Posted on Sat, Apr. 26, 2008

Flemings chooses Hawaii

GILLISPIE MET WITH JUCO STAR WEDNESDAY

HERALD-LEADER STAFF REPORT

Roderick Flemings averaged a double-double last season.

Kentucky target Roderick Flemings, a highly touted junior college player, has chosen to play for the University of Hawaii, according to the Honolulu Advertiser.

"I'm heading to Hawaii," Flemings told the Honolulu paper. "I really feel like I can change the program around and help get the team to the (NCAA) Tournament."

Flemings, a 6-foot-7, 215-pound All-American for Weatherford (Texas) College, said he turned down a scheduled visit to Kentucky this weekend, and signed his official letter of intent with Hawaii Friday. Flemings visited Hawaii last weekend.

"It was so difficult," he said of the decision. "But I feel like Hawaii is the place for me."

UK Coach Billy Gillispie visited with Flemings Wednesday night and Weatherford Coach Mark Osina said Flemings seemed "pretty excited" after the meeting with Gillispie.

Flemings averaged 20.6 points, 11.7 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 2.7 steals last season as a sophomore at Weatherford.

Flemings, a native of DeSoto, Texas, was named the conference's Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year this past season.

Osina said Flemings was the best player he had coached in 18 seasons at the school. In that time, Osina has compiled a record of 326-196 with six conference championships.

McCoy narrows choices

Point guard prospect Paul McCoy has narrowed his college choices to Kentucky and Virginia, his high school basketball coach said on Friday.

"He's still in the middle of making his decision," said Tony Broadous, McCoy's coach at Grant High in Portland, Ore.

McCoy enjoyed his visits to UK and Virginia, Broadous said.

When asked what factors McCoy would weigh in making a decision, Broadous said, "I don't know. I tried to get as much information from him as I could because I knew I'd get phone calls. He just said he liked the visits, had fun, played with the guys. He just didn't know which one to choose."

Earlier in the recruiting process, McCoy had been linked to Washington State, SMU and Southern Cal.