College basketball's recruiting meat market is running full tilt this week in Las Vegas.

Four AAU tournaments going on simultaneously attracted more than 10,000 players and 900 coaches, the Las Vegas Sun newspaper reported.

Marshall University's coaching staff is in the mix chasing prospects from 1,040 teams playing games on 46 courts spread out from one end of Las Vegas to another.

The events going on are the VisionSports Main Event, adidas Super 64, Reebok Summer Championships and StarVision Sports Center Stage.

Marshall coaches hit the recruiting trail Wednesday for an evaluation period that lasts until July 31. Coaches can watch prospects play during an evaluation period, but can't speak with them.

Head coach Donnie Jones said coaches are behind on recruiting because the April evaluation period was eliminated.

"We're trying to find out who we like," he said. "We just completed the first 10 days. We've seen a lot of kids."

The Thundering Herd should have three scholarships available after losing Darryl Merthie, Chris Lutz and Tyler Wilkerson from next season's team.

Jones said the goal is to lock up recruits early.

National Letter of Intent signing dates are Nov. 11-18 and April 14-19.

TRANSFER UPDATE: Kore White left the Marshall program after his freshman year and landed closer to his home at Florida Atlantic University. The transfer was reported on www.fauowlsnest.com, an independent FAU fan Web site.

White, a 6-foot-8 forward from Fort Lauderdale, appeared in 17 games last season for an average of 4.4 minutes a game. He scored six points and had 14 rebounds. He will sit out one year and be eligible for the 2010-11 season.

FAU head coach Mike Jarvis said in the report that White adds size, athleticism and leadership to this year's recruiting class.

SCHEDULE STRENGTH: Marshall's non-conference strength of schedule receives a boost next season with a game against NCAA champion North Carolina and the annual matchup with West Virginia.

"North Carolina is a preseason Top 5 team and WVU is in the Top 10," Marshall head coach Donnie Jones said.

MULTI-TALENTED: Marshall freshman walk-on Bobby Horodyski does more than play basketball.

Horodyski is also an outstanding diver. He placed fifth in Florida's high school state meet on the one-meter board.

The guard from Buchholz High in Gainesville, Fla., is either 5-10, 6-0 or 6-1 according to which Web site you check.

He was selected by The Gainesville Sun newspaper for its large school all-area honorable mention list. He also was picked for the North Central Florida All-Star Game.

SCHEDULE ???: You have to wonder why Morehead State can schedule a Nov. 29 home game against Kent State, but the Eagles and Thundering Herd can't work out a game.

ANOTHER TRANSFER: Brandon Powell, the University of Florida transfer who was dismissed from the Marshall team after four games of last season, played the second semester at Cumberland University in Lebanon, Tenn.

Powell appeared in 16 games for the Bulldogs in an NAIA tournament season. He averaged 8.9 points and 2.3 rebounds.

Sports editor Rick McCann covers Marshall men's basketball for The Herald-Dispatch. Contact him at (304) 526-2759 or hedge@herald-dispatch.com.

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