AKRON - LeBron could have shown up late a la Kobe - and spent a few minutes rubbing elbows with the top high school players in the country.

James gets it.

He gets it in a Jordan-esque way.

He played daily with the college campers and rarely took a play off. He even sweated it out with the top high school guys in both games situations and drills.

And even when it was all over and all the college coaches and players cleared out, James was still at the Rhodes Arena in his hometown - shooting hoops with his boys.

People tend to forget that James is still a kid. He's just 22.

THE BUZZ

Many of his colleagues were shocked by Buzz Williams' decision to give up a head coaching gig at New Orleans to become an assistant for Tom Crean at Marquette.

What they didn't realize was how difficult the job is at UNO.

The fan support has been dismal, his players have to change under bleachers - and the arena won't be ready until the spring of 2008.

Williams, 34, will team with Crean to form one of the most potent recruiting tandems in the country. If the Golden Eagles continue to enjoy success (they have arguably the best perimeter trio in the country with Dominic James, Wesley Matthews and Jerel McNeal), Williams should have another head coaching job soon.

CREAM OF THE CROP

John Riek was clearly the top big man in Akron.

In fact, the 7-foot-2 big man, who arrived in the country in January, may already be ahead of UConn's 7-footer Hasheem Thabeet.

While Riek's age may be in question, his ability is not. He's a dominant defensive player who gets after it - and also has a nice touch.

ALIBI TO NATIONAL TEAM

Florida State finally has a big man after last year when Alexander Johnson left early and Jon Kreft had his scholarship rescinded due to drug problems.

However, the Seminoles will have to wait a while to get Solomon Alibi on campus. The Nigerian will play for his county this summer at the World Championships in Sebia from July 12-22. The last time this happened with one of their players, Uche Echefu came back about 10 pounds lighter.

YOUNGER AMINU'S DECISION ON TAP

Al Farouq Aminu, one of the nation's top players, told FOXSports.com that he intends to make his college decision Thursday between Wake Forest, Georgia Tech and North Carolina.

Look for the talented 6-foot-8 forward, whose brother, Alade, plays for Paul Hewitt's Yellow Jackets, to choose the Skip Prosser and Wake in what will be a huge get for the Demon Deacons.

Aminu's pledge could also mean that Prosser and his staff get another talented Georgian - 6-foot-10 Tony Woods. Aminu and Woods have said they'd like to play with one another.

THE WORLD OF WILLIE

Willie Warren, a talented rising senior out of Texas, committed to Baylor last week because the Bears sold him on the "one-and-done" theory. However, Warren's mother nixed the verbal pledge and then took away his cell phone.

Warren and Kobe Bryant went at it a week or so ago at Kobe's Skills Academy. Warren was the only player not to take a picture with Kobe or LeBron - and he also jawed with Bryant.

``I told him that in a game to five, I'd give him four points," Warren said. "He started laughing."

Warren did say that LeBron rates just behind Allen Iverson as Warren's favorite player, but that he couldn't bring himself to take a photo with him - in case he ends up playing against James one day.

RIC FLAIR GETS GATOR LOVE

Give wrestler Ric Flair an assistant in the Gators national championship this year.

Flair came into the locker room prior to Florida's win over Butler in the second round of the NCAA tournament and put on quite a show.

The players had watched a video of Flair in the past - and were shocked, according to Billy Donovan, when Flair strutted into the locker room with his trademark "Whew" yell.

RANDOM NOTES

Congrats to former Missouri assistant Lane Odom, who recently got the head job at Charlotte Latin (N.C.). ... It's rare not to see Arizona's Lute Olson on the recruiting trail in early July. The Wildcats head man is headed to Serbia to watch the U-19 World Championships. ... The Basketball Hall of Fame Challenge, a one-day doubleheader in Boston, will feature UConn against Gonzaga (3:30 p.m.) and Boston College vs. Providence (after the first game) on Dec. 1. ... The word is that New Mexico's Steve Alford has hired Houston-area AAU coach Chris Walker. ... UConn coach Jim Calhoun said to expect undersized power forward Jeff Adrien to have more freedom in terms of playing on the perimeter. However, Adrien will still need to be dominant on the glass for the Huskies to be successful this season. ... Look for Illinois native Michael Dunigan, one of the top big men in the senior class, to commit to Oregon, according to sources close to the situation. That would be a huge get for Ernie Kent and the Ducks.