Even with Purdue trying hard to stay in the race, it appears as if Shaun Livingston is narrowing his list to omit the Boilers. Livingston this week told writer Jamie Johnson that his list now consists of Arizona, Duke, Florida, Illinois, Kansas, Louisville, and Oklahoma.

Livingston hit the go-ahead basket with four seconds remaining to secure the Illinois Class AA state championship for Peoria Central in March. He led all scorers with 14 points.

Purdue still on Grimes' list

One of the standout power players in the junior class is 6'8 Kalen Grimes of Hazelwood Central HS (MO), who ranked as the nation's 14th-best prospect by analyst Van Coleman. Grimes is still mentioning Purdue, along with a dozen other schools. He averaged 14.5 points, 10.0 rebounds and 6.0 blocks per game as a junior. Grimes is a warrior on the boards and intimidating defensively. Early indications are he would like to stay in the midwest.

Minnesota forward names Purdue

With a premium placed on securing commitments from big men in the class of 2004, another forward is being mentioned as showing interest in Purdue. Ryan Amoroso, a 6'8, 230 lb. forward from Burnsville (MN) has interest in most of the programs in the midwest who made the NCAA tournament, not limited to Purdue, Marquette, Wisconsin Green Bay, Butler, Creighton, and Southern Illinois.

Amoroso averaged 24 points and 11 rebounds per game as a junior, the first year he has looked comfortable in his body on the floor. He has just fallen short of tripling his scoring and rebounding numbers from his sophomore to junior years, gaining more experience after a growth spurt of four inches his freshman year that sent him quickly from 6'4 to 6'8.

Amoroso carries a 2.9 GPA and plans to study business in college.

Center may be losing "project" label

When you tip the scales in excess of 350 pounds as a sophomore in high school, you tend to be labeled a project for the collegiate level. But schools like Purdue, Penn State, Xavier and Ohio State are watching Bellaire (OH) 6'10 center Aaron Agnew closely.

Agnew has exploded for a 40-point game his junior season, and averages close to seven blocks a game. Plus he seems to be a more svelte 340 now. Yet when up against two 7'0ers like Vandalia Butler (OH) twin towers Josh Higgins and Seth Gorney, Agnew could only manage nine points.

Named to the Division III All-Ohio second team, Agnew has been rated at No. 100 by Basketball Phenoms in the junior class.