hat's up with Taliek Brown? It depends who's answering the question.

Brown is a 6-foot point guard from Astoria at New York who plays for St. John's Prep. His ability to score and distribute has made him one of the most sought-after high school players in the country. Most recruiting services list him among the nation's top 25 players.

Where will he end up? Stories are conflicting. The New York Daily News reported Monday that Brown has narrowed his choices to St. John's and the University of Massachusetts, while the Hartford Courant said his final two are St. John's and Connecticut. Other recruiting publications have Syracuse still in the mix.

Misinformation is commonplace in recruiting. Schools and players that have had little or no contact with one another will show up as interested in each other on several recruiting sites. The rise in recruiting-related Web sites allows rumors to circulate like wildfire. Once enough people hear the same rumor from enough people, they assume it's fact.

Last week people reported that Long Beach, Calif., point guard Wesley Stokes had given a verbal commitment to Missouri. But Stokes still plans to take official visits, which would invalidate those reports. One of those official visits is expected to be at UMass.

The Minutemen have targeted the point-guard spot as a recruiting priority and are still pursuing several floor generals.

Michael Boynton, of Brooklyn, N.Y., looks like a strong possibility for UMass, while Detroit native James Thues is scheduled to make an official to UMass. Marques Green of Norristown, Penn., and Mike Sherrod of Brooklyn also remain possibilities.

The best player who has UMass a finalist is St. Louis native Darius Miles, who plays small forward at 6-9. The Minutemen have remained on his short list while several of the traditional powers have been dropped. But the main question with Miles remains whether he'll ever pull on any college uniform. He's considering heading directly to the NBA.

With Raheim Lamb already committed, UMass is still looking to add one other wing forward. Herve Lamizana of St. Patrick's High School in New Jersey has five schools remaining on his list. He is expected to make an official trip to UMass.

Stokes isn't the only left-coast player the Minutemen are chasing. Swingman Jameel Pugh, who is a tremendous athlete, is considered one of the nation's best offensive players.

The Minutemen have backed off recruiting talented but troubled Taurence Johnson of Williamsport, Pa. A recent arrest and uncertainty about whether he'll qualify academically has other schools reconsidering as well.

UMass remains in good shape with Johnson's cousin and Williamsport teammate Chevy Troutman, a well regarded power forward.

Marcus Douthit, a 6-10 center/forward who has a Marcus Camby body type, originally made a verbal commitment to Providence, but changed his mind and reopened his recruiting. He has expressed interest in UMass. He is enrolled at Notre Dame Prep in Fitchburg.

J.C. Mathis is a native of the Bronx, which has been fertile Minuteman recruiting territory in the past. He also is among UMass' forward prospects.

While NCAA rules prohibit coaches from commenting on prospective players, coach Bruiser Flint is pleased with where UMass stands after a long summer.

"I think we're in good shape," he said.

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UMass is considering playing in a tournament in California next season. The Minutemen will go even farther than that in the 2001-2002 season, as they'll take part in the Maui Classic.

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The UMass basketball program has received national acclaim for its success in graduating its Prop. 48 players. By that logic, the Minutemen should have no trouble with freshman big man Micah Brand. According to Flint, the 6-11 center/forward was the valedictorian of Connecticut's Milford Academy last year.

Flint is excited about his on-court prospects as well.

"He's going to be a good player," Flint said. "It's going to be a learning experience for him. He just has to get stronger, but skill-wise he's as good as we've had. He passes, he shoots, he has great footwork. If he falls in love with the weight room he is a kid who has a chance to make some money down the road."