Coveted Mudiay to play for Brown at SMU

When Prime Prep ( Dallas) point guard Emmanuel Mudiay signed his national letter of intent with Southern Methodist on Wednesday, the first day of the early signing period, he became the Mustangs’ biggest recruit to sign since Eric Dickerson signed with the football team in 1979.

The Mustangs had never landed a high school basketball player as highly sought- after as 6- 5 Mudiay, who was a preseason American Family Insurance All- USA selection. He turned down a chance to sign with Kentucky so he could stay home and play for Larry Brown.

“I think it’s a big deal for both parties,” Prime Prep coach Ray Forsett said. “It’s a big deal for Coach Brown. He gets a great player, one of the best in the country. He’s a great kid and a hard worker. For Emmanuel, it’s a great fit to get with a great coach who has been successful at each level.”

Late switch:

Last week, Mountain View ( Mesa, Ariz.) 6- 9 power forward Payton Dastrup — the No. 100 player in the 2014 class, according to ESPN. com — said he planned to sign with Ohio State. Wednesday, he signed a letter of intent with Brigham Young. A Mormon, Dastrup is expected to go on a church mission next summer and delay his enrollment at BYU until 2016.

No impact:

Kansas knocked off Duke 94- 83 on Tuesday, but don’t think the outcome will give the Jayhawks an edge when Apple Valley ( Minn.) point guard Tyus Jones decides Friday ( 4 p. m. ET, ESPNU). “No, the Kansas- Duke game will have no effect on the commitment on Friday,” Jones, ranked No. 1 among point guards in the ESPN 100, wrote in his latest blog for USA TODAY High School Sports.

Ditto for Whitney Young ( Chicago) center Jahlil Okafor, No. 1 in the ESPN 100. Okafor was in attendance at the Kansas- Duke game.

The Jayhawks and Blue Devils are believed to be the front- runners to land the duo. Jones reiterated in the blog that the pair would announce for the same college Friday.

“That’s 100%,” he wrote. “We haven’t wavered on it.”

While Kentucky and North Carolina have the Nos. 1 and 2 recruiting classes, respectively, that’s temporary. Whatever school lands the pair Friday will have the No. 1 class, Scout. com recruiting analyst Evan Daniels said.