Elite College basketball recruits committing Friday

Jul 13, 2013; North Augusta, SC, USA; Oakland Soldiers player Stanley Johnson (32) drives toward the basket while being defended by Howard Pulley Panthers player James Lawson (31) at the Riverview Park Activities Center during the Nike Peach Jam. Mandatory Credit: Joshua S. Kelly-USA TODAY Sports /

The college basketball season is underway, and National Signing Day is here for the next week as many of the top high school recruits are deciding where they will be attending college in 2014. They are able to sign their official letters of intent, which will bind their commitment to whatever school they pledge to.

The nation’s No. 1 recruit is Whitney M. Young center Jahlil Okafor, and he’ll be signing his LOI this week. The 7-footer from Chicago will announce his college decision Friday during ESPNU’s recruiting special, which begins at 4 p.m. An ESPN press release Wednesday said that Okafor will choose either the Duke Blue Devils or the Kansas Jayhawks.

Five-star point guard Tyus Jones, whom Okafor is intent on playing with in college, has also narrowed his list to Duke and Kansas and the two players will announce simultaneously on Friday. The two players are close friends and have long said they plan to play at the same school.

Mater Dei five-star forward Stanley Johnson is planning to announce his college decision Friday. Johnson has narrowed his list to Kentucky, Arizona, Southern Cal, Oregon and Florida. The 6-foot-7 small forward has already taken official visits to UK, Arizona and USC, which are considered the three favorites in his recruitment.

Mater Dei Coach Gary McKnight said that Johnson will announce his decision Friday during ESPNU’s recruiting special, which begins at 4 p.m. ET.