ESPN Men's Basketball

While the rest of the basketball world debates whether Andrew Wiggins will be the top pick in the 2014 NBA draft, his college coach is waiting for him to become the best player on his team.

"He’s been marginal," Kansas coach Bill Self said last week. "Compared to what people are saying, I think he’ll have some ups and downs."

That’s not meant to be a jab at Wiggins. Self is quick to add that he has never seen anyone with as much promise and explosiveness as Wiggins. "We’ve never had anybody who can do what he can do," he said.

But Self is also about reality, not hyperbole, and reality is on the court at Allen Fieldhouse, not on Twitter.

And the reality is Wiggins might be a basketball prodigy whose legend already has grown to almost urban myth, and whose most recent game was against high school kids.

Wiggins’ jump-out-of-the-gym talent is eye-popping, but to succeed as a collegiate player he has to learn to be more than just the occasional exclamation point.

That’s what Self is waiting on.

"You’d watch him play 10 minutes in a game and leave out of there going, 'Wow,' " Self said. "He makes plays that truly leave you in awe. But he doesn’t know yet how to play hard consistently. He can definitely do that. He just has to learn how."

Wiggins isn’t unusual. In fact, in these fast-twitch times, he’s the norm, merely the latest in a succession of guys tagged "It" for the season -- following in the oversized footsteps of Nerlens Noel, Anthony Davis, John Wall, Harrison Barnes, Derrick Rose, Greg Oden, Michael Beasley, Kevin Durant, all the way back to a guy named Manning at Kansas.

They are the next LeBron, the next sure thing, their team’s savior and the game’s future. Most -- though not all -- have handled the burden extraordinarily well and even more surprisingly, most -- though not all -- have lived up to the hype, but it’s a head-swimming ascension for even the coolest customer.

By all accounts, Wiggins is humble, despite all of the attention, a "sweet kid," according to Self.

Just a few months ago, Wiggins was trying to find the right cummerbund for the prom.

Now he’s posing for GQ.

It puts college coaches in a quandary. In these hyperattentive times, they have to find the proper balance, to protect their players from the insanity without coddling them on the court.

"It’s just been harder, faster, tougher so far, but at some point I have get inside his noggin," Self said. "He’s been humbled already and that’s a good thing. I just hope the expectations don’t weigh him down too much."

It’s up to Self to make sure they don’t, and it's up to the coach to tell it like it is. The rest of the world can debate whether Andrew Wiggins is the future top pick; it’s up to Self to be a realist.

Are you ready? Have you girded your loins? The official start of the basketball season is just under two months away, and the first official day of practice is in less than three weeks. Have you come to terms with what this season will mean, with the insane hype that will attend it, with the NBA's unusual laser-focus on the collegiate ranks? Have you prepared yourself to ignore your Association-obsessed friends when they gripe on Twitter about how "unwatchable" the college game is, as they conveniently pretend the Sacramento Kings don't exist?

You should, because it's going to happen. The flood is coming. And it's not just a basketball flood or a mainstream sports thing. It's going to go wider than that. It's going to get cultural.

Why? Kentucky is why. Julius Randle is why. Jabari Parker is why. And more than any other, Andrew Wiggins is why.

How do I know this? Because this already happened:



That's a quick Instagram video of Wiggins posing for a photo shoot for GQ. GQ, if you don't know (you do, but just in case) is not a sports magazine. It is a very general interest men's fashion and culture magazine that spends most of its time writing about male movie stars, aspirational fashion, overpriced hair products and shoe trees. It only rarely spends its time on sports, and only then when something (or someone) achieves some measure of crossover recognition.

As our friends at NBC note, Wiggins hasn't even participated in a full practice with Kansas, let alone played in a game. But here he is, modeling KU's new jerseys, doing the double-palm thing required of every basketball player during photo shoots. Unlike Rob at NBC, I don't see amateurism undertones at work here; amateur athletes pose for magazines all the time.

No, this is more revealing of what this upcoming season has in store. NBA fans are going to tack their obsession onto Wiggins and Parker and Randle, and even the most casual, mainstream sports fans are going to tune in to see the "next LeBron James" (which, just wait, someone will say it). Our quiet, peaceful little college hoops neighborhood is about to be overrun with TV cameras straining for shots of the new neighbors. It's going to be pretty crazy around here for a while.

So ESPN’s College GameDay slate for 2013-14 is a beast.

There’s nostalgia, a chance at history, a few classic rivalries and a couple of meetings that could determine the hierarchy in top conferences.

The schedule, released by ESPN on Wednesday morning, is a tantalizing one for college basketball fans.

This is a stacked card without any filler, beginning with the Jan. 18 kickoff featuring La Salle vs. Temple at the Palestra. It should be a strong opening for GameDay, which will position its high-tech gadgets and cameras throughout a building that was constructed in the 1920s for the Big 5 rivalries in Philly. Perfect blend of the past and present. And that’s what preserves this game’s traditions.

Also, Digger Phelps, who is now healthy after a battle with bladder cancer, will be back with Rece Davis, Jay Bilas and Jalen Rose to enjoy this travel schedule:

2014 College GameDay Schedule

Jan. 18: Morning Show – Temple vs. La Salle (The Palestra); Evening - Louisville at UConn

Jan. 25: Michigan at Michigan State

Feb. 1: Duke at Syracuse

Feb. 8: Gonzaga at Memphis

Feb. 15: Florida at Kentucky

Feb. 22: Two options: Arizona at Colorado OR UCLA at Stanford

March 1: Kansas at Oklahoma State

March 8: North Carolina at Duke

Well, where should we begin? Here are a few thoughts on the GameDay schedule …

-- I think the most interesting game on the slate is the one that could shatter an NCAA record. Syracuse-Duke on Feb. 1 in the Carrier Dome should be a great welcome party for the Orange in its inaugural year in the ACC. And if the prognosticators are correct, it could break a record for on-campus attendance – assuming officials finalize plans to move the court to the center of the dome for the matchup. Officials: Please make this happen. Thanks.

