COLLEGE BASKETBALL NOTEBOOK: PROPOSAL: NBA-DRAFTED PREPS COULD PLAY COLLEGE.

Byline: Daily News Staff and Wire Reports

High school players could be allowed to attend and play in college even after they had been drafted by the NBA.

The recommendation to allow drafted high school players to keep their college eligibility will be sent to the NCAA's board of directors for final action at its April 25 meeting. If approved, the change could take effect in time for the 2003 NBA draft.

A professional team would retain draft rights to any high school player for one year, until the next draft.

``The concern was for providing an opportunity for those (high school players) who stepped out to see where they land, and still want an opportunity for an education. We thought that was worth preserving,'' said David Berst, NCAA Division I chief of staff.

If passed, high school juniors, including likely top draft picks LeBron James of Akron, Ohio, and Kedrick Perkins of Houston, could enter the 2003 NBA draft, get picked and still play college basketball in the 2003-04 season.

One question that could muddle this rule is whether or not the player would be back in the 2004 draft and available to all teams or if the team that drafted him would have the first crack at trying to sign the player before he would become a free agent.

Under the current rule, any high school player who declares for the draft is automatically ineligible for college. Junior college players are under the same rule.

--Trojans set to sign two: USC expects to sign two junior college basketball players to letters of intent today, the first day of the spring-signing period.

Brandon Brooks, a 5-foot-11 point guard from Portland, who is attending Compton College, and Roy Smiley, a 6-foot-4 guard/forward from Southeastern College in Burlington, Iowa, will join 7-foot center Jonathan Oliver of Ventura College, who signed in the fall.

The Trojans have an additional scholarship that is being held for 6-foot-10 forward DeAngelo Collins of Inglewood High. Collins is believed to be leaning toward turning pro, although he is scheduled to take the Scholastic Assessment Test.

Forward Jeff MacMillan, who is transferring from Fordham, contacted USC but was not offered a scholarship.

--Bird honored: Sue Bird, the point guard who led Connecticut to an undefeated season and NCAA title, was honored as the top woman in her sport as part of the voting for the Honda Award.

--Rush will declare: Kareem Rush of Missouri will declare for the NBA draft today, sources said.

Rush has said he would enter his name in the draft but would withdraw it if he is not a lottery pick.

--John to Corvallis: Jay John, an assistant under Lute Olson at Arizona, was hired by Oregon State to coach a basketball team that has not had a winning season since 1990.

--Charleston picks coach: Virginia assistant coach Tom Herrion was hired as the coach at the College of Charleston, joining a school where the arena is named for his predecessor, John Kresse.

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Photo:

SUE BIRD

Connecticut guard winner a Honda Award, this one for the top women's player.