Robert Whaley does not want to take the easy way out. That's why he called University of Cincinnati coach Bob Huggins on Tuesday night and verbally committed to attend UC and play basketball.

        The 6-foot-10, 270-pound center/forward from Barton County (Kan.) College was named the preseason junior-college player of the year in Basketball Times by scout Tony Jimenez.

        The biggest hurdle facing Cincinnati may be getting Whaley not to jump straight to the NBA. Whaley said if he is certain to be a top-15 or top-10 pick in June's NBA draft, he will turn pro.

        “I'm taking it one day at a time,” Whaley said. “I need to lose weight. I need to cut down on my body fat. If I get the chance to go in the first round as a legitimate pick, I will go. (Huggins) was cool with that.”

        This was UC's second commitment from a preseason junior-college All-American. Kansas State transfer Nick Williams, a 6-4 guard from Chipola College in Marianna, Fla., also has committed. Cincinnati has two scholarships available.

        Whaley said he loved his weekend recruiting visit last month and felt comfortable with UC players and staff.

        “At Cincinnati, I know that I will have to work. I'm so determined right now to make it,” he said. “I want to go to a school that's going to make me work real hard.

        “I've lived a rough life, and I feel like I've got a chance to change my whole lifestyle, and I'm really ready to change it.”

        Whaley attended Benton Harbor (Mich.) High School but missed most of his senior season after being indicted on sexual assault charges.

        He was accused of forcing a 13-year-old girl to have sex with him at his family's mobile home in November 2000. According to an Associated Press report, Whaley told jurors the girl fondled him while he slept on a couch, then jumped on top of him while he was waking up. Whaley said he pushed off the girl when he realized what was happening.

        A jury could not reach a verdict, and the case was declared a mistrial and was not re-tried. But Missouri, with which Whaley originally had signed, released him from his national letter of intent.

        Barton County coach Ryan Wolf said Whaley has “done fine” on and off the court at Barton County. “Not one problem,” he said.

        Whaley said the incident is “behind me now.” He said he was never scared during the trial because he knew the truth of what happened.

        “That whole ordeal motivates me. It makes me even hungrier. It matured me. It's bad to say, but I'm kind of glad that I went through something like that. It really taught me a lot about life and about myself. If I don't take advantage of what's given to me, I can lose it. I don't think I'll ever get in a situation like that again. I'm too smart about that now. That all really helped me out as a person and a player.”

Success is all mental for kicker UC can't host recruits at PB Stadium Bearcats snare JUCO standout

Bengals sticking with QB Frerotte
Coach LeBeau speaks out
Webb regrouping after 3-sack game
Bengals' show goes national
Vick: Bears assistant yelled 'take his knees out'
Browns starting QB still up in the air
Embarrassed Steelers try to rebound from 0-2 start
Lions sign RB Richard Huntley
NFL injury report
Pirates 3, Reds 2
Reds Box, Runs
Radel: Cinergy Field
Griffey returns to the lineup
Reds notes: Boone rests
Santiago suspended for bumping umpire
Tawny Kitaen pleads down spousal abuse case
Astros 3, Brewers 1
Cardinals 8, Rockies 5
Athletics 7, Angels 4
Diamondbacks 10, Padres 3
Giants 7, Dodgers 4
Mariners 3, Rangers 2, 10 innings
Dayton still waiting for ECHL team
Always Cam takes Jugette in straight heats
M&M Racing pays $120,000 for Menifee colt
With Clarett hurt, three others will vie for carries
Cardinals, Army both looking to turn seasons around
Kentucky defense making plays, winning games
NCAA upholds Kentucky's bowl ban
Schnellenberger returning to Kentucky with new team
College football picks
Tiger cool toward Olympic golf
Woman qualifies for PGA Tour event
Woods wary of Ryder Cup preparations
Ewing to coach Wizards
Roddick, Blake seek U.S. revival in Davis Cup semifinal
Coverage not key to 'minor' sports
Once Indiana's worst, Southern Wells now among the best
Boys golf results
Girls golf results
Boys soccer results
Girls soccer results
Cross country results
Girls tennis results
Volleyball results
Ohio football polls
Boys soccer polls, stats
Girls soccer polls, stats
Cross country polls
High school sports schedule