The days of laying low under the radar are over for big man Clinton Mann. The 6-foot-7, 220-pound forward Overland Park (Kan.) St. Thomas Aquinas High School has caught the attention of some Midwestern programs and a couple mid-major powerhouses.

He will make his first official visit of the year and trip to Iowa this weekend and Iowa State the following weekend. Mann unofficially visited Creighton last week.

Loyola-Chicago and Davidson are also on his short list, Mann said. Trimming the list to five was not an easy task, he said.

"When it came down to it, when I had to decide what schools I wanted to take my official visits to, that was definitely part of the process; the academic side and the character and integrity of the program. That was something that I really tried to look for," Mann said.

"I know a lot of coaches are out there that will just give you an earful and do whatever possible to get you on campus and things like that. I really respect coaches that have good integrity and stick behind their word. At the same time, I really want to compete at the highest level and walk into a gym and compete with anyone in the nation and really excel.

"Mostly, I'm just waiting to see how I fit in with the school and the team and players. I'm going to be spending three or four years. Maybe the most important thing for me is seeing how I personally feel and fit with those guys and the school. I know you can't choose a school based on the college coaches because they can move so you need to choose on the school."

Iowa, his destination this weekend, turned up the heat in July and hope to strike a chord with Mann while on his official visit. The Hawkeyes have been consistent with him, he says, since the school year ended last spring.

"After my junior season, they paid attention and they express some definite interest," Mann said. "They've been in the picture ever since then and really like what they offer and I think playing in the Big Ten would be a really cool league to play in. Coach (Todd) Lickliter is a good guy and I've talked to the other coaches on their coaching staff and they are good people. At this point, there is really no negative with them."

Iowa State head coach Greg McDermott might have the best relationship of all of the schools involved with Mann, he said.

"It's funny with Iowa State because coach McDermott was at over at Northern Iowa, he was really the first coach to ever take notice in me. He was the first person to send me any mail," Mann said. "Once he went to Iowa State, it carried over with him. He's been in the picture for all four years on and off. I like him a lot and he's a great guy."

The draw of playing in a high-major conference is certainly something that he needs to consider, Mann said.

"For me personally, it might be a little cooler to play in the Big Ten or Big 12 just because I grew up in Kansas City and grew up watching Missouri, Kansas, K-State, Nebraska, and all of those schools," Mann said. "I would be pretty cool to play in one of those conferences."

However, Mann said he understands the positives of Creighton, Davidson and Loyola-Chicago.

"I'm trying to find like a median, somewhere that I can fit really well. I think Davidson is preseason 23rd in the nation and they are a real competitive program. At the same time, it's not a big school like an Iowa, Iowa State or even Creighton. Where in the middle will I find my fit is what it comes down to."

Mann, a three-star prospect by Rivals.com, said he hopes to utilize his skill set right away.

"I go out and work harder than my opponent, 99 percent of the time," Mann said. "I'm not an un-athletic kid but I know there are other kids out there that are more athletic than me but I know that I'm always going to outwork them. Also, I think I'm pretty fundamentally sound. I can play in the post or out on the wing."

Mann said he doesn't anticipate making a quick decision and has armed himself with research and patience this spring.

"One thing I've been trying to do keep an open mind with everything," Mann said. "At this point, it's a level playing field."