National Signing Day latest recruiting happenings

On the first day of the November 1-17 one-week early signing period for college basketball, Rivals.com will highlight some of the top occurrences around the nation.

In a major “surprise”, Rivals.com No. 66 rated player, 6-foot-10, 245-pound center Kenneth Cooper, Monroe, La., Richwood High School, signed with the Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns over Oklahoma State and Texas Tech. Reportedly, Cooper’s mother wanted him to stay close to home.

Coach Bob Knight’s Red Raiders finish their recruiting with six talented newcomers, and Rivals.com’s No. 20 rated national recruiting class.

The Rivals.com No. 2 rated fall recruiting class of Coach Eddie Sutton’s Oklahoma State program may not yet be completed. The Cowboys may add one or two big men. Reportedly, they are seriously considering 6-foot-8, 205-pound forward Gary Flowers, rated No. 67 by Rivals.com, and a teammate of OSU signee Byron Eaton, at Dallas, Tex., Lincoln High School. The Cowboys are also involved with 6-foot-9, 250-pound center Jeremy Barr, Houston, Tex., Westbury Christian High School. The Cowboys seem to own the state of Texas.

Despite erroneous reports, athletic 6-foot-9, 210-pound center/forward Curtis Brown, Marietta, Ga., Mt. Olive Academy, did not commit, and will not sign early with the Kentucky Wildcats. Brown did make an official visit to Lexington, Ky., last weekend, but Coach Tubby Smith did not offer him a scholarship. The Wildcats will continue to monitor the academic progress of this promising post-graduate shotblocker, and he could be a spring recruit, if, he qualifies.

Kentucky is now looking at 6-foot-8, 225-pound center Jerome Johnson, Chatham, Va., Hargrave Military Academy, as a possible spring signee. Johnson was a teammate last year of Kentucky’s outstanding freshman guard, Ramel Bradley, last year at Bradenton, Fla., IMG Academy.

Fresno State has signed two big men with potential, 6-foot-7, 260-pound center/forward James Tchana, Centereach, N.Y., Our Savior New American; and 6-foot-10, 245-pound center Eric Van Vliet, Santa Cruz, Calif., High School.

Tchana was seriously injured in the tragic van accident last December in North Carolina, that killed one of his teammates, and he missed most of his junior season. James was also being recruited by St. Bonaventure, Houston, and Kansas State.

Van Vliet is an “up and coming” big man with much potential. His coach at Santa Cruz High School is Pete Newell, III. Van Vliet’s other choices were St. Mary’s, and U. of San Diego.

Coach Steve Alford’s Iowa Hawkeyes today signed juco big man 6-foot-11, 215-pound center Kurt Looby, of Tyler, Tex., Junior College. Looby, a resident of Antigua, joins 6-foot-one guard Tony Freeman as the second signee for the Hawkeyes.

Chattanooga has signed 6-foot-4 wing guard Jeff Smith, Chattanooga, Tenn., Tyner Academy. Smith is rated among the Top 12 seniors in the state by Andre Whitehead,of Tennessee Prep Hoops, and is the twenty-second senior from Tennessee to sign with a Division I program, which may be an all-time high.

By our count, at least 90 of Rivals.com's Top 100 Seniors have or will sign during this November 10-17 period.

Check for more recruiting updates on Rivals.com Ultimate Ticket.