Proving you can bet on anything, Jimmy Shapiro of Props PR sends along the betting odds set by Bovada (www.Bovada.lv) on who'll win national player of the year honors this season, as well as the over/unders on points per game of certain players.

According to Bovada, Alex Oriakhi is a 50-to-1 bet to win AP Player of the Year. Shabazz Napier's over/under on points per game this season is 13.5. Oriakhi's is 10.5, and his rebounding average is 8.5.

Here are some of the odds and over/unders posted by Bovada for some notable national players and Big East players. As an AP voter who'll vote for Player of the Year, I probably shouldn't even acknowledge this. But ultimately, I found it blogworthy, if nothing more.

Odds to win 2012-2013 Associated Press Player of the Year


Cody Zeller (Indiana) 7/2
Shabazz Muhammad (UCLA) 11/2
James Michael McAdoo (North Carolina) 13/2
Deshaun Thomas (Ohio State) 13/2
Doug McDermott (Creighton) 8/1
Nerlens Noel (Kentucky) 12/1
Mason Plumlee (Duke) 25/1
Peyton Siva (Louisville) 25/1
Kyle Anderson (UCLA) 35/1
C.J. Leslie (NC State) 35/1
BJ Young (Arkansas) 50/1
Isaiah Canaan (Murray State) 50/1
Alex Oriakhi (Missouri) 50/1
Gorgui Deng (Louisville) 80/1
Chane Behanan (Louisville) 125/1
Field 20/1

PLAYER STATS:
2012-2013 Season - Total Points Per Game - Chane Behanan (Louisville)
Over/Under 11½

2012-2013 Season - Total Rebounds Per Game - Chane Behanan (Louisville)
Over/Under 8½

2012-2013 Season - Total Points Per Game - Gorgui Dieng (Louisville)
Over/Under 9½

2012-2013 Season - Total Rebounds Per Game - Gorgui Dieng (Louisville)
Over/Under 10½

2012-2013 Season - Total Points Per Game - CJ Leslie (NC State)
Over/Under 14½

2012-2013 Season - Total Rebounds Per Game - CJ Leslie (NC State)
Over/Under 7½

2012-2013 Season - Total Points Per Game - Doug McDermott (Creighton)
Over/Under 22½

2012-2013 Season - Total Rebounds Per Game - Doug McDermott (Creighton)
Over/Under 8½

2012-2013 Season - Total Points Per Game - Shabazz Napier (UConn)
Over/Under 13½

2012-2013 Season - Total Points Per Game - Nerlens Noel (Kentucky)
Over/Under 9½

2012-2013 Season - Total Rebounds Per Game - Nerlens Noel (Kentucky)
Over/Under 10½

2012-2013 Season - Total Blocks Per Game - Nerlens Noel (Kentucky)
Over/Under 3½

2012-2013 Season - Total Points Per Game - Alex Oriakhi (Missouri)
Over/Under 10½

2012-2013 Season - Total Rebounds Per Game - Alex Oriakhi (Missouri)
Over/Under 8½

2012-2013 Season - Total Points Per Game - Mason Plumlee (Duke)
Over/Under 14½

2012-2013 Season - Total Rebounds Per Game - Mason Plumlee (Duke)
Over/Under 10½

2012-2013 Season - Total Points Per Game - Peyton Siva (Louisville)
Over/Under 9½

2012-2013 Season - Total Assists Per Game - Peyton Siva (Louisville)
Over/Under 5½

2012-2013 Season - Total Points Per Game - Brandon Triche (Syracuse)
Over/Under 12½

2012-2013 Season - Total Points Per Game - Cody Zeller (Indiana)
Over/Under 17½

2012-2013 Season - Total Rebounds Per Game - Cody Zeller (Indiana)
Over/Under 7½

Happy to say I'll be Connecticut's AP Top 25 men's basketball voter again this season. I think this is the fourth straight year? Those Sunday night West Coast late games are always fun when your ballot's supposed to be in by Sunday night.