Syracuse’s matchup against Georgetown in February, the final Big East meeting between the two teams, established the current NCAA on-campus attendance record (35,012).

But this goes beyond history. Both squads could be ranked in the top 10 entering the 2013-14 season. Multiple NBA prospects will be on the floor, including C.J. Fair, Jerami Grant, Rasheed Sulaimon and Jabari Parker. And Coach K vs. Boeheim doesn’t hurt the matchup’s appeal.

-- There’s been a lot of offseason trash talk between Michigan and Michigan State fans. On Jan. 25, the two national title contenders will begin to settle things when they compete at the Breslin Center in East Lansing. The Wolverines reached last season’s national title game. Michigan State will return the bulk of its team from last season. On paper, they’re even, in my opinion. Can’t wait to see this war.

-- And defending national champ Louisville will get a slot in a game at Connecticut on Jan. 18, the second matchup of GameDay’s opening slate. It will also be Louisville’s first and last appearance as a member of the new American Athletic Conference, which will soon become its former league as it moves to the ACC in 2014.

-- Andrew Wiggins, are you ready for GameDay? The crew will be in Stillwater, Okla., March 1 for Kansas at Oklahoma State. If these two teams live up to the hype, this game could play a pivotal role in the Big 12 title race. Same for Florida at Kentucky on Feb. 1 in the SEC. Yes, the Wildcats have the best recruiting class in history. But the Gators could snatch the crown, especially if Chris Walker is eligible.

-- Gonzaga will attempt to boost its 2-5 record against Memphis when the teams meet on Feb. 8. This has turned into a fun series over the past decade and the basketball-rabid fans of Memphis will have the FedExForum roaring for GameDay.

-- Ah yes, and the slate ends with one of the greatest rivalries in sports, North Carolina at Duke on March 8.

College GameDay just dropped the mic.

Feel free to get excited.

1. The Presidential Medal of Freedom award for former North Carolina coach Dean Smith was an honor well deserved. The recognition by President Barack Obama, like those before him since President John F. Kennedy created the award, is meant to be for individuals who have set themselves apart in their chosen field, but not always for simply the craft that made them so successful. Smith did so much more than simply coach and win basketball games. He wasn't afraid to be active in the world in which he coached in the 1960s. He set a high example for himself and the program. North Carolina coach Roy Williams said in a statement Thursday, "But more than basketball, it was his social conscience that has left even greater marks on our society and will be paying dividends for generations.'' Smith has been battling memory loss over the past few seasons. No one knows if he'll be able to attend the ceremony at the White House when the date is announced. But let's hope he can make an appearance. His family deserves to see him praised publicly. That's what makes the timing right, so those who love him can celebrate his life's accomplishments with him.

2. The Sun Belt played its conference tournament title game on the Monday of Championship Week last season. But the Sun Belt wanted to have more exposure and a significant platform. The league announced it will host its title game on Selection Sunday on ESPN2. This is great news for exposure for the league. But it could cause another headache for the selection committee and possibly for the winner. The committee can't control when conferences schedule title games but if it were up to them there wouldn't be title games on Sunday. The committee has to deal with too many scenarios on Selection Sunday with winners and losers possibly affecting seeding and bracketing. The Sun Belt has gained exposure, but we'll have to wait and see if it sacrificed its seed by forcing the committee to hold a spot for the winner or a possible at-large team.

3. The Big 12 made the right call in having Kansas and Oklahoma State play on March 1 -- in Stillwater -- in what should be one of the best atmospheres and showdowns next season. KU and OSU should dominate the landscape on that day. This would give the focus to the Big 12 with Andrew Wiggins and Marcus Smart headlining the game. Like it or not, Duke-North Carolina the ensuing weekend usually draws a lot of attention. If KU-OSU were opposite that game there's a good chance it would still be the game of the day based on preseason projections. But this way there is no debate with Kansas and Oklahoma State on a separate weekend.

Kansas coach Bill Self discusses his recruitment of Andrew Wiggins and his team's chances this season.

The dust has finally settled in college basketball.

The transfers have transferred. New coaches are in place now. Most freshmen are on campus. So we can take a serious look at the 2013-14 season and the most valuable players in the game as we prepare for another season with this week's Count 'Em Down series in the Nation blog.

Here’s my list of the top 10 most indispensable players in America. Not necessarily the best players. Simply the ones who are most important to the success of their team.

10. Mitch McGary (Michigan) -- Even without Trey Burke, Michigan has the tools to win the Big Ten and demand an extended stay in the NCAA tournament. Glenn Robinson III, in a more flexible offensive role in 2013-14, could be one of the best wings in America next season. Nik Stauskas is back, too. Plus, John Beilein’s nationally ranked recruiting class features four-star point guard Derrick Walton, who might be a worthy successor to Burke, last season's Wooden Award winner. But McGary has to carry a lot next season. He was vital in Michigan’s run to the national title game in April. In a league that just lost Cody Zeller, Derrick Nix, Jared Berggren and Trevor Mbakwe, life in the Big Ten should be easier for McGary now. And if he’s effective, he’ll clear space for Michigan’s skilled wings and make the Wolverines a more dominant program.

9. Davante Gardner (Marquette) -- Buzz Williams’ squad could win the first championship in the new Big East. Junior Cadougan, Trent Lockett and Vander Blue are all gone, but multiple veterans return and a strong recruiting class will be in the mix, too. It’s all there for the Golden Eagles. So much of this team’s fate, however, will depend on Davante Gardner. He’s a unique player. Few men his size can move the way he does. But Williams doesn’t need the sluggish big man of last season, who would score 15 points one night and five the next. Williams needs the guy who tore up two of the top frontcourts in the country when he scored 14 points (5-for-7) in a win over Miami in the Sweet 16 and 14 points (6-for-9) in a loss to Syracuse in the Elite Eight. If that guy shows up, Marquette could be one of the most complete teams in the Big East and beyond. With the other version of Gardner, Marquette might be in trouble in the season’s late stages.

