Aldrich headed to the Big 12

There was a time when it looked like Cole Aldrich would take a couple of official visits before making a decision about his future, but that is no longer the case. Aldrich, the No. 9 ranked player in the class of 2007, has given a verbal commitment to Bill Self and the Kansas Jayhawks.

"I have made my final decision and I am going to attend the University of Kansas," said Aldrich. "I am so excited about my decision and I am looking forward to playing for Coach Bill Self and the Jayhawks. I also told myself that I would never really know when I was going to make this decision. It could have been a year from now, or it could have happened on Monday night, which was my birthday.

"It did happen on Monday and I couldn't be happier," he added. "I called Coach Self early on Monday and let him know of my decision to attend Kansas. "I knew that I was never going to be able to concentrate at school without calling him. I decided to call Coach Self at 7:30 on Monday morning, and he was speechless at first."

After trimming his list of schools to Kansas, North Carolina and Minnesota back in August, it appeared that Aldrich, the five-star prospect from Bloomington (MN) Jefferson High School would take official visits to each of the aforementioned programs before making a decision.

However, after talking it over with family and friends, Aldrich decided to give a commitment to the Kansas Jayhawks.

"I really thought that it would be unfair to pursue the other schools on my list if I didn't really have an interest in attending those schools," said Aldrich. "Kansas is where I wanted to be, so I thought that it would be for the best to go ahead and give them a commitment.

"I have been to the campus five times, so I know a lot about the school," he added. "The coaching staff is great, the players are great and the fans are great. I just absolutely love the fans and think that they're crazy. I just feel so comfortable at Kansas."