Anyway, here's the preseason Top 25 I submitted to the AP a few minutes ago (minus the occasionally witty blurbs). Although they are eligible to be voted for despite their postseason ban, UConn doesn't make the cut:

1. Louisville
Rick Pitino may be, in Jim Boeheim's words, "full of (bleep)," but the defending Big East champ Cardinals certainly aren't.
2. Indiana
Most figured Tom Crean would get Hoosiers back to national prominence quickly. Led by Cody Zeller, it's happening now.
3. Kentucky
The beat goes on: farewell, Anthony Davis; hello, Nerlens Noel. (By the way, didn't Yankees notice that 'Cats won national title this season?).
4. Michigan
I've always loved John Beilein as a coach. Give him a team brimming with talent and watch out.
5. N.C. State
On Dec. 4 at MSG, UConn will see first-hand if Wolfpack deserve preseason tabs as ACC's best team.
6. Ohio State
I'm a little leery of Buckeyes without a dominant big man in middle, but Aaron Craft is a top guard.
7. Duke
OK, let's get our Plumlees straight: Miles is gone, Mason's back and Marshall's ready to go. Right? Right.
8. Kansas
Jayhawks slipped from first to second in Big 12 for first time in eight seasons last year. Not likely to repeat that this season.
9. North Carolina
If UConn players could have taken phony courses UNC players have been taking, they might be eligible for NCAA tourney this year.
10. Florida
Gators will be playing Yale in New Haven on Jan. 6 so that Rhode Island's Erik Murphy gets a chance to play game closer to home. Should be fun.
11. Syracuse
Orange play UConn for final time as members of the Big East on Feb. 13 in Hartford. Sad.
12. Michigan State
The Kevin Ollie Era (and '12-13 college hoops season) kicks off with bang when Huskies face talented Spartans Nov. 9 in Germany.
13. UCLA
If Shabazz Muhammed, Kyle Anderson are deemed eligible, Bruins could be Final Four-bound.
14. Arizona
After starring at Xavier last year, Mark Lyons gets to play for Wildcats this season as a grad student. Odd.
15. Creighton
Blue Jays have one of best players in nation in coach's son Doug McDermott, who could average over 25 per game this season.
16. Memphis
Will Joe Jackson be "Steppin' Out" as one of nation's elite players this season?
17. Baylor
Surprised Scott Drew hasn't found a way to get Brittany Griner to play for his team.
18. San Diego State
Fab Five father Steve Fisher has top four scorers returning from last year's Mountain West regular season champs.
19. Missouri
Those predicting that Mizzou is Final Four good apparently feel Alex Oriakhi will be 2010-11 Oriakhi, not '11-12 Oriakhi.
20. St. Louis
It's too bad Rick Majerus (heart issues) will be sidelined for what could be Billiken's most exciting season in years.
21. Notre Dame
With Farmington's Tim Abromaitis unable to secure a waiver to play, who'll be Big East's scholar-athlete of the year this season?
22. UNLV
Roscoe Smith won't be able to play this season for this "organization" (as he likes to call teams), but Rebels are very strong.
23. Pittsburgh
With a healthy Tray Woodall and frosh Steven Adams in two, no way Jamie Dixon has second disappointing season in a row.
24. Virginia Commonwealth
Another NCAA tourney run will make Shaka Smart even more attractive to big programs (including Warde Manuel?).
25. Tennessee
After watching Jarnell Stokes dominate UConn first-hand last year, I'm pretty high on the Vols this season.

ALL-AMERICA:

Doug McDermott, Creighton

Cody Zeller, Indiana

Isaiah Cannan, Murray State

Jamaal Franklin, San Diego State

C.J. Leslie, NC State

Here's an inside look at the Tilton School, including current UConn targets like Nerlens Noel, Wayne Selden and Goodluck Okonoboh (Alex Oriakhi's cousin).

Tilton, of course, also produced Oriakhi and Jamal Coombs-McDaniel, among others. Figured UConn fans might enjoy this.

The National Prep Showcase, the unofficial kick-off to the prep school season, will be held at Albertus Magnus College in New Haven on Nov. 18-20, and many of the top recruits in the nation (including several UConn targets) will be there.

Among the UConn targets who will be in attendence are: Nerlens Noel, a 6-foot-10 Class of 2013 center out of the Tilton School in New Hampshire; Noah Vonleh, 6-8 Class of 2014 forward out of New Hampton School (N.H.); Goodluck Okonoboh, a 6-8 Class of '14 forward (who is also Alex Oriakhi's cousin); Wayne Selden, a 6-5 Class of '14 shooting guard from Tilton; and Jeremy Miller, a 6-9 Class of '15 center from New Hampton.


For those who'd like to see Tilton play, its only game will be on Sunday, Nov. 20 at 5 p.m. against Kiski School of Pennsylvania. (Yes, UConn does host Coppin State at 1 p.m. at the XL Center that day).

New Hampton plays Kiski on Saturday, Nov. 19 at 7:30 p.m., then takes on Blair Academy on Sunday at 1:30 p.m.

Here's the full schedule for the three-day event.