8. Russ Smith (Louisville) -- Rick Pitino received great news when Smith announced his return. He flirted with the NBA but ultimately decided to rejoin his teammates and make a run at another national title. The Cardinals will enter the season as strong contenders to defend their crown. Luke Hancock, Chane Behanan, Wayne Blackshear and Montrezl Harrell all return for the defending champs. But I can’t see Louisville on the podium again unless Smith competes at an All-American level in 2013-14. “Russdiculous” has been criticized for his mishaps (2.7 turnovers per game). But the Cardinals wouldn’t be the champs without him. The most explosive guard in the country (18.7 PPG, 2.1 SPG) is a two-way catalyst for a team that’s capable of winning its second consecutive championship. Louisville needs him.

7. Alex Kirk (New Mexico) -- Craig Neal’s presence suggests that life without Steve Alford might not be so tough for the Lobos. The former associate head coach offers the program a sense of continuity that is important for any team that suddenly loses a head coach … 10 days after he agrees to a multiyear extension. Neal will have star guard Kendall Williams, but first-round draft pick Tony Snell is gone. A multitude of newcomers and young faces will attempt to fill the void, but their contributions will be less significant than Kirk’s output. The 7-footer is a force when he wants to be. The underrated center scored 22 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in his team’s opening-round loss to Harvard in the NCAA tourney. Team’s attack him early to get him into foul trouble because they know he’s essential for the Lobos. But he’s a matchup problem for most opponents. And he balances the floor and helps New Mexico’s wings roam. The big man could be the key to a Mountain West title run and/or a lengthier stay in the NCAA tournament for the Lobos.

6. Cleanthony Early (Wichita State) -- There’s a lot of justified hoopla surrounding another team in Kansas. But Wichita State did reach the Final Four a few months ago. It should not be forgotten. And the Shockers were a play or two away from ruining Louisville’s championship run. But the 2013-14 version of the Shockers will not be the same team that rallied to Atlanta. Carl Hall and Malcolm Armstead are gone, but Tekele Cotton, Ron Baker and multiple contributors from that team return. So this team still has a high ceiling entering next season, but only if Early fulfills his potential. Although his team lost a 72-68 war against Louisville in Atlanta, his performance (24 points, 10 rebounds, 2-for-4 from the 3-point line) put the country on alert. The 6-8 combo forward can hurt opponents many ways -- and if he does what he’s capable of doing in 2013-14, the Shockers could make another postseason run. If he’s the inconsistent player who never quite found a rhythm during last year’s regular season, the Shockers might go home early.

5. LaQuinton Ross (Ohio State) -- I initially had a different Ohio State player in this slot. Aaron Craft makes a lot of sense for many reasons. He’s the point guard on an Ohio State team that will demand his leadership. But my editor made me think twice. Right team, wrong player. Who will score for the Buckeyes next season if Ross doesn’t? The minimal draft buzz surrounding Deshaun Thomas made it easy to forget how good and important he was for the Buckeyes throughout his career. There’s a huge hole in the middle of the OSU attack that Ross could (must) fill. His explosion in the Big Dance (17 points against Iowa State in the third round, 17 points against Arizona in the Sweet 16, 19 points against Wichita State in the Elite Eight) proved as much. Thad Matta needs him to build off that effort and consistently provide that output for Ohio State in the future.

4. Marcus Smart (Oklahoma State) -- This one is simple, right? The best point guard in college basketball has to make this list. Yes, the Pokes suffered a messy opening-round exit against Oregon in the NCAA tournament. Without Smart, however, they would not have earned a 5-seed. And if Smart had decided to turn pro this summer, we wouldn’t be talking about Oklahoma State as the possible favorite to win the Big 12 championship. The stellar leader was the only college player who earned an invite to this week’s Team USA basketball minicamp. The core of last season’s Oklahoma State squad returns for 2013-14. And if Smart equals last season (15.4 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 4.2 APG, 3.0 SPG) or – gulp – tops it, then the Cowboys could play their way to Arlington next April.

3. Jahii Carson (Arizona State) -- Arizona State has quietly entered the preseason Top 25 conversation despite a 2012-13 campaign that concluded with four consecutive Pac-12 losses and a second-round exit in the NIT. But Jordan Bachynski is a legit center. And former Penn State standout Jermaine Marshall (15.3 PPG last season) will help the Sun Devils replace Evan Gordon, who transferred to Indiana. But Carson, an all-Pac 12 first-teamer last season, is the difference-maker for a program that will chase its first NCAA tournament appearance since 2009. The speedy point guard averaged 18.5 PPG, 5.1 APG and 1.2 SPG last season. Those numbers might result in a preseason All-American nod for the sophomore. But he also averaged 3.5 turnovers per game on an Arizona State squad that was 91st in turnover percentage (18.5) last season per KenPom.com. Herb Sendek can’t afford those mistakes from a player who is vital to a team that has a chance to crash the Top 25 and make noise in the Pac-12 in 2013-14.

2. Doug McDermott (Creighton) -- McDermott is a perennial member of the All-Indispensable Team. I mean, what would Creighton be without him? Give coach Greg McDermott credit for putting the pieces around McDermott that have fueled his impressive run of success. Still, McDermott didn’t just elevate a program. He carried it to a new conference. The Bluejays were enticing to the new Big East because McDermott has made Creighton more nationally relevant over the last three years. Four of the team’s top five scorers from last season, including Grant Gibbs, return. With McDermott leading, Creighton could snatch the inaugural crown in the new Big East.

