Many looking to land Andre Gilbert

Mt. San Jacinto (Calif.) College guard, Andre Gilbert is set to take his third official visit of the spring this weekend. Gilbert was limited in action this season due to a shoulder injury but has attracted interest in his skills and after his visit this weekend he could be near a decision on where he wants to continue his playing career.

"Andre has visited Bradley and Utah Valley already," Mt. San Jacinto (Calif.) coach Patrick Springer said. "He is visiting Kansas State this weekend. There are 12 or 15 other schools that have called and we will just wait and see what happens after the Kansas State visit so we don't muck up the water with more schools."

Springer said the possibility of a decision after the visit does exist.

"I think anytime someone takes a visit, both sides have a great amount of interest. It is always a possibility that a kid could give a verbal commitment on the visit. We'll find out when he gets back from the trip."

The 6-foot-7, 205-pounder is a native of Brooklyn Park, Minn. The St. Paul (Minn.) Pioneer Press recently reported that K-State head coach Frank Martin visited Gilbert in the Twin Cities a couple of weeks ago.

Springer believes Gilbert's style of play is very similar to former players of his.

"He kind of fits the mold of a guy like Marcus Sikes who is at Cincinnati and Waki Williams who was at Memphis. Both of those guys were very talented players who played here with us.

"Andre is a versatile player. He can play on the perimeter, he can play with his back to the basket. He can play wherever. He can create shots for himself and others with his perimeter handling ability. He needs to become a better perimeter jump shooter, but he creates problems for everyone defensively."

Gilbert, who transferred from South Dakota State after the 2005-06 season, was limited this season due to a shoulder injury suffered early in the 2006-07 campaign.

"He was hurt this year," Springer said. "He played in four games this year before he got hurt. Four games in he separated his shoulder and tore the labrum. It took until mid-January or early February, and then it was with a shoulder brace, before he could be effective."

Gilbert underwent surgery after the season.

"He had surgery on it when the season was over. He is in the middle of rehabbing it and everything is coming along well."

Gilbert averaged nine points and eight rebounds in the action he did see during the 2006-07 season. He put up 23 points and 13 rebounds in a season-ending loss to Victor Valley.

"I think he would like to have this done before the end of the signing period," Springer said. "He knows this process and knows the difference between scholarship agreements and letters-of-intent. I think he'd like to get it done, but he wants to do it right. He's been through this before."

Gilbert's teammate, Lorenzo Keeler is scheduled to take a visit this weekend as well. The 6-foot-2, 175-pound guard prospect will travel to see Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. Keeler is a native of Escondido, Calif.