In all, nearly 100 of the top Division 1 prospects will be playing, including:

Mitch McGary, 6'9", C/F, 2012, Brewster Academy (NH), committed to Michigan, 2nd ranked prospect in national class of 2012

Ricardo Ledo, 6'6", SG, 2012, South Kent (CT), committed to Providence, 22nd ranked prospect in national class of 2012

T.J. Warren, 6'8", F, 2012, Brewster Academy (NH), committed to North Carolina State, 23rd ranked prospect in national class of 2012


Chris Thomas, 6'5", G, 2013, South Kent (CT), 13th ranked prospect in national class of 2013


Mike Tobey, 7'0", C, 2012, Blair Academy (NJ), top 100 national player, committed to Virginia

Aaron Thomas, 6'5", G/F, 2012, Brewster Academy (NH), committed to Florida State

Jakarr Sampson, 6'8", F, 2012, Brewster Academy (NH), top 100 national player

Darrick Wood, 6'5", SF, 2012, Bridgton Academy (ME), committed to St. John's

Amir Garrett, 6'7", F, 2012, Bridgton Academy (ME), top 100 national player, committed to St. John's

Ryan Taylor, 6'7", SF, 2012, Hargrave Military Academy (VA), committed to Louisville

Montrezl Harrell, 6'8", F, 2012, Hargrave Military Academy (VA), committed to Virginia Tech

Codi Miller-McIntyre, 6'3", SG, 2012, Hargrave Military Academy (VA), committed to Wake Forest

Andre Washington, 7'0", C, 2012, Hargrave Military Academy (VA), committed to Wake Forest

Hanner Perea, 6'9", PF, 2012, La Lumiere School (IN), top 100 national prospect, committed to Indiana

Jay Simpson, 6'10", C, 2012, La Lumiere School (IN), committed to Purdue

Raphael Davis, 6'5", G/F, 2012, La Lumiere School (IN), committed to Purdue

Georges Niang, 6'8", F, 2012, Tilton School (NH), top 100 national prospect, committed to Iowa State

Domonique Bull, 6'4", G, 2012, Tilton School (NH), committed to Missouri

Laimonas Chatkevicius, 7'0, C, 2012, South Kent (CT), committed to Kansas State

Olivier Hanlan, 6'3", PG, 2012, New Hampton (NH), committed to Boston College

Zach Auguste, 6'9", PF, 2012, New Hampton (NH), committed to Notre Dame, top 100 national prospect

Aaron Ross, 6'8", F, 2012, St. John's Military Academy (WI), top 100 national prospect

Dominic Woodson, 6'10", C, 2013, Vermont Academy (VT), top 100 national prospect

Daquien McNeil, 6'3", G, 2013, Vermont Academy (VT), top 100 national prospect

Jared Terrell, 6'3", G, 2014, New Hampton (NH), top 100 national prospect

Kevin Kcehowski, 6'11", C, 2015, Kiski (PA), top 25 national prospect

Omar Calhoun will participate in the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) Top 100 High School Camp this week (Wednesday through Saturday) at the University of Virginia's John Paul Jones Arena.

Calhoun, a 6-foot-5, Class of 2012 shooting guard out of Christ the King High in New York, committed to the Huskies last week.

The camp, which will feature 18 of the top 20 ranked high school players in the nation, helps prepare players for competition and life at the next level. (There are seminars on everything from how to dress to sex education. We kid you not).

Among the other participants include Andre Drummond (Class of 2012), Mitch McGary ('12) and Nerlens Noel ('13) -- players UConn is recruiting heavily.

(As an aside, who ever would have guessed UVA would name its basketball arena after Led Zeppelin's bassist?)

If there's one thing e-mailers have been asking me for more than anything else over the past month or so it's been recruiting updates.

Fact is, there aren't a whole lot to give right now, though I try my best in this story in the Register. Bottom line: UConn appears to be working under the assumption that it's got just one scholarship to give, and the Huskies need to make sure it's utilized well. The Huskies have been paying particular attention to some players who have recently de-committed from other programs.

As for Andre Drummond? Wouldn't count on it. I spoke to his coach at St. Thomas More, Jere Quinn, earlier today and he said that Drummond is absolutely returning next year for another year of prep school. Led by the efforts of Kevin Ollie, UConn may still be holding out hope for a change of mind from Drummond, but knows it's highly unlikely. Of course, he'll still top the Huskies' 2012 wish list.

(By the way, Quinn seems to think Drummond wouldn't be eligible for the 2012 NBA draft, since he'll still be 18. However, my understanding is that as long as Drummond turns 19 during the year of the draft -- which he will -- he'd be eligible. Either way, the point may be moot: Drummond's mother wants her son to go to college, according to Quinn).