1. Andrew Wiggins (Kansas) -- Let me explain, OK? I know Kansas would be fine without the No. 1 recruit in America. Even if Wiggins had taken his talents to Lexington or Tallahassee, the Jayhawks would have still been relevant in the Big 12. They have Perry Ellis, Memphis transfer Tarik Black and a solid recruiting class. Plus, Bill Self has won nine consecutive conference titles. But the only reason we’re talking about Kansas as a potential national title contender, despite losing two pros (Jeff Withey, Ben McLemore) and three other starters (Travis Releford, Elijah Johnson and Kevin Young), is because Wiggins is in Lawrence. No high school recruit has ever arrived with this much hype. He might not live up to it. If he does, however, it’ll be easy to see why he’s so indispensable.

Mark Gottfried picked an inopportune time to reload.

His North Carolina State squad lost the bulk of its key pieces from last season. C.J. Leslie and Lorenzo Brown entered the draft. Richard Howell exhausted his eligibility. And former McDonald’s All-American Rodney Purvis transferred to Connecticut.

The Wolfpack signed a 2013 recruiting class that’s ranked 13^th in the country. That will help. But Syracuse, Notre Dame and Pitt will join the ACC next season. That won’t help.

And it won’t ease his plight, especially with the best team in America standing in the Wolfpack’s way.

Gottfried believes that Duke should be the No. 1 team in the country entering next season. Not only does he believe it, he “can’t imagine” any other team holding that slot.

Hmmmmm.

Per David Morrison of the Greensboro News & Record, who attended NC State’s annual summer news conference on Tuesday:

With freshman Jabari Parker and Mississippi State transfer Rodney Hood added to the mix, Gottfried feels as if Duke could have the second and third picks of next year's NBA Draft playing on its perimeter.

"There's a lot of attention around Jabari Parker, but wait until you see Rodney Hood," Gottfried said. "He's that good. They're loaded."

Hood, who injured his Achilles tendon during the Team USA World University Games tryout camp, should be full-speed by the fall.

Plus the Blue Devils bring back starters Quinn Cook and Rasheed Sulaimon, reintroduce Andre Dawkins and bring in freshmen Semi Ojeleye and Matt Jones on the wings.

That's quite a stacked perimeter.

"We'll all have a great time trying to get ready for that," Gottfried said bemusedly.

That's why, when handicapping the league at the beginning of July, Gottfried's eyes are straying to Durham.

"I can't imagine anybody else being picked No. 1 in the country than Duke," Gottfried said.

Now, Gottfried’s praise is valid. Duke will be legit next season.

Parker was the biggest thing in the 2013 class before Andrew Wiggins reclassified. And Hood, if healthy, could be a high-level NBA prospect, too.

But has Gottfried ever been to the state of Kentucky? There are a few teams there that might have a case for No. 1. This guy, John Calipari, signed six McDonald’s All-Americans. In one class.

The Wildcats should be OK, right?

Oh and there is this Louisville squad, too. Some coach named Rick Pitino led that team to the national championship a few months ago, and his program retained multiple key contributors. The Cardinals should be solid, too.

And Kansas has Wiggins. So there’s that. Michigan State, Arizona, Syracuse and Florida will also be in the mix.

Perhaps Gottfried simply, uh, misspoke.

LAWRENCE, Kan. -- The Andrew Wiggins era at Kansas got underway Wednesday when the most hyped basketball prodigy since LeBron James drew 1,300 fans to Lawrence.

For a pickup game.

Wiggins scored just seven points in a scrimmage against former Jayhawks stars such as Cole Aldrich and Sherron Collins. But he definitely had KU faithful buzzing after soaring for a thunderous tomahawk slam just 10 seconds into the contest.

“I let loose all of my nerves,” Wiggins said. “I was good after that dunk.”

Indeed, the months leading up to Wednesday’s highlight-reel play were certainly taxing on Wiggins, who didn’t announce his college destination until May 14. Wiggins’ final list consisted of Kansas, Kentucky, North Carolina and Florida State.

When he finally picked the Jayhawks, he was as relieved as he was excited.

“Everywhere I went -- no matter where I went -- everyone asked me where I’m going to school,” Wiggins said. “So now it’s like a big relief, a big weight off my shoulders.”

Judging by Wiggins’ first few days in Lawrence, that pressure could soon return.

A anonymous poster on a Kansas message board somehow figured out Wiggins’ travel plans Sunday and posted his flight information online. When Wiggins landed in Kansas City, a handful of Jayhawks fans were there to greet him at the airport.

About an hour later, when he arrived at his Lawrence apartment for the first time, Wiggins encountered more autograph seekers who had been waiting for him in the parking lot.

Even though Wiggins -- the projected No. 1 pick in the 2014 NBA draft -- has spent much of the past few years in the spotlight, Kansas coach Bill Self said what he’ll experience at KU is “a different level.”

“I kind of feel for him,” Self said. “(He’s got) professional autograph seekers waiting for him every time he steps out of his apartment. He’s going to have to tell people ‘no.’ We’ve got to help him do that.

“Players can have rock star status and whatnot. But this could be kind of ridiculous if he lets it get to him. He just wants to come here and enjoy the summer. Hopefully people will allow him to do that.”

Self said he may ask former Kansas star and current Tulsa head coach Danny Manning to counsel Wiggins about life in the Lawrence limelight.

“Other than Danny, you’d have to go back to Wilt (Chamberlain) to find a guy that had this much fanfare coming in,” Self said. “He’s just a kid. I told him the other night that he hasn’t made a basket yet. The attention he’s received is based on potential. It’s not based on anything he’s done.

“But I think he should welcome the expectations. There’s no reason he should run from them.”

