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SoCalHoops Recruiting News

Andrew Gooden Verbals To Kansas--(Sept. 11, 1998)

CNN/SI is reporting that Andrew Gooden (6'-10" Sr. C) from El Cerrito in NorCal, has verballed to Kansas, turning down UCLA, Duke, Michigan, Connecticut, Cal, and USC. He has canceled his remaining in-home and campus visits with other schools.

Gooden made the second of two visits to Kansas last weekend. He said he would sign a letter of intent in November. "Yes, it's Kansas," said Gooden, ranked among the top 20 recruits to come out of high school this year. "I've wanted to go there since about five months ago. I mean Roy Williams is a great coach." If that's true, then that would explain why coach Williams hung around the Best of Summer late one day to watch EBO play after almost everyone else was already gone.

If you want to know what Gooden was eating and the menu at the time he reportedly gave his verbal, then check out Mike Miller's little ditty at WestCoastHoops. Amusing, no? This verbal should now put an edge on Cal's recruitment of Dalron Johnson (6'-9" Sr. F/C) of Verbum Dei and Rafael Berumen (6'-9" Sr. PF/C) of Simi Valley, both Rockfish players who will also be at EBO's Sweet 16 this weekend, and both of whom are now even higher priority recruits, so look for Bill Bayno to pursue Dalron more aggressively and the Lobos to make an even greater effort to get Rafael.

CNN/SI also reported that Gooden averaged 17 points and 13 rebounds a game last year at El Cerrito High School. He is projected as a small forward or power forward at Kansas.

Gooden's high school coach, Chris Huber told AP reporters that Gooden moves well and handles the ball well for a big man, and has an excellent outside shot. "He's got a good attitude," Huber said. "He doesn't get upset or flustered. He's got a great outside shooting touch for a kid that big. You talk about a guy with great form -- he just releases so well from the outside."

Gooden will be playing this weekend at the EBO Sweet 16 Classic in Fresno. We're sure that more details of his recruitment by Kansas and his committment will come over the weekend.

Stay tuned.