Gordon has a big time recruitment

A police officer working the Chick-Fil-A Classic leaned over to another observer, pointed to Drew Gordon after a ridiculous one handed slam over a defender and said, "He must be the number one player in the country or something."

Officer, with all due respect, you really haven't seen the best of the five-star forward yet.

The 6-foot-8, 235-pound big man from Archbishop Mitty (Calif.) was good but not as good as he could have been. And that isn't a bad thing. Gordon might just be saving the best for last.

Gordon scored a loud 10 points and grabbed 14 tough rebounds in traffic in front of a pair of key coaches on Wednesday. Tubby Smith was on hand to see him. So was North Carolina.

Gordon, the No. 15 ranked player in the class of 2008, has a big time match-up against four-star center Ty Walker from North Carolina at 8:30 on Thursday night.

"That's going to be big time," Gordon said.

Sure will. And so his game. That's why each time Gordon plays, there are big time coaches on the sidelines. Gordon said he would like to formulate a calendar for his heated recruitment.

"We are still trying to find dates for everything," Gordon said. "Basically, I'm just trying to set up a timeline for when I want to commit and whether or not I want to set up a top five or a top three or get a plan like that."

Duke, Kentucky and North Carolina have made a strong impression on Gordon while Cal, Washington, Arizona, UCLA, Texas and USC are also being strongly considered, he said. Gordon just returned from a trip to Duke and North Carolina two weeks ago. He has also been to Cal this fall.

"I'm weighing out the pros and cons of each school," Gordon said. "Where will my interests fit in with what they have to offer? What are they putting together on the court and how will I fit with them? And most of all, what school can I come out on top at the most? There are a lot of things that go into it."

It is a tight race, he said, and it doesn't look like the decision will be easy.