Wichita high school standout Perry Ellis has chosen to play basketball for the Kansas Jayhawks next season.

In an announcement at his Wichita Heights high school gym, Ellis, surrounded by friends, family and his high school coach chose the Jayhawks over the Kansas St. Wildcats, Kentucky Wildcats and Wichita St. Shockers. All four of his finalists had in-home visits last week.

Most had suspected the in-state Jayhawks would win Ellis over, but he and his family kept a tight lid on their decision, leaving experts and fans alike sitting on the edges of their seats. During the announcement, Fonda Ellis, Perry's mom, spoke about how they tried to shield Perry from a media onslaught and to remain cool headed while making this big decision.

The 6'8, 220 lb Ellis is ranked 24^th nationally and as the ninth best power forward in the class of 2012 according to Rivals.com. He has been named Kansas Gatorade Player of the Year three times and is one of the best players to come out of the state in recent years.

According to reports, Wichita Heights senior Perry Ellis will hold a press conference at his high school gym on Wednesday at 2:45 p.m. to announce his college decision.

Rivals' 28^h ranked player in the class of 2012 has narrowed his choices down to four schools: Kansas Jayhawks, Kansas St. Wildcats, Wichita St. Shockers and Kentucky Wildcats. Last week Ellis hosted the four schools at his home during different in home visits.

The 6'8, 220 lb Ellis has been named Kansas Gatorade Player of the Year three times and is one of the best players to come out of the state in recent years, so his recruitment has drawn lots of interest as three in-state schools battle for his services next year.

Ranked 9^th at his position, the 5-star Ellis is keeping his decision close to the chest and hasn't hinted where he may end up next season.

Come back to Big 12 Hoops on Wednesday to see what choice Ellis made.

With the deadline of signing day approaching, the parts of the Big 12 still await decisions from late-choosing 2011 high school prospects.  While Trevor Lacey's commitment to stay home and attend Alabama was the biggest story of the day and DeAndre Daniels will steal the spotlight tomorrow with Texas and Kansas still on his list, Kansas picked up a commitment from 6'7 Jamari Traylor.  Traylor is probably not an instant impact player, but he's an athletic body that might contribute a few minutes in a fairly shallow frontcourt for the Jayhawks next season.

Traylor is ranked 141 by Rivals, and 32 at the power forward position by Scout.

Unlike Traylor Daniels, a consensus five-star recruit, has the potential to be an instant impact player on the wing for whatever team he chooses.  Daniels and Traylor are teammates at IMG Academy, which could influence Daniels' decision (though rumors seem to point to Daniels going to Texas).  But it's the high school's direct connection to the corporation, IMG that caught CBSSports' Dennis Dodd's attention:

OK, I'll ask the question: Is IMG steering kids who attend their "academies" to coaches who are repped by IMG?

Some quick research confirmed that Bill Self is in fact represented by IMG (he's listed here as an example).  Now, one player going to play for Self certainly doesn't reflect a statistically significant trend.  This summer, I'll try to do a more comprehensive analysis (that includes all of the college coaches represented by IMG), but for now I think it's valuable to think about the conflict of interest represented by having a major sports marketing corporation fund a high school. 

Well despite all the rumors swirling about Frank Martin and the University of Miami job opening in the past few weeks it apparently did not stop Martin and his staff from hitting the recruiting trail. Word has come down that Kansas State has received commitments from two junior college players in PG Jeremy Jones and forward James Watson.

The commitment of Jones while never a sure fire lock does not come as a major surprise. Coming from the juco ranks he was looking at schools where he could come in and get immediate playing time and with the graduation of Jacob Pullen, K-State provides just that opportunity. Last year at Seward Community College, Jones averaged 18.1 points per game and 4.6 assists. Hailing from Chicago, Jones will be looking to step right in and replace fellow Chicagoan Pullen in K-State's starting lineup.

The 6'8" Watson comes to K-State via Cowley County C.C. where he averaged 10.3 points and 6.1 rebounds per game. He originally started his career at Washington State where he averaged 1.8 points per game in 29 contests. During his time at Washington State, Watson had been declared academically ineligible which spurred his decision to go the junior college route. He will add some much needed size to the Wildcats interior which was looking extremely thin with really only two big men returning from last year in Jordan Henriquez-Roberts and Jamar Samuels.

