VanKirk still considering prep year
Some Pac-10 schools are targeting Mike VanKirk for the 2012 class so the Palmdale (Calif.) Paraclete center is still strongly considering a prep school year although his father, Mike, Sr., said no decisions have been made yet.
"We just talked to USC," VanKirk, Sr., said. "USC and a few other Pac-10 schools like Washington and Oregon State are interested in Mike as a 2012 candidate. Prep school seems like a real option.
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"It's still the option. Columbia and a couple other schools like Air Force and Sacramento State have called and they're interested this year but the best option might be prep. Mike wants to go to a big school and play for a big program."
VanKirk is a 7-foot-1, 235-pound prospect who is considering at least one prep school in the Southwest and a few in New England but no decision has been made about next season yet.
First, VanKirk wants to focus on his senior season of high school to see if anything becomes available before the family determines whether he'll go to prep school or play college basketball next season.
"I told him to just focus on his high school season and his big man development he does on weekends," said VanKirk, Sr., who added that Penn State and others have inquired about getting VanKirk in for the 2011 class.
"We're playing it all by ear right now. I just told Mike not to get caught up in this just yet."
VanKirk has already taken unofficial visits to Cal and Oregon State. He's made it no secret that he'd prefer to play in the Pac-10 and waiting until 2012 has become a serious consideration.