Weekend update

Jeff Goodman at FoxSports.com has a new story on the recruiting battles over Anthony Randolph (LSU, Texas), JJ Hickson (Tennessee, NC State), Eric Gordon (Illinois, Indiana)

Hal Pastner takes advantage of Adidas and Nike withdrawing from the early July all-star shoe circuit, and starts his own tourney. Reported by Andy Katz in his ESPN Insider blog.

Verbals come the way of Pitt, Minnessota, Nevada, Charlotte, UMass, Nebraska, Tulane, Wichita State, Oregon, SDSU, TCU and Creighton among many others according to CSTV/Bill Hodges. Also reported are problems in the Oklahoma State ...garden (!)

As always, InsideHoops has the latest from a local newspaper perspective. Among other things covered are a new group of academically ineligible players (7'3" Thabeet @ UConn, Washington @ Arkansas (again)). Commitment stories: Keegan Bell to Vandy, Whitehurst to Charlotte. Visits and updates on prospects: Andrew Ogilvy, Jonathan Edwards. University of Georgia president addresses graduation rates, recruiting and competitiveness. An SF Chronicle story on the new NBA Draft rule, highlighting Greg Oden and Spencer Hawes. Stories on Patrick Hazel and his verbal to Marquette. Doc Sandler's latest signees.

Gary Parrish blogs again, this time on Sonny Vaccaro refusing to back down. Afraid perhaps of the Godfather, the NCAA continues to leave him in the dark when it comes to arranging meetings with all parties involved.