Fans at Wednesday’s scrimmage -- about half of them were kids attending Self’s basketball camp -- began chanting “We Want Wiggins!” shortly before KU’s newest star took the court. He threw down several effortless dunks during the layup line and also displayed the soft outside shooting touch that makes him a threat to score from anywhere on the court.

Wiggins’ slam on a two-on-one break in the game’s opening seconds caused an eruption in the stands. He dunked again moments later after stealing a pass at mid-court.

The rest of the contest was uneventful for Wiggins, who missed four of his final five shots. At times he seemed to lack energy, which is understandable considering a whirlwind last few weeks that included a trip to his native Toronto. The initial plan was for Wiggins to spend the majority of his summer there training for the Canadian National team.

But he changed his mind a few weeks ago and decided not to play for the squad.

“I know that college is a big step from high school,” Wiggins said, “so I wanted to make sure I was ready for it. Coming here early would (enhance) my chances of being ready for college.”

Wiggins said he’s also looking forward to spending time with his older brother, Nick, who plays for Wichita State.

“One of the reasons I came here is to be close to my brother,” Wiggins said. “Me and him are really close. I’ll be able to see him a lot this year. And when my family comes down they won’t have to travel a lot. We’re only (two hours) away from each other.”

Even though it’s likely Wiggins will only spend one season at Kansas, he said he’s confident he’ll enjoy his time in college. He said folks in Lawrence have “shown me nothing but love,” and he’s excited about getting to know his new teammates.

Kansas’ recruiting class is ranked No. 2 in the nation. Besides Wiggins, the Jayhawks signed a pair of potential future first-round draft picks in center Joel Embiid and wing Wayne Selden. Point guard Frank Mason should contend for a starting spot as a freshman and sharpshooters Brannen Greene and Conner Frankamp will provide a nice boost off the bench.

The Jayhawks, who lost all five of last season’s starters, also added Memphis transfer Tarik Black, a senior forward who is likely to open the 2013-14 campaign as a starter.

“It’s an experience I can enjoy,” Wiggins said. “A lot of former players always say that college is a great basketball experience. The fans, going to school, being on campus ... it’s a great vibe. I’m looking forward to it.

“I want to win. I want me and my teammates to go as far as we can and to be the best players that we all can be. And hopefully win a national championship. That’s my main goal.”

For all of the unseemly and uncomfortable things recruiting throws our way -- the scrutiny of teenage decision-making, the third-party runners and hangers-on, the existential questions we have to ask ourselves about exactly how much we should allow ourselves to care about 15-year-old basketball players -- there is one aspect that makes it immensely fun: You never know. The best and most widely touted prospects occasionally show up to the college game woefully unprepared; relatively under-the-radar players (see: Trey Burke) end up changing a program's next decade. No matter how well-scouted the country's best players are, there is still a enough variability in outcomes that it always feels like anything is on the table.

Which brings me, as usual, to Andrew Wiggins. Perhaps no prospect in the past decade -- at least since Greg Oden and Kevin Durant in 2006-07 -- is considered as much of a sure thing as Wiggins; anything less than a dominant freshman season at Kansas will, on some level, be considered a disappointment. And yet, for all of the YouTube clips and and hours of scouting, it remains entirely possible that Wiggins will be merely very good, or even (gasp) just OK. There are no foregone conclusions in recruiting.

On Saturday, Wiggins arrived in Lawrence, Kan., and soon thereafter participated in his first practice and workout session with the Jayhawks. How did it go?

This is from CBS' Gary Parrish:

"Wow!" the source said. "Like watching a video game. He'd be the No. 1 pick this year."

This is from SNY's Adam Zagoria:

Kansas source on @22wiggins' 1st practice Monday: 'Best athlete that we have ever been around.'

Sounds like it went pretty well, huh?

Impressions from a first practice aren't much to go by, but they're what we'll have to go on from now until early November, which is a brutally long time until Wiggins' official unveiling. The supply of impressions from his workouts at Kansas won't come anywhere close to matching the demand for news about his game. It can't. It's not possible. So I expect this will only be the first in a long stream of tidbits flowing from Lawrence over the next month, which are sure to range from the mundane to the mythical; by September, Wiggins will be in Paris co-producing a follow-up to "Yeezus." Consider yourself forewarned.

This weekend, any and all uncertainty on the matter of Andrew Wiggins' summer plans was put to rest. Canada Basketball, which had hoped to have one of the best young players in the world around for its under-19 FIBA World Championships bid in Prague in late June, announced that Wiggins had decided to forgo the trip. Instead, he'll stay in Lawrence, Kan., where he can get a head start on workouts and prep for his much-anticipated 2013-14 freshman campaign.

It's not a huge story, all things considered. Bill Self previously told reporters he expected Wiggins to commit at least some of his time to Team Canada, and seemed cool with the idea. He'll be glad to have Wiggins around, no doubt, and Wiggins can get acquainted with Allen Fieldhouse and Massachusetts Street, I guess. Other than that there's not much here.

Right now, that is. As part of Team Canada's announcement, Rowan Barrett, executive vice-president and assistant general manager of the Canadian senior men's program, released the following statement:

"At 18 years old, Andrew has a long basketball career ahead of him. Andrew’s decision to prepare himself this summer for the upcoming season is a decision we acknowledge. Our team will miss Andrew this summer, but we remain focused on Andrew's long-term development and our organizational goals for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games and beyond."

Which is smart (as Eric Angevine notes). There's no point in alienating Wiggins over a U19 tournament, not with the 2016 Olympics on the horizon. It also hammers home something I hadn't even considered. Canada is going to be really good.

