AKRON, Ohio – Eighty of the top college players in the country playing in front of a nearly empty gym.

LeBron wasn’t even here this morning or afternoon.

I watched a couple sessions with the high school kids and also saw the college players work out.

LeBron will supposedly join the college kids for pickup tonight.

Keep checking back for what I hope will be fairly consistent updates throughout this entire month.

SINGLER’S POSITION EVER-CHANGING

Two years ago, Duke’s team was so small Kyle Singler had to play down low.

``It’ll be different this year,” Singler said.

Completely.

With the early departure of Gerald Henderson to the NBA and the surprising news that Elliott Williams transferred to Memphis to be closer to his mother, who is battling an illness, Singler will likely move to small forward.

``It’s something we’ve just got to get used to,” Singler said of lack of true guards on this year’s team.

Greg Paulus left. So did backup guard Marty Pocius.

Now there are just two players on the roster smaller than 6-foot-7: the projected starting backcourt of Jon Scheyer and Nolan Smith.

Singler was raving about the play thus far of freshman Mason Plumlee (the middle Plumlee brother).

``He’s tough, athletic and can shoot it,” Singler said.

KALIN LUCAS READY TO RUN AND GUN

Michigan State point guard Kalin Lucas is ready to assume more leadership duties this year with the loss of seniors Travis Walton and Goran Suton.

``I think people underrated how important those two guys were for us,” Lucas said. ``Suton was huge with the pick and roll.”

With the loss of Suton, it’s likely that the Spartans will play small this season – and that brought out a smile to Lucas.

``We’re going to try and switch our system and try and be like North Carolina,” Lucas said. ``We’re going to run and gun.”

RECRUITING NOTEBOOK

- Former USC commit Gary Franklin said he will still give new Trojans coach Kevin O’Neill a look. ``I met him and they still want to recruit me,” Franklin said. … Franklin said that Washington, Virginia Tech, Arizona, Cal, Oklahoma, Baylor, Utah and Florida are on his current list.

- Ray McCallum Jr.’s list includes Kansas, Oklahoma, UCLA, Notre Dame, Michigan, Michigan State, Arizona, USC, Florida, Miami and Detroit.

- Doc Rivers’ son, Austin, was terrific in the morning workout. As for which position he sees himself playing, the Florida commit said he envisions himself in a similar spot that former Gator Nick Calathes had in Gainesville. ``He scored 20 points and also had six or seven assists,” Rivers said. However, Rivers is a more capable scorer than Calathes who can also run a team.

- Kyrie Irving has been labeled a heavy Kentucky lean due to the fact that his godfather, Rod Strickland, is an assistant with the Wildcats. ``He really doesn’t play a factor in my recruitment,” Irving said. ``Our relationship extends far beyond. Kentucky is not my leader now.” … Irving mentioned Indiana, Duke, Kentucky, Seton Hall, Marquette, Virginia, Texas A&M and UConn.

RANDOM NOTES: Singler said that he was impressed with VCU’s Larry Sanders – and he wasn’t the only one. Sanders measured in at 6-foot-10 without shoes and was productive on both ends in the morning workout. … A note on Singler: He played both quarterback and free safety in high school and much preferred defense. ``I loved hitting guys,” he said.