March has not been a good month on the court for Fresno State, but off the court, the Bulldogs have done quite well, with Edison junior Greg Smith recently announcing that Fresno State is his top option to play college basketball... View video


Three prospects also attended Fresno State's home finale Saturday night at the Save Mart Center: Paul George, a former Pepperdine signee, JeJuan Brown, a former Vanderbilt forward, and point guard Rob Lowery, who hails from the same junior college as Bulldogs senior Eddie Miller.

The 6- foot, 8-inch Smith said USC and UCLA are his second and third options, followed by a growing list of potential suitors, from Washington to Kansas. Smith scored 20 points Saturday but Edison lost in the Southern California Regional Division II title game to Mater Dei-Santa. It marked one of the few times this season he has been tested.

His services would be a huge lift for Bulldogs coach Steve Cleveland, who until recently has not been able to recruit the best players in the Fresno area -- from Brook and Robin Lopez (Stanford) to Tim Shelton (San Diego State) -- because of doubts about the program's future following NCAA violations under former coaches Jerry Tarkanian and Ray Lopes.

Smith said he wants to play at a school with a pure point guard, and the Bulldogs hope Reggie Moore of Seattle's Rainer Beach and/or Lowery -- if he signs -- could be that player. Lowery can play both guard positions.

Moore has already signed with the Bulldogs. His Rainer Beach squad won a state championship this weekend. Also on that team is Mychal Ladd, another Fresno State signee

Brown, listed at 6-7, spent half of the season at Los Angeles Southwest College. Last season at Vanderbilt, he averaged 3.1 points and one rebound.

George is a 6-8 small forward from Palmdale. ScoutHoops.com has listed him as the third-best small forward on the West Coast. He de-committed from Pepperdine after coach Vance Walberg resigned in January.