.

Charlotte signed Top 100 guard/forward Eddie Basden of Upper Marlboro-Roosevelt, Md., who was released from his letter to UMass.

Forward Kenny Adeleke of Brooklyn-Robeson, N.Y., has reportedly signed with Hofstra after being released from his letter to DePaul.

Pittsburgh has reportedly added Top 100 center Michael Southall of West Salem, Wis./Hargrave MA, Va., who has been released from scholarships by both Kentucky and Georgia Tech following off-court problems.

Sophomore power forward/center Darian Townes of Alexandria-Williams, Va., has selected Georgetown.

Over 890 players have signed basketball scholarships. The Spring Signing Period runs April 11 to May 15. Letters may be signed afterwards, but are not binding on the player.

More Basketball News:
Guard Efeunu (Lucky) Williams of Birmingham-Central Park Christian, Ala., signed with Alabama. He averaged 19.2 points as a senior.

Guard/forward Blandon Ferguson of Oakland-St. Joseph, Calif./College of Southern Idaho, chose Illinois. He averaged 14.4 points and 5.6 rebounds last season.

Houston signed guard Andre Owens of Indianapolis-Perry Meridian, Ind., who is transferring from Indiana. Owens averaged 4.7 points for the Hoosiers, starting five games.

Forward Mike Hayes of Hartford, Conn./Cowley County CC, Kan., recommitted to Xavier.

Seton Hall signed forward Mauricio Branwell of Fitchburg-Notre Dame Prep, Mass., once a commitment to UMass.

Hot-shooting guard Steve Sir of St. Paul-Cretin Derham Hall, Minn., will walk on at San Diego State. Sir, who averaged 23 points as a senior and hit 54 percent of his three-point attempts, will redshirt 2001-02 before going on scholarship.

Guard Terrell Ross of Laurel, Md./Allegany College, Md., picked Texas.

Samford signed forward Bryan Boerjan of Rock Falls, Ill., who averaged 17 points as a senior.

Guard Lee Green of Hagerstown, Md./Allegany College, Md., will play at North Texas.

Cleveland State signed guard Jack Higgins of Pittsburgh-Schenley, Pa.

Freshman guard Jamaal Scott of Phoenix-Shadow Mountain, Ariz., will transfer from Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo to Richmond.

Manhattan signed forward Charus Moore of Worcester Academy, Mass.

Sophomore center Tim Frost of Klamath Falls-Henley, Ore., will transfer from Portland to Utah.

Guard Bradley Jackson of Torrance-South, Calif./Bridgeton Academy, Maine/San Diego State/College of Southern Idaho, has signed with Texas A&M.

Forward Tuukka Kotti of Forssa-Salon Sarga Salo, Finland, chose Providence.

Arkansas signed forward Demario Eddins of Chicago-Julian, Ill./Winchendon Academy Prep, Mass., who averaged 17 points last season. Outstanding junior guard/forward Jonathan Modica of Smackover, Ark., recently picked the Razorbacks after averaging 33.4 points, 8.9 rebounds and 2.6 steals last season.

Guard James Bridgewater of Ann Arbor-Pioneer, Mich., picked Ohio.

Virginia Commonwealth signed forward Josh Clark of Dixie CC, Utah.

Forward Josh Gross of Columbia-Long Reach, Md., who averaged 18.2 points as a senior, chose North Carolina-Greensboro.

Nevada signed forward Kevinn Pinkney of Colton, Calif.

Forward James Jenkins of LaCrescenta-Crescenta Valley, Calif., chose San Jose State.

Texas-Pan American signed forward Derick East of Binger/Lookeba-Sickles, Okla.; forward Jonathan Nubine of Oklahoma City, Okla./Carl Albert State College, Okla.; guard Kevin Mitchell of Copperas Cove, Texas/McLennan CC, Texas; and forward Andrius Sakalys of Lithuania/Eastern Oklahoma State College, Okla.

Early Period Rankings:
The ACC and Pac-10 dominated the recruiting battle with DePaul and Florida leading the Class 2001 Preliminary Rankings, followed by North Carolina, UCLA, Arizona and North Carolina State. Other outstanding classes include Michigan State, Kansas, California, Missouri, Stanford, Georgia Tech and Memphis.

Ninety-four Top 100 Prospects made their college choices, with six players chosing the NBA draft.

Basketball Signings/Commitments
FANSonly: Main Recruiting Page.
Early Signing Period: Nov. 8-15, 2000/Late Period: Apr. 11-May 15, 2001.
Class 2001 Men: Prospects/Commitments/Over 890 Official Signings (Updated Daily).
Men's Top 100: Prospects/Commitments/Official Signings (Updated Daily).
Class 2001 Women: Prospects/Commitments/Over 530 Official Signings (Updated Daily).
Class 2000 Men: Database.
Class 2000 Women: Database.

Top Football News:
Two of the nation's top juniors, offensive lineman Bob Morton of McKinney, Texas, and receiver L'Tydrick Riley of Crockett, Texas, have committed to Texas A&M. Morton picked the Aggies over Notre Dame. Others were UCLA, Clemson, Rice, Texas Tech, Georgia Tech, Oklahoma, Colorado, Baylor and Arkansas.

Maryland has added kicker/punter Patrick King of Fredericksburg-DeMatha, Va., who is transferring from Illinois.

LSU has its fifth junior commitment in running back Jason Spadoni of River Ridge-John Curtis, La., who rushed for 1300 yards and 18 touchdowns last season.

Virginia Tech added junior defensive lineman Chris Burnett of Bedford-Liberty, Va., over Virginia and West Virginia.

Class 2002 Prospects:
It's only the beginning, as prospects are being identified for the upcoming season. Players will be added, removed and updated as the process continues. Review and search over 1400 prospects already listed.

Class 2001 Rankings:
The Florida State Seminoles signed the top class of the 2000-01 football recruiting campaign. Michigan, LSU, Texas, Miami-Florida, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Washington, UCLA and Clemson round out the Top 10 (Class Rankings).

Football Signings/Commitments
FANSonly: Main Recruiting Page.
Class 2002: Prospects/Commitments
Class 2001: Prospects/Commitments/Over 2640 Signings
Top 150: Prospects/Commitments/Signings
Conference Commitments/Signings: Lists
Class 2000: Database.