UConn is very, very interested in a pair of current Tilton (N.H.) School products: Nerlens Noel, a 6-10 Class of 2013 center, and Wayne Selden, a 6-4 Class of '14 guard.

Oh, and as to Huskies' past: Jamal Coombs-McDaniel has some suitors in Hofstra, Miami and Missouri, I'm told. Hofstra seems to be making the biggest push, though it's still very early. And Missouri would appear to be a long-shot.

An even longer shot (as in not happening)? Boston College, or any Boston-area school, for that matter.

While the word out of UConn has been that 7-foot-1 German product Enosch Wolf will be joining the team in mid-December, that doesn't appear to be a done deal quite yet.

Wolf, who started playing for Wilbraham & Monson Academy in Winchendon, Mass. last week, may stay and play there for the full season rather than enroll at UConn.

Wolf is currently battling a knee injury and has gained about 30 pounds (now checking in at about 260) since April. He's not in great shape, and the UConn coaching staff is a bit disappointed about that right now.

"We're not sure yet what's going to happen there, in terms of whether he's going to stay for the whole year," said Wilbraham & Monson coach Chris Sparks. "I think they're still working through some of that stuff ... I go on what they tell me."

Wolf has already signed his national letter of intent and has been accepted at UConn. It's also possible he'll enroll at UConn in mid-December, red-shirt, and let the Huskies' staff get him in better shape.

"It's not figured out yet," was about all Wolf would say about the situation.

Wolf said he's had some problems with his left knee for the past couple of weeks, though he says it's been feeling better lately. He played in a National Prep Showcase game today at Albertus Magnus College against Tilton School. Wolf didn't do much offensively, staying out on the perimeter a bit more than you'd expect from a 7-footer. He also picked up a couple of first-half fouls. He did tear down some impressive rebounds on the defensive end.

Here's a little video footage of Wolf on the basketball court:



Ha ha, just kidding. OK, here is some footage of Wolf today, stepping out and missing a 3-pointer (it's probably no more revealing of his abilities than the previous video I posted):



If Wolf is cleared to join the Huskies a week or so before Christmas, he could help the team off the bat, according to Sparks.

"I definitely think he can. His conditioning is improving, but playing us every day and playing in the Big East are two different things ... He's got a high basketball IQ, shoots the ball well (and) is just a great guy."

Said Wolf: "I know I have to get way bigger for the Big East. I'm tall, I think I know how to use my body, get some rebounds."

His strengths, Wolf said: "I can pass the ball pretty good. I have good court vision for a big guy. I really love to pass the ball."

And what does he need to work on?

"Everything," Wolf said, point-blank. "You can never stop working."

"He's been terrific," Sparks added. "He's working really, really hard. He's focused on getting in shape and being ready to help UConn out next year and give them a lift."

By "next year," Sparks seemed to mean the 2011-12 season, not this upcoming January as had originally been thought.

*** Oh, and keep this name in mind for the future: Nerlens Noel, a 6-11, 195-pound Class of 2013 center for Tilton School. Noel lists UConn, as well as Duke, Providence and Washington among his schools of interest.

"He'd definitely be interested in (UConn), they've already got two of our kids there," Tilton coach Marcus O'Neill said referring to Alex Oriakhi and Jamal Coombs-McDaniel. "He's a tremendous shot-blocker, a good rebounder. He's got a pretty good feel for the game overall. For a big guy, he's got good vision."

*** Plenty of Division I coaches (mostly assistants) at this tourney. Went to take a seat at the press table and asked the tall fella sitting there if the seat next to him was taken.

"Yes, it is," said Danny Manning, now an assistant at Kansas.

Beau Archibald is here, too. His brother-in-law, Mark Pope, is an assistant at Wake Forest, so Beau -- who still lives in Connecticut -- is spending the weekend with him. He said he doesn't have any job prospects lined up quite yet.

*** In case you haven't figured it out by now, no, I'm not in Hawaii. No comment.

One of the top post-graduate basketball events in the country, the National Prep Showcase, hits New Haven this weekend at Albertus Magnus College.

A 23-team field -- including all of the top 10 schools in the country according to the national prep poll -- will be on-hand.

Of particular interest to UConn fans will be the presence of Wilbraham & Monson Academy, which features 7-foot-1 center Enosch Wolf, who'll be a Husky come mid-December. Wilbraham & Monson face Tilton School on Sunday at 5 p.m. Tilton features a UConn target, Nerlens Noel, who is also being sought by Duke, Providence and Washington, among others.

And Andre Drummond will be there, too. Drummond's St. Thomas More School plays Lee Academy on Friday at 5:15 p.m. and Princeton Day on Saturday at 10:45 a.m.

