A leader emerges for Vanwright

Dale Vanwright, the 6-foot-6, 200-pound small forward from Bellaire High School in Houston, Texas., might be ready to make a decision about his future sooner than originally expected. The No. 59 ranked player in the class of 2006 was hoping to take a number of official visits before selecting a school, but that no longer appears to be the case.

"Dale's recruitment is going pretty good right now," said Dale Vanwright, Sr. "He took an unofficial visit to Wake Forest last weekend and had a great time. It was good for Dale to see the campus and get a feel for what college life is all about.

"Dale was invited to the elite basketball camp at Texas, so that's where he is at right now," he added. "Once he returns home at the end of the weekend, he and I are going to sit-down and discuss what steps to take next. Dale might be ready to trim his list of schools to two or three, and then have a decision in a couple of weeks."

While Vanwright is still going to consider all of his options at this time, there is no doubt that one school in particular has emerged as the team to beat for the No. 13 ranked small forward in the class of 2006. Vanwright and his family have formed a special bond with Ricardo Patton and the University of Colorado coaching staff.

"I can tell you that Colorado is definitely the team to beat for Dale," said Vanwright, Sr. "The coaching staff told Dale that he has the opportunity to come in right away and play major minutes as a freshman. Not only that, but he will do so in the Big 12 conference."

"I will know much more about the situation when Dale returns home at the end of the weekend," he added. "He might already have a decision made in the back of his mind, but I just don't know for sure."