Andrew Gooden

Andrew Gooden commits to Jayhawks

9/9/98

Photo Courtesy of Ben Sherman
Ben's ABCD Report

Capitol Journal Article on Gooden's commitment

Journal World Article on Gooden's commitment

The Jayhawks started the 1998-99 recruiting season off with a bang Wednesday when Andrew Gooden, a 6-foot-10, 215-pound forward from El Cerrito (Calif.) High announced that he would attend KU next fall to play basketball for the Jayhawks.

Both the Topeka Capital-Journal and Prep Stars reported Wednesday that Gooden has told the other coaches recruiting him that he will attend Kansas. He reportedly will make it official when Coach Williams visits his home on Thursday. Prep Stars reports that he will hold a press conference on Friday.

Gooden has been ranked by many as one of the top high school prospects in the nation. Bob Gibbons recently rated him the 13th best senior. He was ranked the No. 1 power forward by WestCoastHoops. Mike Sullivan of Insider's Report ranks him in the top 20. Prep Stars ranks him the nation's 33rd-best player. Gooden was also recently featured as one of the nations top high school prospects in an article in Sports Illustrated.

Gooden made an official visit to KU the weekend of the Oklahoma St. football game and promptly canceled planned visits to Duke, Michigan and UConn.

Gooden averaged 17 points and 13 rebounds as a junior at El Cerrito High. But he didn't become a top prospect until after this summer's Adidas camp in New Jersey. He emerged as one of the stars of that all-star camp where he averaged 14.6 points and 9.8 rebounds on 58 percent shooting, making the camp's all-star team. (ABCD - Andrew Gooden, More))

Gooden will likely play both small forward and power forward at KU. While he is 6-10 and WestCoastHoops reports that he has been projected to grow to 7 feet, Gooden has good range on his jumper, good ball handling skills and a quick first step to the basket and, according to reports, would be capable at the three. Probably the bulk of his time will be spent in the post, however. While comparing him to Manning would be unfair at this point, his build and game are in the same mold as Manning.

Gooden recorded a 3.7 GPA his junior year and should follow in the strong academic footsteps of past Jayhawk Californians Jacque Vaughn and Jerod Haase.