Anderson not ready to commit, paper says

"The last we heard it was still Arizona, Utah, UCLA," Louis Johnsen said. "There hasn't been anything in terms of a decision."

Anderson is visiting Missouri this weekend, but a few days ago, his coach said that he had narrowed his choices down to two, and he speculated that Arizona was one of the schools.

"I would say that Arizona is one of the top two," Jerry Jaso said.

Anderson, is rated as one of the top players in southern California, a region known for its depth of quality players.

If Anderson commits he will join 6-7 Richard Jefferson of Phoenix, 6-8 Luke Walton of San Diego and 6-3 Traves Wilson of Moline, Ill. as the possible nucleus of Arizona's future teams.

With the addition of Walton's name to Arizona's list of potential signees, he could become a part of an answer to a trivia question someday.

Q. Name the father-son tandems that played together on NCAA championship teams?

A. Bill and Luke Walton and Henry and Mike Bibby.

Of course, that all hinges on if Bibby stays in school for his junior year and the Wildcats win it all again.

The elder Walton and Bibby won two NCAA championships at UCLA in 1972-73. Yet, both their sons are at UA. John Wooden can't be very happy.

"(Luke) said in the past he didn't just want to be 'Bill's son'. He always kind of contended that he wanted to make his own mark," said his high school coach Jim Tomey, who is of no relation to UA football coach Dick Tomey. "Maybe that had something to do with his decision."

Seattle O'Dea forward Doug Wrenn, perhaps seeing the commitments of Walton and Jefferson as a potential for diminished playing time, has dropped Arizona out of his future.

That means Chris Richardson, a 6-foot-7 forward from Corpus Christi, Texas who befriended Jefferson over the summer could be in the running. Even so, the Wildcats are still searching for the Mike Bibby-type recruit that could define this year's class.

Unfortunately, that recruit could be 6-10 Rashard Lewis of Houston. What is unfortunate about a 6-10 center? As of now, he has not met Arizona's academic standards.

The first day recruits can sign letters of intent is Nov. 12. Arizona coaches are forbidden by NCAA rules from commenting on players until that time.

In Walton and Jefferson, UA gets two athletic "tweeners" in the Ray Owes mold who can play both forward and guard positions.

"(Luke) has got very good offensive skills," Tomey said. "He also helps us break pressure, so you know he can handle the ball, too."