Among the highly-recruited players in the field are: St. Thomas More’s Drummond; Brewster Academy’s Elijah Carter (UCLA, Rutgers, Seton Hall) and Mitch McGary (Illinois, Indiana, Miami, Pittsburgh); Kiski’s Sim Bhullar (Pittsburgh, West Virginia, Kentucky, USC), Stefan Jankovic (West Virginia, Stanford, Florida, Indiana), and Tanveer Bhullar (North Carolina, Duke, Indiana, Pittsburgh); La Lumiere’s Hanner Mosquera-Perea (Texas, Alabama, Baylor, Indiana) and Obij Aget (Arkansas, Florida, Tennessee, Missouri); Lee Academy’s Anthony Joseph Perez Cortesia (Kansas State, Providence); New Hampton’s Zach Auguste (Boston College, Notre Dame, Baylor, Virginia); Notre Dame Prep’s Myles Davis (Pittsburgh, Villanova, Georgetown, Xavier) and Todd Mayo (Memphis, Baylor, West Virginia); South Kent’s Ricardo Ledo (Louisville, Duke, Kentucky, Kansas); St. Mark’s Alex Murphy (Duke, Florida, Arizona, Villanova) and Kaleb Tarczewski (Kansas, West Virginia, Duke, Indiana); and Tilton’s Nerlens Noel (Providence, Duke, UConn, Washington), Goodluck Okonoboh (Boston College, Providence, USC, Virginia Tech), and Wayne Selden (Duke, Providence, Boston College).

And here are some of the top committed players in the field: Notre Dame Prep’s Khem Birch (Pittsburgh), Angel Nunez (Louisville) and Grandy Glaze (UNLV); Brewster Academy’s Naadir Tharpe (Kansas), Jakarr Sampson (St. John’s), Markus Kennedy (Villanova), and Durand Johnson (Pittsburgh); Bridgton Academy’s Donnie Hale (Purdue); Hargrave Military Academy’s P.J. Hairston (North Carolina), Desmond Wells (Xavier), C.J. Barksdale (Virginia Tech), Marquis Rankin (Virginia Tech), and Robert Brown (Virginia Tech); Northfield Mount Hermon’s Aaron Cosby (Seton Hall); Nia Prep’s Shaquille Thomas (Cincinnati); South Kent’s Maurice Harkless (St. John’s), Derrick Randall (Rutgers), and Ge’lawn Guyn (Cincinatti); St. Andrew’s Michael Carter-Williams (Syracuse); and Westwind’s Richard Peters (Oklahoma).

Finally, here's the schedule. Tickets will be available at the door, which will open at 9:30 a.m. on Friday.

Friday, November 19th
10:30a.m. Fork Union Military Academy (VA) vs. Northfield Mount Hermon (MA)
12:15p.m. Fishburne Military Academy (VA) vs. Notre Dame Prep (MA)
2:00p.m. Westwind Prep (AZ) vs. Bridgton Academy (ME)
3:45p.m. Hargrave Military Academy (VA) vs. South Kent School (CT)
5:15p.m. Lee Academy (ME) vs. St. Thomas More School (CT)
7:00p.m. Princeton Day (MD) vs. Winchendon School (MA)
8:30p.m. Alif Muhammad Nia School (NJ) vs. Maine Central Institute (ME)

Saturday, November 20th
9:00a.m. Bridgton Academy (ME) vs. Fork Union Military Academy (VA)
10:45a.m. St. Thomas More (CT) vs. Princeton Day (MD)
12:30p.m. New Hampton School (NH) vs. Hargrave Military Academy (VA)
2:15p.m. Brewster Academy (NH) vs. Fishburne Military Academy (VA)
4:00p.m. South Kent School (CT) vs. La Lumiere School (IN)
5:45p.m. Notre Dame Prep (MA) vs. Westwind Prep (AZ)
7:30p.m. St. Mark’s School (MA) vs. Lee Academy (ME)
9:00p.m. Winchendon School (MA) vs. Kiski School (PA)

Sunday, November 21st
10:00a.m. Princeton Day (MD) vs. Brewster Academy (NH)
11:45a.m. Maine Central Institute (ME) vs. Northfield Mount Hermon (MA)
1:30p.m. Kiski School (PA) vs. La Lumiere School (IN)
3:15p.m. Alif Muhammad Nia School (NJ) vs. New Hampton School (NH)
5:00p.m. Wilbraham & Monson Academy (MA) vs. Tilton School (NH)
6:30p.m. St. Andrew’s School (RI) vs. Blair Academy (NJ)