BACK EN ROUTE TO BOSTON - So, I'm headed back home to Boston for a few days before going back on the road to the Peach Jam and plenty of college coaches are calling me "soft" and rightfully so, for my easy July schedule.

Marquette coach Buzz Williams has probably already been to a dozen places already and I've only been to one.

I spent some time with Akron coach Keith Dambrot (who is also LeBron James' former high school coach) and LeBron's mother, Glorida, on Tuesday and one of the more fascinating things I found out was how James actually weighs 266 pounds and has just two percent body fat.

``I never thought he'd get bigger than he was a year or so ago," Dambrot said. "But the thing with LeBron that people don't realize is that he's even tougher mentally than he is physically."

Dambrot, who coaches James for his first two seasons at St. Vincent-St. Mary, said LeBron finished out his freshman season at 6-foot-4 and 170 pounds.

Gloria said that her son has turned into a complete health fanatic.

WALL SPURNS TAR HEELS

How about the fact that Roy Williams and the Tar Heels made a run at John Wall last year and were basically spurned by the athletic point guard who just may be the top player in the Class of 2009.

Wall goes to school at Word of God (N.C.), which isn't all that far down the road from Chapel Hill. He's got the size of Derrick Rose, but isn't quite as athletic. However, Wall may be quicker and is a better passer at the same stage.

According to sources, Roy Williams reached out to Wall and invited him to numerous Tar Heels games after last year's season-opener - but Wall and his people never displayed enough interest to show up.

Wall's top three are Oregon, Oklahoma State and Baylor.

Go figure.

SMITH VOLUNTEERING FOR DUTY

Tennessee forward Tyler Smith knows exactly what the scouting report reads: ``Back off Smith."

He doesn't mind one bit.

``I know I need to work on my shooting and my ballhandling," said the athletic and unselfish junior. "My shot is going to get better. My problem has been reps. I shoot it OK, but I don't get a lot of repetition. I've got to get more confident taking shots."

Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl has already been in Smith's ear to become more selfish this season after the Vols lost five guys from last year's team.

- Smith agreed with me that newcomer Bobby Maze likes to talk. He can also play and will be an upgrade (which isn't all that difficult over Ramar Smith and Jordan Howell) at the point guard position. ``He showed a lot in the Rocky Top Summer League," Smith said. "He can knock down open shots and he penetrates and makes others better. He likes to talk and it's because he's so competitive."

CURRY HEADED TO BEACH

Davidson's Stephen Curry has been to the Steve Nash, Paul Pierce, Chris Paul and LeBron James Camps in the past month.

Now he's ready to hit the beach and relax for a little bit.

Curry said he's up to 182 pounds and he's hoping his schedule this offseason will help prepare him for this year when he'll have to play extensive minutes while switching between the point and off-guard spots.

``I ran off a lot of screens last year, so I'm used to being active," Curry said. ``But I know it's going to be even tougher physically next year."

MACK ATTACK

Doneal Mack is still undecided about his future.

The one-time Memphis reserve guard is debating on whether he made the correct decision to leave John Calipari's program and transfer to New Orleans.

UNO coach Joe Pasternak spoke with Mack (who is in school at New Orleans) yesterday could have a resolution one way or the other as early as this afternoon.

``I think he's going to talk to some of his people," Pasternak said. "He's struggling. It's a tough thing. Reality hit him that he'll have to sit out a year."

RANDOM NOTES: I've gone through a bunch of preseason tournaments and other key matchups and I'm not sure if I've mentioned that Gonzaga will Indiana and Notre Dame will play Ohio State in the Hall of Fame doubleheader. It will be the first basketball game at Lucas Oil Field. BEST Collegiate (formerly Game Seven) also has another doubleheader in Phoenix finalized. The 'Zags will face Arizona and Arizona State will play UAB ... The hardest thing for Lute Olson today is knowing he had a choice to take Brandon Jennings or Larry Drew. Olson, at the suggestion of former assistant Josh Pastner, opted to go with Jennings - who is expected to play overseas. Drew will be a freshman at North Carolina and won't get a lot of run this year with the return of Ty Lawson and Bobby Frasor.