In addition to the two new commitments, Kansas State also has received more positive recruiting news.

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Ben McLemore has committed to the Kansas Jayhawks.

McLemore made his announcement on Sunday after the NeXt All-American Classic in Chicago, Illinois.

According to reports, McLemore was deciding between Big 12 rivals KU and the Missouri Tigers, with a heavy lean towards Kansas all along.

The decision for the St. Luis, MO native was probably made much easier when head coach Mike Anderson decided to leave Mizzou and coach Arkansas, and when Purdue head coach Matt Painter opted to stay in West Lafayette instead of taking the Mizzou job. Without a coach in place at Mizzou, McLemore probably didn't have to weigh as many options.

McLemore played most of his senior season at Oak Hill Academy in Virginia before being let go from the program. He finished his senior season at Christain Life Academy in Texas.

ESPN ranks McLemore as the 49^th best overall prospect in the class of 2011. Rivals.com has him as the 17^th best.

Ben McLemore, a 6'5 shooting guard from St Louis, is reportedly enrolling at Christian Life Center in Humble, Texas after he was dismissed from Oak Hill Academy earlier this week for violating team rules.

McLemore is the object of an intense recruiting battle between the Missouri Tigers and Kansas Jayhawks.  According to insiders, the Rivals.com's  17^th ranked player in the class of 2011 has narrowed his choices down to the heated Big 12 rivals.

If McLemore does end up in the Big 12, he will be accompanied by at least one of his new teammates. Hershey Robinson, a 6'7 power forward at Christian Life Center, has signed a Letter of Intent to be a Texas Tech Red Raider next year. Everett Pleasant, a 6'4 power forward at CLC, has an offer on the table from Iowa State and is reportedly deciding between the Cyclones and Texas Tech.

Future Arizona Wildcat, Sidiki Johnson, who was dismissed from Oak Hill at the same time as McLemore has repotedly enrolled at Wadleigh in Bronx, NY.

Ben McLemore and a teammate were dismissed from their Mouth of Wilson (Va.) Oak Hill Academy high school team, coach Steve Smith confirmed to the Tuscon Citizen via text message this morning.

McLemore and teammate Sidiki Johnson were dismissed for violating team rules. The exact rules violated have not been disclosed publicly, but the players have been suspended effective immediately.

McLemore, a 6'5" shooting guard and St. Louis native, is in the middle of a heated recruiting race between the Missouri Tigers and Kansas Jayhawks. The 17^th ranked high school senior, according to Rivals.com, is one of the last remaining top recruits yet to commit to a school for next year.

Johnson, a 6'8 power forward, has committed to play for the University of Arizona Wildcats.

It is not yet known if the suspensions will affect the players' high school academic eligibility or what this means to their NCAA clearance next season.

Today the 2011 Jordan Brand Classic announced its rosters for the tenth annual game. The game is set to take place in Charlotte April 16 at 7:00PM Central on ESPN2. Notable Jordan Brand Classic alumni include Chris Paul, Carmelo Anthony, Lebron James, Amar'e Soudemire, Dwight Howard, Derrick Rose and Big 12 alumnus Kevin Durant.

Baylor recruit Quincy Miller and Texas commit Myck Kabongo are the two definite Big 12 representatives. Miller is a 6'9 power forward from High Point, North Carolina. Miller is listed at 4th overall by ESPNU, 9th overall by Scout, and 5th overall by Rivals.

Myck Kabongo is a 6'2 point guard from Henderson Nevada.  He’s listed at 9th overall by ESPNU, 6th overall by Scout, and 24th overall by Rivals. Both players are supposed to have an instant impact when they join the Big 12 in the fall.

The third possible Big 12 representative is Otto Porter, a 6'9 small forward out of Sikeston Missouri. Missouri looks like a probable destination, though Porter has yet to commit. Porter is ranked 42nd by ESPNU, 66th by Scout, and 99th by Rivals.  Kentucky leads all schools with four players attending.

Full rosters after the jump.

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