After all, Wiggins is just the latest highly touted Canadian prospect. Canada in the last few years has produced a wealth of talented NBA prospects. Tristan Thompson is developing nicely for the Cleveland Cavaliers. Myck Kabongo should be a solid if unspectacular pro guard. Andrew Nicholson has a nice perimeter touch for a big man and he might be best-utilized in the international game. Kris Joseph was drafted out of Syracuse last summer. Cory Joseph is playing spot minutes for the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Finals. Nik Stauskus is a lights-out shooter. Kevin Pangos is going to be one of the best guards in the country this season. Kelly Olynyk was a beast last year. And Anthony Bennett will be a top-five pick in this summer's draft. There are surely more.

There are more coming. Besides Wiggins, the 2013 ESPN 100 includes two Canadians: No. 20-ranked Syracuse commit Tyler Ennis, and No. 44-ranked Florida State prospect Xavier Rathan-Mayes.

Colleague Myron Medcalf explained last July how Canada suddenly started producing all these NBA players.

What Myron found in Canada was a kind of perfect storm. In the 1970s, the Canadian government relaxed its immigration laws, which caused a host of immigrants to rush to Toronto, which is now one of the world's most diverse cities (according to government data, 49 percent of Toronto's residents were born outside the country) and the fifth-most populous metropolitan area in North America. As their children grew up, the NBA's expansion into Canada and Steve Nash's success gave immigrant kids identifiable hoops heroes, and quite possibly saved a generation of talented athletes from spending their gifts trying to become the next Wayne Gretzky. And now here we are.

None of which is to say Canada is ever going to beat the United States at basketball. But Canada should be internationally competitive -- in the same way Argentina and Germany and even Spain are internationally competitive -- in the matter of years, not decades.

At the very least, we can safely say our northern neighbors' long-term basketball prospectus is at its all-time high.

1. Kansas coach Bill Self said every newcomer but Andrew Wiggins is on campus and in summer school. He said Wiggins' summer plans are still unresolved. Wiggins may play for the Canadian National team or may not. He is expected on campus soon. Self is already raving about Wayne Selden, one of the six newcomers. This will end up being one of Self's most enjoyable teams. He gets a chance to completely mold this crew in the summer with the comfort of having Wiggins. The Jayhawks won't be dominant, but they will be one of the most intriguing and entertaining teams to watch next season.

2. ACC freshman of the year Olivier Hanlan of Boston College won't go with the Canadian World University Games team to Russia next month. BC coach Steve Donahue said Hanlan was with the Canadian National Team for six days last week, but will spend the rest of the summer working out with the Eagles. Hanlan scored 41 points in an ACC tournament win over Georgia Tech. Hanlan has a chance to get the most out of this summer by working with his national team and better competition, while also spending quality time with his Eagles team that needs to make a move in the ACC and has a real chance to do so with so many returnees.

3. Oklahoma and Wisconsin are taking foreign trips in August, with the Sooners heading to Belgium and France and the Badgers going to Canada. The timing for the trips is crucial for both. Oklahoma is coming off an NCAA tournament season, but is retooling in what should be a Kansas-Oklahoma State-Baylor led Big 12. The Badgers desperately needed prep and games for Josh Gasser as he gets back from an ACL injury. Having this trip will allow Gasser to re-adjust to being the leader on this team. Traevon Jackson was the top playmaker in Gasser's absence. Now the two can attempt to work together. Wisconsin's season ended with a thud, losing to Ole Miss in the NCAA tournament. Playing in Canada in August will be a good precursor to mounting a run back to the NCAAs.

In the two-plus years since Andrew Wiggins burst on the recruiting scene -- particularly since he reclassified to the class of 2013, and immediately became its most desirable prospect last fall -- almost all of what we've heard about the kid has been positive. Different. Humble. Friendly. Unimpressed by most. Keeps a tight circle. Doesn't luxuriate in the attention of being a star. Doesn't much care for the recruiting process.

Things kept up this way for almost all of Wiggins' prep career. But college basketball fans are an impatient, emotional sort. When Wiggins' decision started to drag out, many turned. Many were just introduced, and their first impression wasn't colored by the word on the grassroots street. To these folks -- and by "these folks" I mean the din you hear when you put your ear to the Internet floor -- the notion that Wiggins wasn't a fan of recruiting attention was clearly and obviously wrong, because who waits until the last possible opportunity to announce their college choice if they don't want attention? Forget the fact that Wiggins didn't court attention to leave crumb trails or make his announcement in front of a swath of national reporters in a pep rally, but instead held a small ceremony with mostly friends and family in his high school gym. Clearly the kid was addicted to attention -- no different than every other would-be one-year college basketball star.

I don't think that's at all true. I don't know, because I don't know Andrew Wiggins, but I doubt it. What I do know is that far more often than not, Wiggins has seemed more mature than the majority of adults in the grassroots basketball world, both in his ability to keep his process to himself (and avoid turning it into some mini-LeBron James spectacle) and the relatively quiet way that decision was eventually announced.

And then there's this. On Sunday, Wiggins wrote an open editorial farewell letter in the Huntington Herald-Dispatch thanking ... well, pretty much everyone he ever came in contact with in Huntington, W. Va.:

I just wanted to thank Huntington for your support for me and my Huntington Prep teammates and coaches these past two years. Without the community, none of what has been accomplished would have been attainable. I hope that when you hear or read my name, you are proud to say I played my high school days here in Huntington. Because I am proud to say I played here.

[...] One of the best things about my experience here is St. Joseph Central Catholic H.S. where we all attend. There are a lot of good people in that building from the principal to the teachers to the janitor; I will never forget all the positive influences they have been in my development as a young man. My peers at St. Joe have also been supportive of me and have always treated me as one of their own. I am not different, just a kid, and at St. Joe I could be. Thank you.

[...] I am from Canada and I am going to Kansas to play college basketball. I will hopefully be drafted to a city that I enjoy. But I will always have a place for Huntington in my heart and memories. I will not forget all the sacrifices they made for me and my teammates. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

That's just a few portions of the letter; the whole thing is full of specific thank yous to teachers, coaches, trainers, support staff, Huntington board members (who serve as host families at the boarding academy), and various friends made over the course of a high school career.

