Favors is a 6-foot-9, 220-pound center at South Atlanta (Ga.) High.

He has trimmed his list to State, Georgia Tech, Georgia, Florida State, Kentucky and Memphis.

South Atlanta coach Michael Reddick said N.C. State is the only official visit that Favors has scheduled so far.

The tentative timetable is for Favors to eliminate one school by the end of this week and another by the end of the following week, Reddick said.

"That would get his list down to four," Reddick said. "I'm hoping Derrick will be ready to announce his decision by the start of the fall signing period [Nov. 12].

"I know he is getting a lot of calls and the recruiting process probably is getting tiresome.

"I would like for him to have this behind him so that he can concentrate on enjoying his senior year in high school."

South Atlanta begins preseason practice on Oct. 27.

Georgia Tech is his hometown school, but Wolfpack coach Sidney Lowe has recruited Georgia extremely well.

J.J. Hickson, a 6-9, 220-pound center from Marietta (Ga.) Wheeler, went to the NBA after playing one season at State.

Richard Howell, 6-7, of Marietta Wheeler and Lorenzo Brown, 6-4 1/2, of Roswell (Ga.) Centennial are commitments from the class of 2009.

Ryan Harrow, a 5-11 point guard from Marietta (Ga.) Walton is a commitment from the class of 2010.

State also is involved in Raleigh Word of God's John Wall, who is ranked as the No. 2 player in the country by scout.com and the top player in the nation by rivals.com.

IN-STATE RECRUITING: Traditionally many of the top high school football players in North Carolina choose to play their college football elsewhere, but in-state schools have a chance to change that this year.

Scout.com has eight in-state high school seniors rated as four-star or five-star prospects, the highest two levels.

North Carolina has commitments from three of the eight -- five-star defensive end Donte Moss of Jacksonville Northside and four-star prospects linebacker Justin Dixon of Smithfield-Selma and defensive tackle Jared McAdoo of Chapel Hill.

Duke also has a commitment from versatile four-star Durham Hillside back Desmond Scott.

In-state schools still are being considered by the other top-ranked players: offensive tackle Xavier Nixon of Fayetteville Britt, wide receiver Jheranie Boyd of Gastonia Ashbrook, tackle Travis Bond of Bertie and linebacker Hawatha Bell of Matthews Butler.

MIAMI GETS GUARD: Garrius Adams of Middle Creek picked up a future Miami teammate this week when Argentine Lisandro Ruiz-Moreno decided to play basketball for the Hurricanes.

The 5-foot-11 Ruiz-Moreno is playing at South Kent (Conn.) School.

Miami has three commitments, the 6-5 Adams, Ruiz-Moreno and Beverly Hills (Mich.) Detroit Country Day 6-8 forward Donnavan Kirk.

Miami has recruited well in North Carolina. The Hurricanes have received commitments from five North Carolina recruits since Southern Durham's 6-8 Anthony King chose the Hurricanes in 2003.

Other North Carolina players to pick the Hurricanes have been 6-8 Jimmy Graham of Goldsboro Charis Prep (2005), 6-9 Julian Gamble of Southern Durham (2007), 6-8 Reggie Johnson of Winston-Salem Prep (2008) and Adams.

Miami coach Frank Haith grew up in Burlington, graduated from Elon College, and among his stops as an assistant coach were jobs at Wake Forest and UNC-Wilmington.

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