Jabari Parker received recruiting advice from Derrick Rose.

Rose advised Parker, Illinois’ reigning Mr. Basketball, to consider comfort level when choosing a college.

“Usually when I talk to him it's brief,” Parker said of his conversations with Rose. “He gives me a little advice as far as college, choosing who's going to be there for you…someone who’s going to help you not only for basketball, but help you in school and give you dreams to strive for.”

When asked to identify factors that will influence his decision, Parker said: "Relationship with the coach, relationship with the team and the style of play. Also, how will [the team] be the following year as far as [whether] the coach is going to stay or not."

Parker is considering Michigan State, Stanford, BYU, Duke and Florida.

Joshua Smith has decided to leave the UCLA basketball program, citing “personal reasons.”

"I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at UCLA and am grateful for the opportunity that has been presented to me here," Smith said in a statement.

The 6-foot-10 Smith, who was listed at 305 pounds, battled weight issues throughout his career and played sparingly this season. 

A West Coast-based NBA scout speaking on the condition of anonymity said Smith has the size, skill set and talent to be the most dominant center in college basketball.

"You're talking about someone who had the world in his palm," the scout said. "It's a tragic story."

The scout said an NBA team is likely to take a chance on drafting Smith in the second round if he decides to continue playing basketball, because "you just don't pass up on his size and skill set as a 20-year-old."

Stephen Clark will announce his college decision at 2 p.m. on Nov. 30, according to a report.

Clark, a 5-foot-10 guard, reportedly favors Baylor and Oklahoma State, with UCLA and Missouri also in the mix.

UCLA is appealing to the NCAA committee Friday to make Shabazz Muhammad eligible.

"Exactly what time I can't even tell you that," Bruins coach Ben Howland said on a conference call. "I've honestly never been through one of these so I don't know how quickly they're resolved. ... I really don't know."

Muhammad was ruled ineligible Nov. 9 due to a violation of amateurism rules.

"We're very hopeful and remain very positive about Shabazz," Howland said. "We've been very cooperative with the NCAA, and the family has, too. Shabazz and his family have been unbelievably cooperative.

"We'll be very excited once we get him back. ... He's a great talent. He's a great kid. He works extremely hard. Has a great motor. I think he's going to be a heck of a player."

Aaron Gordon has narrowed his list of potential college destinations to Kentucky, Arizona and Washington.

Gordon, a top-10 player in the 2013 class, eliminated California, Kansas and Oregon from consideration.

Schuyler Rimmer chose Stanford after visiting Vanderbilt, Southern Cal and Virginia.

"Every visit went well. What it really came down to was that I felt like at Stanford I'd be able to develop into the best possible player," Rimmer said.

Rimmer pointed to Cardinal coach Johnny Dawkins’ experience with USA Basketball and the nine years of NBA playing experience assistant coach Mark Madsen had. Madsen is a former Stanford star who joined the staff this year.

"With the experience coach Dawkins has working with Team USA and their player development, and coach Madsen's pro experience. .... it's a great opportunity for me as a player,” Rimmer said.

Shabazz Muhammad is "real close" to being healthy enough to play in UCLA's season opener against Indiana State, coach Ben Howland said Tuesday.

"At the end of practice, he was running with our team, and he's able to shoot now," Howland said.

Muhammad, who is recovering from right shoulder strain, has yet to be cleared by the NCAA, which is investigating ties his family and AAU team allegedly had with two financial agents.

Ben Howland thinks Shabazz Muhammad will be cleared to play for UCLA.

“I’m very optimistic about Shabazz,” Howland told reporters Thursday. “I can’t tell you how long or when, I don’t know that. But again, these are great kids and I’m very confident that things are going to work out and very optimistic.”

If Muhammad is deemed eligible, the Bruins figure to start him along with Kyle Anderson, Larry Drew II, Travis Wear and Josh Smith in Howland's new up-tempo offense.

"We're trying to play faster, push the ball and take advantage of the fact we have depth and speed," Howland said.