It's honestly touching stuff. As the son of lifelong educators, let me assure you there is nothing that makes educators suffer sudden onset allergies more than a student thanking them on their way out the door. So many 18-year-olds simply breeze out into the world as if they've survived something horrible, as if the rest of their life is going to be easy, as if they'll never need guidance or advice again. They're not grateful, because they don't realize what they've been given. Because they're teenagers, and teenagers are selfish.

That Wiggins -- who really is breezing off to a charmed life of basketball-borne fame and riches -- stopped to thank the folks that have shaped his life the past few years is a small but incredibly impressive thing. As far as I can tell, Wiggins isn't just "not like other stars." He's not like most teenagers, full stop.

1. UNLV lost another player over the weekend. The latest to depart is Katin Reinhardt, who apparently had issues with the way he was being used by coach Dave Rice and wants to play the point more than shooting guard, Rice told the Las Vegas Review-Journal. Reinhardt will have to see if Andy Enfield plays him at the point if ends up at USC, as the Review-Journal reported is a likely destination. Reinhardt shouldn't play immediately (I feel like I have to say that now with everyone getting waivers) and can use the redshirt year to become a point if that's his chosen position. The Runnin' Rebels already lost Anthony Bennett to the NBA draft after one season, and then Mike Moser graduated and transferred to Oregon to play immediately. (UNLV was also set to lose seniors Justin Hawkins and Anthony Marshall.) The Rebels will be scrapping with San Diego State to catch New Mexico and maybe Boise State in the Mountain West. But Rice shouldn't be worried. He needs players who want to be in Las Vegas, and the Rebels have replacements. Bryce Dejean-Jones can play shooting guard. UConn transfer Roscoe Smith had a year to better understand the game and how to play power forward. Depth is available with Carlos Lopez-Sosa and Kendall Smith, who can play either the point or the two for the Rebels. Khem Birch is eligible for a full year and can try to be more assertive offensively and dominant defensively. This team will be in flux, but the pieces are still in play to be an NCAA team.

2. Players don't necessarily have the allegiances that fans do. That's why Antonio Barton has no issues going from Memphis to rival Tennessee. The Vols desperately needed another guard after losing Trae Golden. And of course the Vols are now a beneficiary of the new free agency in college basketball. "It's safe to say kids are more concerned with the best opportunity,'' Tennessee coach Cuonzo Martin said about players holding rivalry grudges. As for picking up players on the fly, Martin said, "Free agency, it's a tough call. We're on the good side of free agency. I think a lot of mid-major programs are affected by the market.'' Martin used to be the coach at Missouri State and knows all too well about life at a lower level.

3. Former Michigan guard Tim Hardaway Jr. said on our college basketball podcast Friday that Caris LeVert is ready for a breakthrough season in 2013-14. Hardaway heaped high praise on LeVert. Meanwhile, Kansas coach Bill Self hit on a number of topics, including Ben McLemore, a recruiting class that he said had tremendous promise even before Andrew Wiggins signed, and coaching Wiggins next season. You can listen to the podcast here.

It's an exciting time to be a Kansas fan.

That sounds a little silly, doesn't it? Really, when isn't it a good time to be a Kansas fan? In 10 seasons under Bill Self, the Jayhawks have won or shared the last nine Big 12 regular-season titles, a ridiculous streak no program in the country, not even the most dominant mid-majors, can match. They've won six conference tournament titles, and averaged 30.6 wins per season in that span. In 2008, Kansas won the program's third national title thanks to one of the most thrilling shots in college hoops history. They've been seeded No. 1 in the NCAA tournament bracket in five of the last seven seasons.

This success didn't come after some extended period of suffering; it came after an already very successful coach (Roy Williams) made the difficult decision to take his dream job (North Carolina), which ended up working out for everyone. The Jayhawks play in arguably the best -- and probably the loudest -- building in the country. "Rock, Chalk, Jayhawk" is one of the best sporting songs this side of English football.

Should we go on? The point is, it's always good to be a Kansas fan. Even in the darkest, Ali Farokhmanesh-induced days, the Jayhawks faithful have it better than just about any other program in the country.

And despite all that, I am still willing to argue that this is an especially exciting time for Kansas, mostly thanks to two words:

Andrew Wiggins.

Before Wiggins' commitment, Kansas was losing all five of its starters -- four seniors and a freshman who might be the No. 1 overall pick -- and replacing them with a handful of minor contributors and a crop of talented but hardly overwhelming talent. Marcus Smart was back at Oklahoma State and gunning for a conference title. The notion that 2013-14 would be the year Kansas' force-choke grip on the Big 12 finally loosened ran rampant through the college basketball cognoscenti.

After Wiggins' commitment, followed by the news that Memphis senior forward Tarik Black would also join up, the whole notion seemed laughable. Self had already reloaded with a very good recruiting class, including Joel Embiid, the No. 1 center, and Wayne Selden, the No. 4 small forward. Then he added a highly skilled 2-3-4 hybrid with handles and a 3-point shot.

It would be easy, given Wiggins' recruitment and the accompanying giddiness, to assume the hardest part of Self's job was over. False. In its own way, this season may be the toughest challenge of Self's already illustrious career. This isn't the usual Jayhawks' reload. Typically, when a score of players leaves Lawrence for NBA glory, Self replaces them with a crop of fully ripened second-, third-, and fourth-year players who can play his high-low offense from sheer muscle memory. The Jayhawks have had one-and-dones, but in an now seven-year era culturally dominated by eight-month players, Self has more often achieved success by unleashing the Thomas Robinsons and Jeff Witheys of the world after two or three seasons on the bench.

He won't have that luxury this season. He will be playing more freshmen at the same time than at any point in recent memory.

