11.   Rules are necessary, since they keep the wolves from the doors of those hectored prep stars.

12.   The media will swarm Billups, who was a huge prep star at George Washington High.

13.   The progress Smith made from overlooked prep star to college All-American is showing signs of continuing.

14.   The once skinny prep stars have sprouted into tall, sturdy college players.

15.   The other prep star who could be drafted is Korleone Young, a probable second-round pick.

16.   Then Bibby, who used to make America West Arena his personal stage as a prep star, played his first NBA game there.

17.   They exchanged letters when Smith played in junior high school and later as a prep star in the Los Angeles area.

18.   Kwame Brown, another prep star, was the first pick, so three of top four selections came directly out of high school.

19.   The Clippers have worked out prep stars Kwame Brown of Glynn Academy in Georgia, Eddy Curry of Chicago and Tyson Chandler of Dominguez High in Compton.

20.   The former New Jersey prep star signed with New York in December.