New Stanford coach Johnny Dawkins lost arguably his top recruit to his former school.

Christ School (N.C.) senior power forward Miles Plumlee, whose younger brother, Mason, committed to the Blue Devils earlier this year, is headed to Duke after getting his release from the Cardinal earlier this week.

The news was first reported by Scout.com's Dave Telep, who feels that the eldest Plumlee (there's also a talented brother, Marshall, in the Class of 2011) could see extensive minutes as a freshman in Durham.

NO VIOLATION WITH OBAMA

North Carolina's pick-up game earlier this week with presidential candidate Barack Obama did not break an NCAA rule.

NCAA spokesman Erik Christianson, director of public and media relations for the NCAA, said in an e-mail to the Charlotte Observer: "This was a unique situation and not an NCAA issue. It certainly was a great opportunity for the student-athletes to interact with a presidential candidate."

The rules stipulate that college coaches aren't allowed to watch pick-up games during the offseason.

UNC spokesman Steve Kirschner told the newspaper that Tar Heels coach Roy Williams was aware he wasn't supposed to be in attendance, but that these were "extraordinary circumstances," and with the number of secret service personnel on site, the coach wanted to be on hand to make sure that everything went OK."

GILLISPIE AT IT AGAIN

Kentucky coach Billy Gillispie wasted no time a year ago shortly after he took over in getting verbal commitments from young kids.

But Gillispie has taken it to a new level with the pledge on Thursday from 6-foot-4 wing Michael Avery - an eighth-grader.

``It's a dream school for him," Avery's father, Howard, told Scout.com's Evan Daniels. "That's where he wanted to play."

RANDOM NOTES: Memphis landed long and talented wing Wesley Witherspoon, one of the top remaining uncommitted seniors. Now it appears highly unlikely that the top unsigned player, Devin Ebanks, would commit to the Tigers with the recent pledges of Tyreke Evans and Witherspoon. ... Don't be shocked if Florida State transfer Julian Vaughn lands at George Mason. ... If you haven't seen the picture by now, check it out of Tyler Hansbrough jumping off a frat house balcony into a swimming pool - http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b252/DukeDevilsBB/Hans-1.jpg