Because of those freshmen, it has been easy to gloss over how important Kansas' returning players always are to the Jayhawks' success, and how little that will change next season. There are three returning contributors likely to play big minutes: sophomore forwards Perry Ellis and Jamari Traylor, and junior guard Naadir Tharpe.

Tharpe is easily the most important of the three.

That's not to say he's the best. Ellis, a four-time class 6A Kansas state champion at Wichita Heights High School, had by far the most efficient season of the three in his rookie campaign, posting a 114.1 usage rate and comparable offensive and defensive rebounding percentages to Withey. He played just 33.4 percent of the Jayhawks' available minutes, and he struggled at times, but more often than not he was good. He will be good. Traylor, for his part, is extremely raw and athletic, which also makes him extremely exciting.

But Ellis and Traylor are forwards and with Wiggins, Black, Selden and Embiid, Kansas has at least four guys who can play some combination of the traditional 3, 4, and 5 spots. Ellis will play plenty; he's something close to a lock to start at the power forward spot, thanks to systemic experience alone. It's not that Ellis isn't good. It's that Self doesn't need Ellis to be good -- at least as much as he needs Tharpe.

That's because Tharpe is a veteran point guard on a team noticeably short on both veterans and point guards. Unless mostly untouted freshman Frank Mason surprises, four-star freshman Connor Frankamp, the No. 10 ranked point in the class, is the only other option at the spot.

That sound you heard was Kansas fans collectively shuddering. Tharpe is that kind of player -- clearly talented, clearly getting better, still maddeningly frustrating. His, ahem, nadir (sorry, but it had to happen eventually) last season came in Kansas' loss at TCU, when he finished 1-of-15 on some of the least-advised late-game shots you'll ever see. Tharpe wasn't that bad, obviously, but he was never a really efficient player; he finished with a 99.9 offensive rating, shooting 35.8 percent from inside the arc and 33.0 percent from beyond. Likewise, while he assisted on 28.3 percent of his possessions, he turned the ball over on 21.1 of them. At times, it seemed the only thing keeping Tharpe off the bench was senior guard Elijah Johnson's profound struggles.

For Kansas to legitimately contend as a national title candidate, Tharpe will have to be better. The good news? He won't have to score. Not with Wiggins and Selden, Embiid, Ellis and Black. However, what Tharpe will have to do is arguably just as important. He'll have to play great defense at the point of attack. He'll have to avoid turnovers. He'll have to hit the occasional outside shot. And he'll have to lead Kansas on the break, when it can avoid getting bogged down in the crowded half court, and most effectively unleash Wiggins' massive ability.

The first three, if not givens, seem eminently achievable. The fast-breaking responsibilities are the biggest concern. Last season, per Synergy scouting data, Tharpe ranked in the seventh percentile in the country in transition efficiency. Overall, Tharpe averaged just 0.654 points per transition possession. As the ballhandler, he averaged .821 -- better, but average at best.

Tharpe will have the luxury of playing alongside a swath of talented big men and probably the best amateur basketball player on earth. He won't have to do everything; he won't even have to do all that much. What he will have to do is make good decisions, particularly on the break.

The 2013-14 season is new territory for both Self and the Jayhawks. It is extremely exciting, yes, but like anything worth getting excited about, it's a little scary, too. Tharpe is a three-year veteran at a veteran-led program that is suddenly devoid of veterans, in the most important position on the floor. It's his job to minimize the scary parts and maximize the excitement, to represent the solidity that has defined Kansas in one of the more successful decades in the sport's history.

It's a different kind of pressure than what Wiggins will face -- but it is pressure all the same.

1. Kansas freshman Ben McLemore said Thursday he knew nothing about any payments that AAU coach Darius Cobb told USA Today he received from Rodney Blackstock, he founder and CEO of Hooplife Academy in Greensboro, N.C., to direct McLemore to an agent. Cobb said in the report that he took $10,000 in two separate payments. "I think this was just to attack Rodney Blackstock," McLemore said while he was watching the draft combine in Chicago. McLemore said he did not personally take any money and that he did not commit an NCAA violation. McLemore said he was one of Andrew Wiggins' hosts at Kansas and said Wiggins will fit in perfectly with coach Bill Self. "I know if I was there we would have had one of the best backcourts in the country with me, Wiggins and Naadir Tharpe," McLemore said, adding that he would have loved to have played with Wiggins, but he knows he'll see him in the NBA in a year.

2. Count Marquette coach Buzz Williams in the camp that is frustrated about no commissioner being named of the new Big East yet. The coaches and athletic directors meet Monday in Florida and adviser and former Big 12 commissioner Dan Beebe will be running the meeting unless someone is suddenly hired over the weekend. Williams said the same issues were discussed at the Final Four and he said he wondered if anything new could be talked about since there is still no leadership. The new 10-team Big East starts competition in August in fall sports. Marquette still needs one more game on its schedule with a slate that includes Ohio State, a road game at Arizona State, the three-game tournament in Anaheim, at Wisconsin and playing New Mexico in Las Vegas.

3. It's great to see when schools take a chance on long-time assistant coaches who deserve a shot to lead a program. That's exactly what UMass-Lowell did with Northeastern assistant Pat Duquette. Duquette had as much a role in developing Boston College into a consistent ACC power during Al Skinner's tenure as any other assistant. Duquette -- who, along with Skinner, was instrumental in finding Oklahoma City's Reggie Jackson when he was a high school player in Colorado -- will have a tall task ahead in leading Lowell into Division I. The program has a four-year probationary period in the America East (replacing Boston University, which is off to the Patriot League) before it can play in the postseason. Duquette sought out the best paths to do just that from his former assistant colleague at BC in Bryant's Tim O'Shea, Nebraska's Tim Miles and North Dakota State's Saul Phillips. The latter two had to take the Bison in a similar path to Division I like Bryant.