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SoCalHoops Recruiting News

Gilbert Arenas: Home Visits Looking Good:
Kansas, KSU, DePaul, Wash St., OSU & AZ--(Sept. 15, 1998)

Gilbert Arenas (6'-4" Sr. SG) from Van Nuys Grant High, has got about half the Pac 10 chasing him and some of the Big 12 too.

We just got off the phone with Gil's dad, and he tells us that the home visit derby is going great. Saturday, Gil met with Arizona Coach Lute Olson, and moments before we spoke, Arizona had been on the phone trying to arrange an official visit to the campus sometime next week.

Last night, Gil and his dad met with De Paul coach Pat Kennedy, and we know for a fact that DePaul would like nothing better than to acquire a new 6'-3" shooting guard with offensive and defensive skills and they love Gilbert.

Tomorrow night, Gil will meet with Eddie Payne of Oregon State, but with the OSU team having been devastated by transfers this season, we would think it would be a longshot for Gil to sign with them. . . On the other hand, Payne can offer immediate playing time and Gil could be the man right away, whereas at Arizona, he'd have to battle with his old Valley shooting nemesis Ruben Douglas (6'-4" Fr. SG) who signed with the Cats last spring and who will play for them this year. It looks like now that Jimmy Haywood (6'-3" Sr. G) from Seattle Franklin is having doubts about his previous oral committment, and he's also being pursued by Kansas and Washington. And if there's one thing we know about Lute Olson, its that he doesn't much care for players who equivocate. . . just ask Ricky Anderson. Sure, Lute's been known to change his mind too, but if you're offered by the Silver Fox, you'd better be prepared to say "yes" in reasonably short order or he'll move on to someone who will.

It's still, however, reasonably early, and Gilbert will not be playing this weekend at the Pump Discovery Shootout, because he'll be leaving on Friday for an official visit at Kansas State, a committment he made long before he had arranged the home visit with Olson.

Gilbert has also had a home visit with Roy Williams of Kansas this last weekend as Roy made a swing through SoCal on his way back from the EBO Sweet 16 in Fresno. Gil will also have a home visit with Kevin Eastman of Washington State, and we expect San Diego State to also get involved as they've been calling him as well. Hmmm, here's a what if: Jason Kapono, Gilbert Arenas, and the current crop of freshman at San Diego (David Abramowitz, Vincent Okotie, Jeffrey Berokoff. . . )

We understand that Cat Tracks also spoke with Gil's dad, who reportedly told them, "Washington State came in, but I don't even want to talk about that," said Arenas Sr." Cat Tracks is also reporting the same thing that Mr. Arenas told us, that is that aside from Arenas' visit to Kansas State, he is tentatively scheduled to visit the UA campus the weekend of Oct. 10, "but there is a strong likelihood attempts will be made to push that date up further, to the weekend of Sept. 26."

If that happens, then Gilbert will not be playing in the Rim Rattler Fall Showcase at Long Beach City College in Long Beach, California on September 26. Gil's dad just told us, "Gilbert is scheduled to play in Dinos' event on the 26th, but he could miss it if an official visit comes up."

And we hear that the Cat Tracks website is also saying that Gil is "the current front-runner at the 2 spot in this year's recruiting class," and while that may be true, so far from what we hear we'd have to consider it really a toss-up between Arizona, Kansas, Kansas State, and DePaul. But with the Pac-10 close-to-home edge, Arizona's ability to finish in the Big Dance (unlike Roy's finishes), and with tremendous TV exposure nationwide, we'd have to give the nod to Arizona (unless of course UCLA or USC were to get involved, and we don't think that's very likely, at least not SC with only one scholly to give).

But these are all great schools, and Gil is fortunate to have so many fine choices. Simply stated, we don't think he can go wrong whichever school he selects.