Words. C.J. Leslie

Word of God Academy (Raleigh, N.C.) star forward C.J. Leslie is the #10-rated prospect in the HSH Top 50. Previously committed to N.C. State, Leslie recently re-opened his recruiting and has opted to wait until the spring to decide on a college. That alone makes his one of the most intriguing stories in the 2010 senior class, and Leslie also happens to be one of its most exciting players.

C.J. has agreed to give HSH exclusive access and chronicle his thoughts in this bi-monthly diary where he’ll talk about everything from his season with Word of God to the recruiting process as he inches closer and closer to a decision. For this entry, he’s brought in Walton H.S. (Marietta, Ga.) star point guard Ryan Harrow, an N.C. State signee and the nation’s biggest McDonald’s/Jordan Brand All-American snub: MORE >

Words. Jason Jordan

Jefferson (Portland, Ore.) forward Terrence Jones isn’t just holding out on picking a college because he doesn’t know where he wants to go. That’s only part of it. The other reason is because he wants his teammates to get the exposure they’ll need to land scholarships.

“It’s only right,” said Jones, ranked No. 31 in the HSH national top 50. “Coaches may like what they see while they’re coming to look at me. We all help each other out like that.” MORE >

Words. Jason Jordan

If Kentwood High (Wash.) star Josh Smith could do it over again, he wouldn’t do it at all.

The countless phone calls, the nagging interviews, the emails, the visits…

“It’s all a part of the recruiting game,” says Smith, a 6-9 senior center who put his signature down with UCLA during the early signing period in mid-November. “I would do so much different now that I look back on it.” MORE >

Words. Jason Jordan

Stoneridge Prep School (CA) center Enes Kanter has been on nearly every school’s radar since coming over from Turkey this summer.

This week, Kanter, a 6-9 senior, picked Washington over heavy interest from Southern Cal and UCLA, according to the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. MORE >

Words. Jason Jordan

Will they sign during the Early Signing Period (which runs through Nov. 18) or keep us in suspense another five months and sign in the spring? Here’s a look at the top five unsigned seniors and what they will likely do.

1. Harrison Barnes (Ames High, Iowa), 6-6, SF We can all recite the schools on Barnes’ list by now — North Carolina, Duke, Kansas, Iowa State, UCLA and Oklahoma — but come Friday we won’t have to. Barnes, HighSchoolHoop’s top prospect, will announce his decision live on ESPNU at 4 p.m. EST. “Everybody’s making a big deal about me announcing on Friday the 13th,” said Barnes. “It’s crazy to me… I don’t get into all of that spooky stuff.” MORE >

Words. Harrison Barnes

While navigating through the hectic recruiting process, HighSchoolHoop’s top-rated player, Ames High (IA) swingman Harrison Barnes, agreed to chronicle his thoughts for us during each of his five official visits. First was North Carolina, followed by Oklahoma, Kansas and Duke. Now Barnes reflects on his last official visit to UCLA last weekend…

First, I would like to say that the UCLA trip was outstanding! When I visited there unofficially this summer, I got a chance to tour the athletic facilities, meet with academic advisors and attend a class, so we didn’t focus on that for this trip. MORE >