Wilkes Has Six On List

Omar Wilkes, a smooth 6-4, 173 pound shooting guard from Loyola H.S. in Los Angeles, Calif., has a list of six colleges that he is considering this summer.

Wilkes, who spoke to the Insiders Report/Rivalshoops.com from this week's adidas ABCD Camp in New Jersey, said he has been offered by four of the six programs on his list.

Those who have offered include Kansas, California, UCLA and Southern California. Wilkes expects Stanford to offer him once he finishes up the essay part of his application and gains admission to the PAC 10 school. The only school on his list yet to offer is Florida.

"I want to make an early decision," he said. "It's getting hectic with all of the phone calls, but it's a great situation to be in."

Wilkes has already seen many of the colleges on his list. He took an official visit to Kansas this spring, and has paid unofficial trips to UCLA, USC and Stanford.

"I really enjoyed my trip to Kansas," he reflected. "I love Coach Williams and his staff."

With an eye-popping 3.8 GPA and 1270 SAT score, there's little doubt that Wilkes will have any trouble gaining admission to Stanford or any of the six programs on his list.

Omar also is blessed with great bloodlines. His dad Jamal (nee Keith) helped the Golden State Warriors and L.A. Lakers claim NBA titles in the 1970s and 1980s. And like his dad (who starred at UCLA under John Wooden), he has a silky smoothness to his game.

Wilkes is an especially dangerous perimeter marksman who squares well to the basket and maintains body control on difficult pull-up attempts. He's also effective in transition, as he and Delaware native Artie Bowers have formed a productive one-two punch for the Kings squad here at ABCD.

At Loyola this past season, Wilkes averaged 22 points, six rebounds, five assists and four steals per game.

After ABCD, Wilkes will slide down the New Jersey Turnpike and join his Loyola squad at the inaugural AND1 High School National Championship in Philadelphia (July 13-14, not NCAA sanctioned). He will then hook up with the Pump N Run squad at the adidas Big Time Tournament in Las Vegas and Best of the Summer in Los Angeles.

*Coaches, if you would like Russ Blake's college service, email Russ at rblakeiii@aol.com